Adversity in Medicine Support Group

The Adversity in Medicine Support Group (AIM) provides a supportive community for SUNY Downstate students facing adversities such as failing exams, leaves of absence, repeating a year of school, disabilities, and more. Though not often talked about, students commonly face such challenges, and many people feel isolated or ashamed. Our group aims to destigmatize these topics and provide support so that everyone can achieve their goals! AIM was started as an informal mentorship program in 2021 by a second-year medical student who overcame academic difficulties. Since then, we have grown to a network of almost 100 students who are facing/have succeeded through academic adversity.

Some of our group activities include:

• Students can choose to connect with upperclassmen mentors who have faced similar challenges, such as failing the same unit or exam, repeating a year of school, and taking a leave of absence. Mentors help students process their setbacks, feel validated, and get encouragement and tips for success. Students can also choose to be connected to classmates who are facing the same challenges.
• Every spring, we host a match panel with fourth-year students who successfully matched into residency after failing a unit, shelf exam, STEP exam, taking a leave of absence, repeating a year, or other difficulties. Some of our most recent panelists have successfully matched into specialities such as anesthesia, surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, family medicine, and more!
• Throughout the curriculum, after exam results come back, we hold meetings to provide a safe and encouraging space for students who fail these exams. After STEP 1 scores are released, we host an info session with upperclassmen who also failed the exam and successfully retook it.
• Meetings every summer in advance of preclinical exam remediations help students prepare a study plan and get academic advice from upperclassmen who remediated the same unit.

Members also benefit from the opportunity to turn their struggle into self-growth through mentorship and leadership roles. This is a great way to show residency programs evidence of overcoming adversity. Through our robust network, students can be part of a wonderful and supportive community and realize that they are not alone in their struggles. Members have the opportunity to “pay it forward” by mentoring underclassmen experiencing similar difficulties. Students say that AIM helps them feel supported, less alone, and has given them hope for matching into residency.