Welcome to the medical student homepage for the American Academy of Pediatrics!! This Web site is an excellent source for you to learn how the AAP can serve as your professional home as your career in pediatrics unfolds. Medical students are welcome as affiliate members of the AAP in the Section on Medical Students, Residents, and Fellowship Trainees (SOMSRFT). We are the AAP’s largest section with well over 10,000 members, including almost 1000 medical student members.

Even though medical students were first offered membership in the AAP less than 10 years ago, our focus on medical students has been greatly expanded, with significant increases in the opportunities and resources for you. If you are not already a member, we hope that you will consider joining (annual dues are only $16 for medical students!). For more information and the application form, please click here.

Since January 2008, we have had a Medical Student Subcommittee in our section. This outstanding group of six medical students from across the nation have been working with the SOMSRFT executive committee to develop resources for both medical students and Pediatric Interest Groups. Check out our most recent newsletter and our Pediatric Interest Group Resource Guide, and please keep checking this website as we continue to post more information. Also, keep an eye out for our much anticipated Medical School to Residency publication, which will be published in 2010. In collaboration with national pediatric medical educators, this publication will serve as a personal companion to exploring pediatrics during medical school, applying to a pediatric residency, and beginning life as a pediatric resident.

You can learn more in person at the AAP’s annual meeting, the National Conference and Exhibition (NCE). For medical student members the registration is FREE! The 2010 NCE will be in San Francisco, California, from October 1-5. On Friday, October 1st, we will have the SOMSRFT reception and clinical case presentations, where you could present an interesting clinical case from your pediatric rotations. The SOMSRFT Annual Assembly will be a full-day meeting for medical students, residents, and fellowship trainees on Saturday, October 2nd. This will include programming specifically for medical students. The medical student session was a huge success in 2009, and we hope to see you in 2010!

We hope your interest in the AAP will continue to thrive! Who knows, maybe you will be selected to join next year's Medical Student Subcommittee! Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions for how you feel our section can best serve the needs of medical students.

Thank you for visiting and welcome to the American Academy of Pediatrics!

Joshua M. Smith, MD
Chairperson
AAP Section on Medical Students, Residents, and Fellowship Trainees (SOMSRFT)

Daniel Schumacher, MD
Medical Student Subcommittee Chair
AAP Section on Medical Students, Residents, and Fellowship Trainees (SOMSRFT)