Rather than viewing this as an obstacle to learning more about emergency medicine, I embraced the opportunity to forward the status of the field. The division of emergency medicine used student support from the group to achieve departmental status and to become actively involved in the medical student curriculum. The formation of our EMIG yielded many rewards, well worth the effort expended in its development. Finding support is the first step in starting an interest group. Identify allies in the emergency department and in the Dean's office by demonstrating the benefits of the creation of an academic organization run by motivated students.
Faculty can provide valuable guidance as well as official support when developing the organization.
Next, create awareness of your efforts among students by hosting interest-generating meetings. Good attendance at early meetings makes your job easy. First, it demonstrates to the emergency department the potential of the group and encourages future support. Second, the meetings identify classmates to help make the group official. Obtaining official recognition of the EMIG by your university is crucial to the survival and longevity of your group.