Kayla Pope, MD, PGY1

If you are like most medical students, you are probably wrestling with what specialty to go into after graduation. Maybe you like working with kids and have been thinking about the field of psychiatry but you just aren’t sure. Making a decision that will affect the rest of your life can be a little anxiety provoking. Wouldn’t it be great to have a way to explore the field before you have to make a commitment? Well, there is a way to do just that. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has launched a new program that will provide medical students with opportunities to explore the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. The program is called the Special Interest Group Network or SIGN. The SIGN is designed to help medical students find mentors within their medical school as well as in their local community. It is also a way to bring together other medical students in your school who have an interest in psychiatry, and to bring in speakers and sponsor activities that will help you figure out whether psychiatry is the right choice for you.

What the SIGN can do for you:

• Provide funding for speakers to come to your school to talk about the field of child and adolescent psychiatry


• Special programs at the AACAP annual meeting where you can meet child and adolescent psychiatrists from around the world and hear presentations on cutting edge research


• Introduce you to child and adolescent psychiatrists in your area who can serve as mentors, speakers or career advisors


• Contacts at programs across the country for away electives or to get more information on programs you are considering for residency


• Information of fourth year electives and how to apply


• Information on research opportunities and funding


• Free membership to the AACAP and all of the benefits that membership has to offer.

How to Become a Member of the SIGN
To participate in the SIGN, click here to see if your school already has a program. If so, contact your faculty representative for information on upcoming meetings. If your school does not have a program, check the AACAP website for information on how to start a special interest group and for contact information for a faculty member and local psychiatrist who can help you get a program started.

For additional information, contact Ashley Partner at apartner@aacap.org or at (202)966-7300, ext. 117.

Good luck with your future career in medicine!