WIMentorship
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can WIM provide mentorship?
Attending the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™ (PWIMS) offers plenty of exciting opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences and goals. We offer a Student Ambassador program which helps medical students attend the Summit and gives them an opportunity to participate in the Summit, network, and learn more about leadership, advocacy, and gender equity.
What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor?
A mentor can offer advice and support to a mentee to reach career goals and grow professionally. A sponsor is someone who actively advocates for opportunities for their sponsee using the sponsor’s own resources and connections.
How can WIM better support underrepresented voices within the mentorship space?
WIM prioritizes supporting underrepresented voices within the mentorship space. We established the Women’s Speakers Bureau, which is a resource for conferences, media, and organizations to find experts in healthcare to speak on numerous topics. More information can be found here. This year, WIM also introduced a call for speakers for interested people to apply for the opportunity to present at PWIMS 2025.
Are there any structured mentorship programs WIMS offers or plans to implement?
We currently offer our Student Ambassador program which is available for medical students. We are continuing to work on other programming to bring further mentorship opportunities to our attendees.
What role do male allies play in supporting women through mentorship?
Male allies play an important role in supporting women through networking and sponsorship. Allies can use their influence to help break down barriers to support women and contribute to a safe and supportive space. They can offer guidance for women to navigate professional challenges in their field and advocate for them.
Student Ambassadors
Why should I apply to be a WIM Student Ambassador?
Becoming a WIM Student Ambassador has many exciting benefits. If selected, you will be attending the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™ with registration fees waived. As a Student Ambassador, you will be able to attend sessions throughout the Summit to learn about various topics affecting women in medicine. The first day of the Summit, there is a Student Preconference which is a portion of the Summit specifically geared to students. Prior sessions have included Op-Ed writing workshops, opportunities to network with interested specialties, and more! There are also several networking opportunities to make connections through the summit with peers and prospective mentors and sponsors. This has allowed our prior students to find research opportunities, get journal publications, and network to help with matching.
What are some of the roles that I may be expected to fulfill as a Student Ambassador?
Student Ambassadors are crucial to the success of our Summit. They hold roles such as assisting Summit attendees with registration and wayfinding, taking notes during sessions which will then be turned into publications following the Summit, sharing the sessions on social media, providing speaker assistance, taking photos, selling raffle tickets for the gala and more! As is typical in medicine, unexpected things may pop up that require Student Ambassador assistance so we ask for flexibility with our roles as there may be new opportunities added leading up to the Summit.
Will I still be able to take part in the activities at the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™ if I am serving as a Student Ambassador?
Yes, students are encouraged to attend all activities they are interested in. When you receive the volunteer sign up, you may pick the sessions that you are interested in. There may be shifts in the schedule based on availability to fill in gaps if needed.
Student Ambassador Selection
What do you look for when selecting a Student Ambassador?
We encourage people from all different backgrounds to apply! We are looking for passionate, professional students who are eager to get involved in advocating and learning more about the gender gap in medicine. Applications that stand out are ones that can demonstrate a commitment to service and gender equity. No prior experience in leadership or advocacy is required. We encourage you to share your unique talents. Some of our prior students have been professional photographers or social media experts, for example.
Do you consider premed students? Residents? Health science students?
At this time, the Student Ambassador program is designed for medical students only. We are continuously working on developing additional mentorship programs. If you are not a medical student but are interested in getting involved in other ways, you can reach out to wimentor@wimedicine.org
How can I let my school know about the Summit so I can receive time off?
Student Ambassadors once accepted will receive a letter of confirmation that they can provide to their school. We cannot guarantee that you will get the time off based on your school’s own policies so we ask that you start to make arrangements in advance to allow the best chance to attend.
Can I participate as a Student Ambassador if I am unable to attend all days of the conference?
We welcome everyone to apply to our Student Ambassador Program and we understand scheduling changes, especially for medical students. If you are unable to attend all days of the conference, you can still be considered for the program.
Can I attend the preconference in the afternoon if I am not able to help out with the main conference in the morning?
Yes, the preconference takes place Thursday, September 18th in the afternoon. The morning sessions that day will require Student Ambassador assistance however this will be offered only to previous Student Ambassadors. New Student Ambassadors will complete their orientation at the end of the Student Preconference.
Can I participate as a Student Ambassador if I have already done so in a previous year?
Yes! We welcome returning Student Ambassadors. If you were previously a Student Ambassador and want to participate in the Women in Medicine Summit again, please email wimentor@wimedicine.org to see if you need to re-apply.
Student Ambassador Expectations
What does the time commitment look like to be a Student Ambassador?
