Through a variety of programs that foster connection, increasing numbers of alumni are volunteering their time to help Weill Cornell Medicine students along every phase of their journey to becoming doctors.
“We’re engaging more alumni across the country and across the world,” says Dr. Anthony Rossi (M.D. ’08), president of the Weill Cornell Medical College Alumni Association. “We have a broad network of brilliant people, of all ages, who stretch beyond the tri-state area and are happy to share their knowledge and their expertise.”
For students who are not yet matriculated, alumni are participating in programs that illuminate the Weill Cornell Medicine experience – shared by those who have gone through the medical college themselves.
Regional meet-and-greets, hosted by alumni at their homes, offer the chance for newly accepted students to meet others who are considering Weill Cornell Medicine, and to hear from graduates who have moved on to successful careers in health care. Dr. Ameet Singh (M.D. ’02), treasurer of the Alumni Association and chair of its Diversity Committee, hosts an annual “mix and mingle” at his home in the Washington, D.C. area each spring, designed to welcome accepted students and encourage them to enroll.
“It’s wonderful to meet these students in a relaxed atmosphere, and to hear how excited they are about their future careers as physicians,” says Dr. Singh, an otolaryngologist. “As alumni, we have a unique opportunity to share our experiences and to help them understand what a special place Weill Cornell is.”
The Alumni Ambassadors program, new this year, connects alumni volunteers with accepted students, offering a one-on-one platform for alumni to answer questions, share their own journeys and encourage matriculation. Almost 50 alumni and accepted students participated in the program this spring, connecting online, by phone and in person.
This year, accepted students also attended a special program on campus in March, where a panel of recent graduates offered insight into their complete medical school experience, from choosing Weill Cornell Medicine to the impact the institution has had on their careers – in many cases, in academic medicine at their alma mater. Panelists included Dr. Joshua Adjei (M.D. ’18), an orthopedic surgeon; Dr. Jim Castellanos (M.D. ‘20, Ph.D. ’18), an anesthesiologist; Dr. Neha Nagpal (M.D. ’18), a hospitalist; and Dr. Cecilia Nicol (M.D. ’18), an internist. The panel was moderated by Dr. Rossi, a dermatologist.
“Our students are really eager to connect with graduates working in their prospective fields, so we encourage alumni to reach out,’’ says Dr. Rossi.
For students who are already enrolled at the medical college, the Alumni Association has several programs that foster engagement and encourage connection.
Each August during orientation, new students are welcomed to campus at a reception hosted by the Alumni Association. Students meet and mingle with alumni and learn about the ways in which the Alumni Association will support and enhance their experience at the institution.
“ASK,” the Alumni to Student Knowledge program, further fosters connections between students and alumni, providing an opportunity to discuss education, career paths and work-life balance. During the recent academic year, the Alumni Association hosted three ASK sessions in which alumni shared their experiences in anesthesiology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology and plastic surgery.
And for students who are getting closer to completing their medical education, the ePrep program pairs alumni volunteers with fourth-year medical students preparing for residency interviews. Through virtual mock interviews and discussions, alumni offer invaluable guidance as students take the next step in their careers.
“Our alumni community is a rich resource for our students, and I’m thrilled that more of us are getting involved,’’ says Dr. Rossi. “It’s such a joy connecting with our future health-care leaders and helping them become the best they can be.”
To learn how to get involved in alumni-student programs, please contact alumni@med.cornell.edu.