Medical Student Benefits
Interested in Joining SAEM?
Are you interested in Academic Emergency Medicine? Looking for an advisor or mentor? Want to get involved in medical education, clinical research, or simply learn what Academic Emergency Medicine is all about? The SAEM community is here to help. Here's everything you need to know to get started:
READY TO JOIN NOW? LET US HELP.
Individuals can join via SAEM's website for $25. SAEM also offers a Medical Student Group rate of $20/student for groups of 50 students or more. Contact SAEM membership at membership@saem.org for more information.
WHAT IS SAEM?
SAEM, or the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine, is one of the largest professional organizations in Emergency Medicine in the United States. SAEM has a strong focus on the development of academic Emergency Medicine, including research, education,
career development, and advancement in patient care. The journal Academic Emergency Medicine is our official publication. SAEM hosts a large Annual Meeting each May during which Emergency Medicine professionals gather from around the country
to present research, exchange ideas, collaborate and network in order to advance our mission of excellence in Academic Emergency Medicine.
WHAT IS ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE?
A career in Academic Emergency Medicine means that you work primarily within an academic/ teaching institution. In addition to focusing on clinical practice, you will also be responsible for education, research or administration. To make room for
these additional activities, clinical hours are often reduced. Academic EM physicians tend to have an "academic niche" or a specific area of interest in which they strive for leadership and advancement. This is
in contrast to working within a community or non-teaching institution, where physicians focus primarily on clinical practice (seeing patients).
HOW DOES SAEM DIFFER FROM OTHER PROFESSIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE GROUPS SUCH AS ACEP OR CORD?
SAEM has a specific mission to advance academic Emergency Medicine. Because of this, we have a stronger research focus than the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), who has a broader mission to advocate for all of Emergency Medicine in
general. While SAEM has a similar teaching/education focus as the Council of Emergency Medicine Directors (CORD), the academic mission is not limited to residents, and extends to medical students as well as fellows, junior faculty, and any physician
in pursuit of career development.
WHAT CAN SAEM DO FOR ME?
SAEM connects you to the Academic Emergency Medicine community. SAEM is the largest society of academic Emergency Medicine professionals in the country, including medical students, residents, junior and senior faculty, researchers, administrators,
and others. SAEM contains several Interest Groups and Academies that support particular interests in Emergency Medicine, including the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS), the Academy for Women in Emergency Medicine (AWEM), the Simulation Academy
(SIM), and many others. SAEM also has RAMS (Residents and Medical Students), as well as liaisons with the Graduate Medical Education Committee and the Emergency Medicine Resident Association (EMRA). SAEM can connect you to these organizations
to network and get involved. To find out more, see the Resources section below.
SAEM is a source of mentorship, which has shown to be one of the most important factors for successful academic careers. Mentorship opportunities are available in-person during SAEM’s Annual Meeting and virtually through SAEM’s
many committees and interest groups. SAEM is also working to develop an electronic Mentorship Database for all SAEM members.
CAN I JOIN SAEM AS A JUNIOR MEDICAL STUDENT?
It is never too early to join. Even as a first-year medical student, there are significant benefits to SAEM membership, including access to publications and resources, participation in the Annual Meeting, and a chance to become involved in committees,
Academies, and other SAEM groups. If you are a senior medical student who has already chosen Emergency Medicine as a specialty, then your involvement is even more crucial: you can advocate for your fellow students and get exposure to EM leaders
and advisors who can help you decide if an academic career is right for you.
I'M IN. HOW DO I SIGN UP?
First, see if your local Emergency Medicine interest group, advisor, or institution is able to obtain discounted membership for medical students. To become a SAEM member, register here.
Want to Get Involved in SAEM During Medical School?
As a medical student in SAEM, you can become involved in leadership, advocacy, and education through SAEM at any point during your medical school training. You will also have access to a number of resources tailored to medical students pursuing (or simply interested in) an academic career in Emergency Medicine.
WHAT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS?
Almost all SAEM groups will be amenable to interested medical students, so don't hesitate to contact them directly. If you are looking for something more formalized, there are two SAEM groups that specifically seek out medical
students for leadership positions:
The SAEM Medical Student Ambassador's Program (MSA)
Description: Each year, the SAEM Program Committee looks for enthusiastic and responsible medical students from around the country to work directly with SAEM leadership to assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of SAEM's
Annual Meeting. This group of medical students serves as the primary volunteer force at the Annual Meeting.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to attend the full SAEM Annual Meeting and participate in didactics, poster sessions, and educational activities
- Waiver of the SAEM Annual Meeting registration fee
- One-on-one meeting with a member of SAEM leadership to act as your academic mentor
- A personal letter from the SAEM Program Committee Chair to your Dean of Student Affairs to acknowledge your contributions
Obligations:
- Be available for 1 week in May to attend the entire SAEM Annual Meeting
- You will be assigned specific duties during certain times at the Annual Meeting, but will be free to attend the rest of the conference.
Resident and Medical Students (RAMS)
Description: RAMS gives residents and medical students a stronger voice within the SAEM community by developing educational content and annual meeting programming, promoting mentorship and career development, and identifying leadership and advocacy opportunities of particular interest and importance to our junior members.Benefits:
- Creation of student-driven didactics and events for the SAEM Annual Meeting
- Frequent contact with SAEM leadership including the Board of Directors, the Program Committee, the SAEM Academies, and others
- Flexibility to contribute your own ideas and innovations to a group of peers
- Opportunity to meet and work with medical students from other institutions
Obligations:
- Commitment varies widely depending on subcommittee involvement, and can range from a single newsletter article contribution once a year to full subcommittee chairmanship
- The majority of work occurs by phone and email throughout the year
- In-person meetings at the SAEM Annual Meeting and the ACEP Scientific Assembly are strongly encouraged