Physicians often lead patient care teams, research projects, and healthcare policy initiatives. Leadership is a vital skill for medical students to learn, as it sets the foundation for practice in residency and future attendinghood. Thus, developing leadership skills during medical school will not only help you stand out in residency applications, but also prepare you for real-world responsibilities.
Maybe you’ve thought about developing your leadership skills, but aren’t sure how to do it while you’re in medical school. We can help. In this article, we’re going to show you how to become a leader while you’re still in training.
Here are some ways to cultivate leadership abilities starting from early on in your medical career.
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1. Get involved in student organizations.
Medical schools offer a variety of opportunities from student-led organizations, to various specialty interest groups, to national organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA).
Join initially as a member and then build up your involvement by taking on more substantial leadership roles, which can also provide valuable networking opportunities, enhance your resume, and deepen your understanding of your chosen specialty. Active participation allows you to collaborate with peers, engage in community service, and develop skills that will benefit you throughout your medical career.
Getting Started
Attending organization meetings
Explore different organizations and groups early in medical school. Doing so allows you to find groups that align with your interests and career goals. Attending meetings also provides opportunities to network with other students and faculty.
Volunteer to take extra responsibility
To start, volunteer to take on small responsibilities, such as organizing events or managing social media. Get familiar with other members and leaders in the organization and showcase your ability to take charge.
Apply for leadership positions
Apply for positions like president, vice president, or treasurer once you are more senior and ready to take on more responsibilities.
A Case Study
Here’s an example of how to put these steps into action:
A second-year medical student interested in internal medicine joins the Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) at their school. By the third year, they have familiarized themselves with the group and proven their abilities to colleagues. They can now take on the role of president, which will allow them to organize speaker events, host workshops, and gather new members.
Then when it comes time to apply for IM, this student can mention all of these experiences on their ERAS application: their leadership role in the IMIG, how they demonstrated initiative, commitment to the specialty, and strong organizational skills.
These are all things that residency programs value. Organizing speaker events showcases the ability to network with physicians, which can lead to mentorship opportunities and strong letters of recommendation. Additionally, leadership experience highlights your soft skills like teamwork, communication, and time management skills, all of which are critical for success in residency.
This involvement also provides meaningful talking points for personal statements and interviews, reinforcing the student’s dedication to the field of internal medicine.
2. Lead a research project.
Engaging in research or quality improvement (QI) projects can demonstrate initiative and leadership, particularly if you take charge of coordinating efforts. Showcase your critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively. These are things residency programs highly value.
Taking charge of coordination demonstrates leadership, project management, and the ability to see a project through from inception to completion. If the project results in a presentation or publication in their field of interest (i.e. dermatology ), it further strengthens the student’s application by highlighting their contributions to advancing medical knowledge.
Additionally, involvement in research provides opportunities to connect with faculty mentors, who can offer guidance and write strong letters of recommendation.
Getting Started
Find a mentor
Identify a faculty mentor conducting research in your field of interest. A mentor can guide you through the research process and provide valuable feedback. Look for faculty with open spots for their current research projects.
Take responsibility
Volunteer to lead a portion of the project, such as data collection or literature review. This allows you to take ownership of a specific aspect of the project and develop your leadership skills. Be competent and complete your task as given to ensure deadlines are met.
Publish your work
Complete the project and publish. This is the goal of most projects and is self-explanatory. You want credit for your work and authorship is valuable. First author is preferred.
Present your findings
Aim to present findings at a conference or publish in a medical journal. This showcases your work to a broader audience and can enhance your resume if you were a presenter at a national conference.
A Case Study
A third-year medical student working on a QI project in the emergency department identifies inefficiencies in patient triage. They organize a small team, analyze workflow data, propose a new protocol, and present their findings at a hospital grand rounds session. The work gets noticed by the chief of staff and the student is encouraged to submit and present their findings at a Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) national conference the following year.
3. Become a mentor.
Mentoring younger students fosters leadership, communication, and teaching skills, all of which are valuable in residency and beyond. By guiding others, students reinforce their own knowledge, improve their ability to explain complex concepts, and contribute to a supportive learning environment.
Residency programs appreciate applicants who engage in mentorship, as it demonstrates traits essential for success in a clinical setting, such as teamwork, commitment to education, and a willingness to support colleagues. Additionally, mentorship can lead to lasting professional relationships and networking opportunities.
Sharing knowledge and experience with younger students helps develop leadership skills and strengthens the learning environment for all involved.
