A Perfect Place to Lounge and Lean in
The Exhibit Hall’s Fellows’ Lounge provides young members with a comfortable place to network, organize, and recharge.
The SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer can be overwhelming, especially for medical students, residents, and fellows-in-training who may be brand-new to the on-site experience. Fortunately, they can take advantage of the Fellows’ Lounge — a welcoming respite within the Exhibit Hall where future gynecologic oncologists can take a load off while learning.
In addition to cozy couches, fellows and other trainees can connect, collaborate, and listen to fireside chat-style discussions on matters that pertain to their professional journey.
The lounge is meant to be an interactive space where attendees feel comfortable and vulnerable asking questions versus in a large plenary session with several hundred attendees. The talks provide advice and answer questions in an informal and safe setting.
Megan Leigh Hutchcraft, MD, FACOG, a gynecologic oncologist at Carle Cancer Institute and associate program director of the Carle Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency in Illinois, is one of several physicians who led conversations throughout the meeting.
“The SGO Fellows’ Lounge provides future gynecologic oncologists and those in training an opportunity to interact with and learn from leaders in the subspecialty. Students, residents, and fellows-in-training can use this low-pressure environment to ask career- and life-related questions to experts involved in the SGO,” she said.
Highlighted topics included:
· Residency program or fellowship selection
· Expectations during and after fellowship
· Social media best practices
· Medical billing and coding
· Personal and professional wellness practices
· SGO volunteer opportunities
Another benefit to visiting the Fellows’ Lounge is the opportunity to network with peers and senior faculty. Physicians will often share their contact information with attendees who wish to follow up or establish mentorships after the meeting, Dr. Hutchcraft said.
Fellows-in-training have said the dedicated space helps them meet new colleagues and re-connect with acquaintances from medical school. They also have the opportunity to learn more about the SGO, its membership, and its specialized resources for fellows-in-training and residents, including:
· Fellows Focus newsletter with tailored content
· ConnectEd learning platform featuring webinars and podcasts, self-paced courses, practice guidelines, and training events
· Career Center portal with coaching, planning, résumé evaluation, and job board
