Inaugural 'specialty speed dating' matches MDs with MD students

Posted May 12, 2009

"What a great idea! I wish I could have had this opportunity as a student," was the typical comment at the first annual Specialty Speed Dating event. That sentiment illustrates the challenge some medical students experience in choosing from among the many specialty options. While some students know exactly what they want to do before they even begin medical school, others spend their early years researching and discussing their options with established physicians before reaching their decision.

Recognizing the complexities of this decision, the School of Medicine Alumni Association hosted a “Specialty Speed Dating” event on March 31, where 23 alumni physicians from 21 specialties hosted a table and spent 10 minutes talking with students interested in learning more about their particular specialty. About 60 students participated. 

More than 65 percent of the students who responded rated the event as excellent, and the rest rated it as very good,” said Don Houghton, MD, Class of ’71, Professor, Department of Pathology, who organized the mixer event along with medical students Jessica Carlson and Andrew Young. “Their comments expressed appreciation for the candor, approachability and enthusiasm among the physicians, and the physicians were very enthusiastic about the opportunity to meet with the students and be part of this event.”

Photo:  Marcia Darm, MD,’78, shares a day-in-the-life look at her OB/GYN practice.