How Medical Internships and Postgraduate Students Can Leverage Healthcare Networks

 

 

Healthcare networks are becoming more prevalent in medical schools, allowing students to expand their horizons. As India's first healthcare providers' network explore all healthcare networks under one roof. 

 

Healthcare Networks for Medical Graduates and Post-graduates—An Introduction

 

Professional networks and networking have traditionally been common terms in business, entrepreneurship, and workplaces. If this were a decade ago, ‘healthcare networks’ would seem a distant concept, far from a typical medical student perspective. Not anymore—not today. Healthcare networks are ubiquitous in the professional aspects of medical schools and can expand student’s horizons.

 

As India’s first healthcare providers’ network that opens doors to medical students—both graduates and postgraduates—we already discussed one easy way to step into healthcare networks, by attending medical conferences and conventions. Read more about it here: 5 Reasons Why Attending Conferences for Students is a Must in Healthcare. Today, we disclose other ways to leverage healthcare networks as a medical intern, junior residents, postgraduate students, and medical fellows.

 

Types of Healthcare Networks for Medical Graduates and Post-graduates

Healthcare networks are platforms or systems that link professionals, institutions, and stakeholders in the medical industry. They include online communities, professional groups, and informal networks.

 

• Academic healthcare network: Ones that purely help you with those academic excellence goals we discussed above. The academic networks connect you to resources, mentors, and opportunities to shine in research and academic fields.

 

• Professional healthcare network: These build your career outside med school. The word doctor, derived from the Latin verb "docere," meaning "to teach," reflects a core principle of medicine: dispersing knowledge and experience with future doctors. Professional networks are those that help medical students balance studies and professional soft skills like communication, writing portfolios, teaching, outreach, and more. 

 

• Social media: These digital platforms have groups of healthcare professionals where you can share your work and build a profile that makes you stand out to recruiters and collaborators.

 

• Institutional networks: These are groups that usually never dishearten you—alumni groups, hospital tie-ups, and medical associations that offer internal recommendations, insider tips, and collaborations within your professional circle on a personal level.

How To Use Healthcare Networks for Professional Growth at Low Prices

As a student, the secret sauce to doing well in life is academic excellence. Or so you think.

 

Are high exam scores, innovative research published in top journals, standout conference presentations, unique clinical experiences, honorary titles, and recommendation letters from prestigious programs all? 

 

We say NO.

 

There is more. The healthcare is vast. With 25,000+ public hospitals, 43,000+ private hospitals, 1.5 million+ allopathic doctors, and a 500% rise in telemedicine consultations, the healthcare work landscape is vast and competitive. To fit in there, your critical thinking must be razor sharp and professional skills polished. 

 

Here’s how you can begin to sculpt your professional portfolio right from the student days through healthcare networks:

 

Finding locum jobs to begin your career with

An intern in a Tier II city hospital may struggle to find locum opportunities in and around. Healthcare networks are the best way to skim locum job boards, check openings in urban centers, gain clinical experience in diverse settings, and supplement income.

 

Finding Side Hustles

As medical graduates and postgraduate students, side hustles are a must—medical writing, teleconsultations, or conducting workshops—all pave the way to professional growth. A healthcare network is also a MARKETPLACE to connect to such opportunities.

 

Global Opportunities

A postgraduate student interested in an international fellowship can use global healthcare networks to connect with alumni or professionals working abroad. This could lead to guidance on applications, preparation tips, and even recommendation letters.

 

Career Transitions; think about it now

As a postgraduate/graduate doctor, you’ll find yourself at the crossroads of many clinical and non-clinical career paths.  Use the healthcare experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in various domains; shadow with and learn from experts to help decide better.

 

Healthcare Networks for Professional Growth—the Challenges

Staying in touch, expressing gratitude, and contributing are the best ways to manage healthcare networks until you hit these roadblocks:

 

• Beware of information overload. Take what you need now—prioritize platforms and opportunities based on your goals. Avoid signing up for every network.

 

• This is crazy, the impostor syndrome. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. Engage confidently and ask questions without hesitation.

 

• Don’t waste time. Allocate dedicated time weekly to explore and contribute to networks. 

Anastomos—Establishing the First Step to Building Healthcare Networks for Medical Graduates and Post-graduates

Anastomos, a healthcare providers’ network, was carefully designed and founded by doctors who have been there, done that, and know the BTS of life of a medical graduate and postgraduate. Precisely why we brought all the different types of healthcare networks under one roof and created a dedicated section for medical students. Find networks for job searches, side hustles, international job opportunities, academic courses, mentorships, and the latest updates on healthcare conferences and events all with one subscription that stands free currently. 

 

Let’s not wait, so go on… explore this yourself.