The overarching mission of the McGovern Society Advisory Program is to inculcate in our students a sense of responsibility to attend to their own self-care, wellness and resilience and to cultivate and promote throughout the McGovern Medical School a palpable and sustainable culture of wellness and community.
Strategically housed in and administered by the McGovern Medical School (MMS) Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (OASA), McGovern Societies is intentionally compartmentalized from the more traditional, didactic and graded components of the curriculum. As such, the McGovern Societies are an integrated, seamless mentoring and advising system uniquely positioned to supply an educational space where a free exchange of information, reflections, and resources can occur to support our students’ well-being while fostering community. The relationships will often pre-date admissions and continue through matriculation, graduation and well beyond. Issues pertaining to medical education, resilience, the hidden curriculum and more can be organically dissected in a safe, confidential environment without concern for academic repercussions. The faculty participants are carefully selected for service as Society Leaders as they must have the requisite knowledge to sagely advise without alienating; to counsel in a manner that is able to be received by the advisee; to mentor across a broad range of interests; and to persist throughout the duration of the medical education of each member in their society.
Each McGovern Society is initially comprised of eight to ten MSIs, who prior to matriculation, are assigned to a group that is led and advised by a clinical faculty member by whom, when possible, they were interviewed. Students will maintain membership in that community throughout their undergraduate medical education. Leaders are assisted by two MSII students and two MSIV students (known as McGovern Society Peer Mentors). The McGovern Societies meet on scheduled days at noon with lunch provided, attendance is required. During the third and fourth years, students will remain attached to their originally assigned Society, but will also be mentored by a specialty advisor based on career interests.