MedConnect: Opportunities for Alumni
Connections are made through inquiry and story telling. Be a part of the UVA Medical Alumni Association’s MedConnect program by telling your story, sharing your insights with a mentee or answering questions from students about your residency or career experiences. Each avenue requires a different level of commitment but are equally impactful. We strive to give alumni an opportunity to have a meaningful connection with medical students during their time in school.
- MedTalk: in-person and virtual events featuring alumni speakers
- MedShare: year-long mentorship relationships between alumni and students
- MedAsk: short term connections for alumni to answer student questions about residency programs or potential employers, share career insights and more
Students: Find information about participating in MedConnect here.
What’s Involved
Learn more about MedConnect volunteer opportunities, including time commitments.
Formerly known as the MedConnect Series, MedTalk is an in-person or virtual event open to students. These talks provide students opportunities to learn about a specific area of interest through a single speaker or panel presentation. Past examples include:
- Intro to Residency
- Women in Medicine
- Specialty-specific sessions
- Business of Medicine
MedTalk events can take place over Zoom or in person in Charlottesville or at the Inova campus in Fairfax. The MedTalk events are curated by the Constituents Relations team with respect to expressed interests of the current students. Please contact us if you have a specific topic or expertise that you would be willing to share with a broad group of students.
Formerly known as the Student-Alumni Mentor Program, MedShare is open to alumni mentors and current mentee students who are seeking long-term (1+ year) connection. Alumni are encouraged to share their insights and experiences, as well as openly discuss the questions and concerns of the student mentee.
The program is cyclical with the calendar, beginning with registration in January and ending in December. This timeline allows students to have access to more than one mentor throughout their time at UVA or to deepen a connection with a singular mentor. The pair will receive check in emails throughout the year, but the relationship is completely customizable. Schedules, guidelines, and expectations of both mentor and mentee should be set during the first meeting.
Registration and matching for the 2025 Season will launch in January 2025.
Formerly known as the Virtual Host Program, MedAsk is geared toward M3 and M4s who seek alumni to ask questions to about specific residency programs, specialties or career paths and alumni looking for short-term connections with multiple students.
This program is heavily active during the late-summer and autumn months leading into residency interview season. Students submit their request(s) to the UVA Medical Alumni Association and will be connected with alumni participants in that field or residency program. Once connected, the pair can have a phone call, Facetime, text or email exchange.
This program is set up to be a short-term connection with a long-term impact. Alumni are invited to share their experience and wisdom, empowering students with knowledge to make decisions on their residency and future career paths. Alumni participation and connection is based on individual student needs and requests, but enrollment in this program enters alumni into the MedAsk database and grants the UVA Medical Alumni Association permission to connect a volunteer with inquiring students.
Register
Alumni: Ready to volunteer? Complete the form below to get started. Please note that the MedShare program runs January-December. Those selected to participate in the program, based on student needs, will be contacted and matched in January.
Students: Find information about participating in MedConnect programs here.
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