The Importance of Networking

Networking and Opportunity

For many students, medical school is meant for academics, research, and volunteering. This makes sense as medical school is meant to train students to become well-rounded and educated physicians in the near future. One skill that is often not taught during school is networking. While networking is not a required skill or task for students attending medical school, there are many benefits for doing so, such as gaining experience, advice, and opportunities. Students, however, may not feel comfortable with their current networking skills and can be unsure of where to start. Thus opportunities from school, local county/state meetings, and national conferences allow students to practice connecting with other healthcare professionals. There are some barriers for students looking to network, such as the costs of attending events, that prevent students from meeting new people and creating experiences related to fields they are interested in. Overall, networking provides medical students with opportunities related to the many different specialties/career pathways, research opportunities, shadowing experiences, and more. This article will delve into what networking is, how to find networking opportunities, how to prepare for a networking event, financial coverage for these events, and more.

Finding Networking Opportunities

For many students, networking opportunities will come from being more involved in their school, local community, and national organizations. At the school level, participating in clubs will provide many opportunities locally and nationally. For instance, organizations such as the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) and American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) provide students with local and national opportunities to participate in. This is because organizations such as these are supported by their national branches and parent organizations. Thus, participating in different school chapter organizations with national organizational support can provide many chances to be more involved on a larger level through opportunities such as committees, executive board opportunities, conferences, and more. 

At a local level, many schools may work with their local county health department or medical society. Organizations such as the Clark County Medical Society in Henderson, NV can provide students with local networking events and funding for travel to conferences. They are great resources for students to look to if they wish to be more involved in healthcare at a higher level, while still being committed to their local community.  

At a national level, there are many conferences year round held by various medical organizations. Many medical students can benefit from attending a conference based on a specialty they are interested in, as there are plenty of opportunities to network with others that have a similar passion for the field. These opportunities can easily be found by finding the website of a specialty of interest and looking at future events/conferences being held. Figure 1 shows many different options students can pursue to find networking opportunities and other resources at the various levels. 

Figure 1. Networking Opportunities. Various levels of networking opportunities, specifically focusing on the institutional, local, and national levels. Each level provides various suggestions of how a student may find more opportunities to further network.

How to Network

While attending these opportunities, it is important for students to understand how to properly network. According to various institutions the main points and skills students should understand are: networking mannerisms, identifying your audience/passion, practicing, and meeting as many people as possible. 

Based on an article from the University of Utah, understanding networking etiquette is a key component of having a successful networking experience and for maintaining relationships after the event.1 Networking etiquette is primarily focused on:

These steps are not as straightforward as they may seem. Preparation and practice are key to ensuring a good flowing conversation occurs while networking. For instance, a student’s introduction is more than just their name. It should be a brief way of explaining one’s background, reason for being here, and related passions. It provides much more depth than just a simple name, while keeping it short enough to keep the person’s attention and allowing them to introduce themselves as well. Communicating goals and passions are important for other students, residents, and physicians to truly understand the intentions and purpose for attending the event. A passion for the field can stem from numerous types of experiences such as working with local community organizations, chapter organizations at school, or previous history with the field outside of school. Whatever one’s goals or passions are, it is important to communicate these efforts effectively to show a true desire to become more deeply involved and be a part of the field. Once a student understands their goals/passions and is able to communicate them effectively, preparing questions for people comes more naturally with a deeper understanding of the field. Questions should be related to the field and the experiences/opportunities someone may be able to offer. The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides a great resource for students applying to residency on possible questions they could ask and explore based on different topics. This is a great resource for students in general to get an idea of what kind of questions can be asked and topics that can be considered.2 Finally, being engaged in the conversation requires conversational skills, such as active listening. Skills such as active listening allow students to display appreciation for the conversation by learning more about the person and the field they are involved in.

Utilizing these skills requires practice and comfort. Conversations should not feel robotic and rehearsed, but it is important to practice key parts of the conversation such as one’s introduction, goals/passions, and conclusion. Harvard School of Medicine specifically recommends a few key points to ensure a great networking experience. Specifically, they recommend identifying the audience, creating a brief conversation, practicing conversations and transitions, meeting many people, and utilizing online social media platforms as needed.3 Both the University of Utah and Harvard highlight similar points and provide more insight on the importance of proper networking and communication. 

Why Network?

After reviewing what networking is and how to do it, it’s important to think about why a student should take the opportunity to network. With medical students having some very tight schedules that already involve studying, class time, lab, extracurricular activities, and more, it may seem as though the time to network is not there or may not be worth the energy. Attending events at any level and using the opportunity to meet others can have many possible benefits for students including:

These are just a few of the benefits that networking with someone in a field of interest may have to offer. Connecting with other students, residents, and physicians with similar passions allows students to truly learn whether or not they are interested in a field. For many people, networking may seem transactional, but it should be seen as explorative. Meeting new people should be seen as learning more about someone else’s journey. How did they know they wanted to pursue this field? How did they get to this point? What can I do or continue to do if I wish to also pursue a similar career? These conversations and relationships should not be viewed as strictly business, but rather as an opportunity to explore, learn, and be inspired by others with similar interests. 

Addressing Financial Barriers to Attending Network Events

Overall, the cost of attending even local networking events may not be free. There are many fees to consider such as a ticket for the meeting or conference, travel, lodging, food, and more depending on the scale and location of the event. That being said, it may be hard to attend national conferences if it is in another state, where one would have to consider extraneous financial costs. There are many different ways to receive financial relief for these events though. A few possible ways to find financial support to attend these events include:

There are a number of paths that students can explore to attain funding to attend the next event. These funding options may provide full coverage or at least partial coverage to help alleviate fees for students. 

Conclusion

The ability and opportunity to network with others is beneficial for many medical students. Understanding the importance of networking, how to network, and how it can aid students in attaining opportunities they may not have previously had can allow them to further pursue their field of interest. Opportunities that may arise include research, mentorship, clinical experience/insight, and more. Students wishing to pursue networking opportunities should practice communicating their goals and active listening, while also exploring the events that are being offered and how they may be able to access funding to attend these events. Networking is a great skill to develop, and the people and opportunities that await students can impact their careers indefinitely. 

References (APA)