So how do you get started in beginning a new group?

    The most effective groups are student driven, with student leadership working in conjunction with a faculty member who serves as advisor and liaison to the surgery department. There certainly are some groups which are primarily directed by faculty, but this is relatively uncommon. It is helpful to identify a faculty adviser who is enthusiastic and eager to work with students. This person can be particularly important in helping to recruit faculty for events, assist in obtaining funding, and provide for continuity as student leadership changes. The interaction of faculty as advisors, presenters, participants and mentors is vital to achieving a maximally effective group.

Some groups will decide to have an official name or become a society, often named after a prestigious faculty member. Regardless of that, it is reasonable to develop some sort of mission statement or set of objectives to be used to guide the development and activities of the group. Some schools will have student groups under the umbrella of the Student Affairs office, and it is helpful to have someone at the medical school who can assist in some of the administrative tasks, such as room scheduling, accessing e-mail lists, and placing announcements.