Physicians are facing declining career satisfaction and rampant rates of professional burnout. The best time to start preparing physicians for a successful and rewarding career is during medical school. Students can get a head start on developing the knowledge and skills that will allow them to better manage their own careers, and to face the challenges of providing outstanding care in a complex health care system.

Medical schools are challenged with limited room in their curriculum to add content on these issues. This type of training is precisely what the American Medical Student Association, or AMSA, provides. To ensure that more students are able to access this essential education, AMSA’s Institutional Partner Program will provide AMSA membership to all medical school students at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, as well as provide educational resources, training and programming for students to prevent burnout and ensure career success.

As another piece of the AMSA partnership, students will have access to a unique self-awareness assessment, customized report, debrief and targeted educational content focused on self-awareness as the foundation for managing stress, improving communication skills (including patient communication), and developing strategies for career success. This program was specifically designed for medical students by J3Personica, a health care advisory firm that specializes in evidence-based behavioral tools.

“This program is a perfect complement to our curriculum,” said Joseph I. Shapiro, M.D., dean of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “Our partnership with AMSA will provide our students a foundation of self-awareness through the AMSA Self Awareness Assessment, leadership opportunities and advocacy training. By being proactive, we hope to mitigate risks of burnout and enhance communication capabilities for our students.”

Originally from Sheanna Spence for Marshall University Communications.