Getting Started
Become a peer tutor or mentor
Volunteer for peer tutoring/mentorship programs at your institution. Engaging in peer tutoring and mentorship demonstrates leadership, communication, and a commitment to education. By helping first-year students with study strategies, clinical skills, and residency applications, you refine your own knowledge while fostering a collaborative learning environment.
These experiences also provide meaningful content for personal statements and interviews, highlighting your dedication to medical education and professional development. Furthermore, mentorship and tutoring may refresh the material as you study for your own USMLE or COMLEX exams.
A Case Study
A fourth-year medical student mentors a group of first-years struggling with anatomy. They set up weekly review sessions and the fourth-year guides them through difficult concepts, ultimately leading to improved exam performance for the mentees.
This mentorship experience demonstrates leadership, teaching ability, and a commitment to teamwork. By organizing and leading review sessions, the fourth-year student showcases initiative, time management, and the ability to effectively communicate complex medical concepts. The improved exam performance of the mentees reflects the student’s impact and value. Additionally, this experience can serve as a strong talking point in personal statements and interviews, highlighting their dedication to medical education and collaborative learning.
4. Engage in advocacy and policy initiatives.
Physicians play a crucial role in shaping healthcare policies. Getting involved in advocacy during medical school fosters leadership in broader healthcare issues and demonstrates a commitment to improving healthcare beyond clinical practice.
Involvement in advocacy showcases leadership, communication, and a deep understanding of systemic healthcare challenges. Whether working to improve policies affecting patient care, medical education, or public health, students develop skills in collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving. These experiences can set applicants apart, providing compelling topics for personal statements and interviews while demonstrating a passion for making a broader impact in medicine.
Getting Started
Join advocacy groups
Join advocacy groups within your medical school or national organizations. This allows you to connect with others who are passionate about similar issues and participate in policy discussions and propose initiatives for healthcare improvement at the local or state level.
Attend conferences
Attend conferences or legislative visits to understand healthcare policy-making. This helps students develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and processes involved in shaping healthcare systems. Networking with policymakers, physicians, and advocacy leaders can open doors to mentorship opportunities and potential collaborations. Additionally, discussing these experiences in personal statements or interviews highlights a commitment to improving healthcare beyond direct patient care, setting applicants apart as well-rounded, socially conscious physicians.
A Case Study
A medical student passionate about health equity collaborates with faculty to advocate for improved and more equitable access to healthcare for underserved populations. They work together to form and serve on a committee which drafts a proposal to expand free community health screenings and present it to the local administration.
5. Seek leadership training opportunities.
Many medical schools and organizations offer formal leadership training programs. Participating in leadership programs demonstrates a proactive approach to developing essential skills such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making.
These programs provide structured opportunities to learn from experienced leaders, engage in problem-solving exercises, and apply leadership principles in medical settings. Completing formal training can also set applicants apart by showing their commitment to professional growth and leadership in healthcare. Additionally, these experiences offer valuable networking opportunities and can serve as strong talking points in personal statements and interviews.
Getting Started
Take leadership courses
Enroll in leadership development courses offered by your institution or external programs. A few examples of programs that exist are RISE, AAMC and TMA leadership programs for new and more advanced medical students. The AMA Medical Student Leadership Learning Series is also a program that helps medical students develop leadership skills.
Attend workshops & webinars
Attend workshops or webinars on team management, conflict resolution, and leadership in medicine. These workshops can provide you with practical skills that you can apply in your leadership roles and offer training sessions for you to hone and develop your talent in a low-risk setting.
Shadow other leaders
Shadow faculty members in leadership roles to learn from their experiences. This allows you to see firsthand how effective leaders operate and how they manage difficult situations.
A Case Study
A medical student interested in academic medical leadership enrolls as an AMA student leader. During the program, they learn essential management skills and apply them to a student-led initiative at their school. Upon completion of the program, they’re awarded a leadership certificate.
By completion of the program, this medical student has gained crucial management skills that are directly applicable to their future career. Applying these skills to a student-led initiative demonstrates initiative, problem-solving, and the ability to manage. This hands-on experience in leadership not only enhances their resume but also shows a commitment to developing skills that’ll be essential for success in residency and beyond.
Final Thoughts
Leadership skills build over time in medicine, so it’s beneficial to start early to set yourself up for success. By getting involved in student organizations, leading a research project, becoming a mentor, engaging in advocacy and policy initiatives, and seeking leadership training opportunities, medical students can develop the competencies needed to excel in residency and beyond.
Start small, and embrace opportunities to grow as a leader throughout your medical school journey. Before long, you’ll grow into the leader you’re capable of being.
