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Internal Medicine Interest Group of the Month: University of Miami

The Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been an active and prominent organization on campus. Currently, our organization is composed of two Co-Presidents, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. In addition, we have committees for each event that we host during the school year. Any member of the IMIG may run for leadership positions, regardless of their class year.

In the beginning of the year we host lunchtime meetings to attract first and second year medical students to the field of internal medicine. We usually have an internist who specializes in primary care speak about why he or she entered the field of internal medicine. We encourage the guest internist to tell us about both the positive and negative aspects of entering his or her field. We also invite hospitalists to discuss their daily lives and the benefits of providing care in an inpatient versus an outpatient setting.

The IMIG has participated in National Primary Care Week for several years and provides a lecture series as well as community events for students, faculty, and staff of the University of Miami. This year, the IMIG had a blood pressure screening booth outside of the medical school for adults visiting Jackson Memorial Hospital. Those who were found to be hypertensive were given pamphlets about high blood pressure and urged to visit their primary care physician. We also hosted a lunchtime event where an internist spoke about his work with underserved populations in South Florida and highlighted how students can pursue such careers.

Our large event is the annual Big Ten Dinner held in the spring. This activity is an informal session held in the evening that allows students to learn about the many careers internal medicine has to offer. The evening begins with dinner and a panel discussion with physicians representing each subspecialty in internal medicine. After dinner is served, each panel member makes introductions and speaks about various aspects of their fields. Students are then encouraged to ask questions pertaining to that specialty such as lifestyle factors. This event is a huge success each year because students are interested in learning about the many careers that are available after completing a residency in internal medicine. In order to organize the event, we begin contacting physicians early, as it is difficult to find an evening that all physicians can attend. In addition, food is usually ordered from a local restaurant.

Paul Mendez, MD, FACP, our faculty advisor, is heavily involved in our group and we appreciate his guidance and dedication. He attends all meetings and plays an active role during events hosted by the IMIG. In addition, he is always available to help any student applying for internal medicine. Dr. Mendez is an active member of the ACP and is a past contributor to MKSAP (Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Programs).

Edward Mezerhane and Eric Karlin
Co-Presidents, Internal Medicine Interest Group
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Class of 2009
Email: emezerhane@med.miami.edu, ekarlin@med.miami.edu

Back to December 2008 Issue of IMpact

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