Student Ambassadors are expected to be present for all 3 days of the Summit which will be Thursday September 18th through Saturday September 20th. The Student Track will take place on Thursday, September 18th in the afternoon. There may be optional opportunities leading up to and after the Summit that Student Ambassadors can participate in if they choose. Students will need to attend a virtual orientation that will be offered twice throughout August (only need to attend 1 of the 2 sessions).
What happens if I can no longer attend the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™?
We ask if you can no longer attend the Summit, please let us know as soon as possible. On average, we have over 100 applications a year and a waitlist of applicants available if a spot were to open up. The sooner you let us know, the sooner we can provide that opportunity to another student.
What is the dress code to be a Student Ambassador?
Student Ambassadors will be provided with a WIMS Student Ambassador shirt that they will wear during the Summit. We ask that you wear business casual for the remainder of the outfit and avoid clothing such as jeans and open toed shoes.
When is the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™ for 2025?
The Power of Women in Medicine Summit™ will take place Thursday, September 18th through Saturday, September 20th, 2025. The Student Track which is included in your registration will take place Thursday, September 18th.
What is included in the Women in Medicine® Student Track?
The Women in Medicine Student Track is a student-only portion of the Summit with sessions focused specifically for students. This year it will be on Thursday, September 18th. In past years, we have had sessions on networking, financial planning, reproductive planning, Op-Ed writing, creating a curriculum, and more. Each year, we have a keynote speaker and offer a session that focuses on networking with attending physicians from various specialties for students to explore and prepare for residency.
How do I effectively and efficiently network while at PWIMS if chosen as a Student Ambassador?
At the beginning of the Summit, we challenge students to connect with at least 5 attendees throughout the Summit weekend. Being a Student Ambassador, this makes it an easy icebreaker to introduce yourself to attendees who share similar interests as you. Some students have found success talking with attendees by asking them for a quote for our social media page. We recommend practicing your elevator pitch in preparation. Some students even create business cards to share to continue communicating outside of the Summit.
Logistics
Can I participate virtually?
We do not offer any virtual Summit options currently.
What accommodation is available to Student Ambassadors who are traveling from outside of Chicago?
We are working on reserving a block of hotel rooms for Student Ambassadors. Once selected for Student Ambassador, students will have the opportunity to connect with peers and if preferred, can coordinate hotel rooms to share. Check back later for updates.
Are there any scholarships or other means of financial assistance I can apply for to help offset the costs of travel, lodging, etc.?
We currently offer waived registration fees for the Women in Medicine Summit for our Student Ambassadors. When Student Ambassadors are selected, they will have the opportunity to connect with other students to coordinate hotel rooms. We do not provide financial assistance to cover travel or lodging but we strongly encourage checking with your medical school if they can provide assistance for conferences.
Will food be provided throughout the conference or will I be responsible for my own meals?
We are currently working on sponsors to help cover the cost of meals for the Student Preconference. Check back in the upcoming months for updates.
What are the time commitments each day for Student Ambassadors (i.e. approximate start time, end time, etc.)?
Each day the Summit starts around 8am and ends around 5pm. There are early morning wellness sessions prior to the Summit starting each day. Our Gala on Friday, September 19th which will run into the evening hours. Time commitments for Student Ambassadors vary day by day. Leading up to the Summit, you will receive a volunteer sign up to pick the best sessions to participate in that works with your schedule and other interests at the Summit. There may be shifts in the schedule based on availability to fill in gaps if needed.
Who can I contact in case I have additional questions?
You can email wimentor@wimedicine.org for further information!
Student Quotes
“As a brand new M1 student, this conference opened my eyes to some of the early pathways to leadership and mentorship in medicine. Seeing the strength and supportiveness of the large women in medicine community was both inspiring and invigorating. I highly recommend the Student Ambassador role to any medical students hoping to network and join a movement/larger community.” - Megan O’Keefe, M1
“As a result of attending the WIM Summit, I feel more prepared, empowered, and supported in navigating the healthcare field as a woman! Being a student ambassador allowed the unique opportunity to network with many passionate and accomplished women in a short time frame. It also allowed me to attend educational sessions that shed light on how to become a stronger advocate, mentor, and colleague for other women in medicine.” - Alexis Thomas, MS4
“Being a WIMS Student Ambassador gave me a clearer vision of where I belong in this profession and the kind of physician I hope to become. It was empowering to learn from women actively reshaping the field and to see role models who lead authentically and purposefully.” - Vinila Baljepally, MS
“Having the opportunity to meet role models in medicine who looked like me was a genuinely transformative experience as a young woman in medicine. WIMS not only gave me the chance to see women excel and inspire within my field, but I was also able to meet them up close, get to know their stories, and connect with them for future projects. Networking can be so essential in medicine, and conferences like WIMS create a way for us to take part as medical students, particularly with female mentors and colleagues.” – Nicki Nikkhoy, MS2
