frequently asked q’s

  • 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, MS4

  • 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

Your mentor and medical student questions, answered

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  • Attending the Women in Medicine Summit™ (WIMS) 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.

  • A mentor can offer advice and support for 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.

  • WIM prioritizes supporting underrepresented voices within the mentorship space. We established the Women’s Speakers Bureau which is a resource for conferences, media, organizations to find experts in healthcare to speak on numerous topics. More information can be found here.

  • 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.

Summit Info

  • The Women in Medicine Summit™ will take place Thursday September 24th through Saturday September 26th, 2026. The NextGen Symposium which is included in your registration will take place Thursday, September 24th.

  • Women in Medicine NextGen Symposium is a student-only portion of the Summit with sessions focused specifically for students. This year it will be on Thursday, September 24th. In past years, we have had sessions on how to network, financial planning, reproductive planning, Op-Ed writing, creating a curriculum and more. Each year, we have a keynote speaker and offer a Mentorship Fair that focuses on networking with physicians from various specialties for students to explore and prepare for residency.

Why WIMS?

  • This program is designed to bring our medical students and future physician leaders to the table. If selected, students will be able to attend sessions specifically designed for their level of training and participate in exciting opportunities including networking, leadership development, and mentorship. Student Ambassadors will be able to volunteer and participate in several various sessions throughout the Summit including our NextGen Symposium. Prior sessions have included Op-Ed writing workshops, opportunities to network with interested specialties, and more! May of our students have gone on to find research opportunities, get journal publications, and network to help with residency matching.

  • 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, assisting with sessions and fundraising for the gala! As is typical in medicine, unexpected things may pop up that require Student Ambassadors’ assistance so we ask for flexibility with our roles as there may be new opportunities added leading up to the Summit.

  • 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

  • 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. The applications that stand out are ones that can demonstrate a commitment to service and gender equity. No prior experience in leadership or advocacy are required. We encourage you to share what unique talents that you bring to the table.

  • At this time, the Student Ambassador program is designed for medical students only. We are continuously working on developing additional mentorship programs.

  • 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.

  • 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 however it is strongly encouraged you are able to attend all 3 days..

  • Yes! We welcome returning Student Ambassadors or Student Ambassadors. If you were previously involved in our Summit and want to participate in the Women in Medicine Summit again, you may also be considered to become a Student Ambassador Lead.

Logistics and Expectations

  • We do not offer any virtual Summit options currently.

  • 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.

  • Student Ambassador 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. Please avoid wearing jackets or blazers over your T-shirt. You may wear a long sleeve shirt underneath the WIMS provided shirt

  • 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.

  • We are currently working on sponsors to help cover the cost of meals for the NextGen Symposium. Check back in the upcoming months for updates.

  • 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 25th 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.

  • You can email wimentor@wimedicine.org for further information!

Women in Medicine Summit™ Info

  • The Women in Medicine Summit™ will take place September 24-26, 2026. NextGen which is included in your registration will take place Thursday, September 24th.

  • NextGen is a student-only portion of the Summit with sessions focused specifically for students. In past years, we have had sessions on how to network, 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.

  • 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.