Physicians, Students Share Why They are Proud to be General Internal Medicine
Problem solvers. Partners with their patients. Physicians who are not afraid of complexity and learning every day.
These are just some of the qualities that make an internal medicine physician stand out, according to Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, FACP, Division Chief of General Internal Medicine (GIM). ProudtobeGIM Week, a campaign held February 21-24 by the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM), celebrates internal medicine physicians and the care they provide to patients in hospitals and practices each day.
“General internists are a guiding light that help patients navigate through complex health diagnoses,” said Dimple Ghassi, MD, internal medicine physician.
Albany Medical College was one of only 21 institutions in the U.S. to receive funding from the SGIM to host events and support the national campaign which aims to promote the opportunities available to medical students in general internal medicine.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate Albany Medical College’s first Proud to be GIM campaign,” Dr. Gerber said. “General internal medicine careers are incredibly diverse. If you’re a person with unique ideas and you really want to do something creative, GIM is for you.”
Dr. Gerber and her colleagues work closely with future physicians to introduce them to the field during their education. We reached out to three Albany Medical College students to ask them why they are considering a career in internal medicine:
Dyer Pettijohn, ‘24
I have found it incredibly difficult to hone in on any single aspect of medicine that I am most interested in. One reason I find internal medicine so attractive is because it is an incredibly diverse field, with nearly innumerable specialty and subspecialty possibilities. The highly cerebral component of internal medicine and the broad spectrum of medical knowledge required to succeed would be a challenge I would enjoy.
So far, my classes and various shadowing opportunities at Albany Medical College have shown me that internal medicine can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling field. It provides the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population, in both an inpatient and outpatient setting.
Elizabeth Pinchman, ‘24
I like the idea of maintaining a broad knowledge base and treating a wide variety of patients. I am even considering combining medicine and pediatrics to broaden my future patient population. Additionally, there are many options for careers in both inpatient and outpatient settings and opportunities to specialize or stay general.
I enjoy interacting with patients and thinking about a diagnosis based on test results and history. I have also liked most of our academic themes that focus on clinical medicine and I’m aware of the importance of preventative medicine in our communities.
Frank Trujillo, ‘24
I came to medical school without a clear interest for a specialty. During my first year, I was able to explore some of the different specialties through my classes and school events, but still without developing any strong ties to a particular field. One of the reasons why I was not finding a connection with a specific field was the fact that different specialties and topics had my interest. I started considering the possibility of general medicine. During my second year of medical school, I joined the internal medicine interest group to increase my exposure to this field. I’ve learned through my education thus far that internal medicine offers the opportunity to work closely with patients while considering a career path that aligns with my broad interests.
View Albany Medical Center's "Proud to be GIM" video on YouTube.