SHM Converge 2022: Lessons From The Residents And Students Special Interest Forum
The energy from resident and student attendees of Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) Converge 2022 in Nashville, TN was incredible! Participants of the Residents and Students Special Interest Forum on April 8, 2022, were excited about being able to (finally) gather in-person to network with peers, to attend a wide variety of clinical sessions, and to present unique cases and research findings at the SHM Research, Innovations, and Vignettes (RIV) competition.
During the special interest forum, multiple trainees shared their experiences and challenges leading up to the annual meeting in Nashville. For most, attendance of SHM Converge was highly dependent on whether their poster was accepted to the RIV competition (i.e., if their poster had not been accepted, they likely would not have been able to come). SHM Conference Grant recipients expressed gratitude to SHM for funding their registration and travel, as some noted that they would not have otherwise been able to afford to come to Nashville.
The main event for many was the RIV competition! Attendees noted that the format was substantially different from pre-COVID-19 poster sessions with PowerPoint projections on LED screens replacing physical posters. Multiple trainees commented the screens were too small and the time allotted to present a poster (15 minutes) was too short. There was a shared consensus that prior physical poster competitions were much more effective for networking with potential future employers or collaborators.
Many attendees of the special interest forum did not know SHM existed prior to residency and were unaware of the multitude of benefits that SHM offers. SHM has several unique opportunities for funding, including the Early Career Hospitalist Research Grant, the SHM Conference Grant, and SHM's Hospital Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship Fund. Additionally, trainees can flex their creative muscle by writing articles for the student- and resident-driven newsletter, the Future Hospitalist RoundUp. SHM also hosts regular webinars that target a wide range of clinical and non-clinical topics relevant to trainees interested in hospital medicine.
Lastly, SHM is looking to re-invigorate the Resident and Student Special Interest Group’s Executive Council, a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, connect with peers, and shape SHM’s programming for future trainees. Impactful leadership on a national level can springboard careers and create future opportunities. Contact us via SIGS@shm.org or the Resident and Student SIG on HMX if you are interested in this special opportunity! We look forward to connecting with you all!
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