SCRUBS Program

Surgery Olympics

The SCRUBS Surgery Olympics is a 14-week program dedicated to developing mentorship, research and clinical skills within the realm of surgery. This program is geared towards U-M Medical School M1 students with an interest in surgery to provide early exposure to the surgical specialties.

Four University of Michigan Medical School M1 students are paired with a M4 mentor and a faculty advisor to work together to complete a research project, learn technical skills, and compete to win the coveted Surgery Olympics trophy. Teams submit abstracts and present at our Surgery Grand Rounds.

Lunch & Dinner Series

These series provide faculty and residents in the Department of Surgery with the opportunity share their experiences and advice regarding their specialties with SCRUBS members. This series takes place in an informal setting in which mentorship and knowledge sharing can take place in a casual discussion. Students have the chance to grab a bite to eat as faculty members and residents talk about their career in surgery with the group. These sessions are sometimes virtual and sometimes in person.

Skills Sessions

SCRUBS skills sessions are times set aside for junior medical students to learn technical skills to best prepare them for their clerkship rotations. Students work in groups as a faculty member, resident or M4 student provides guidance on how to master surgical skills. We now provide virtual surgical sessions over Zoom.

Research Opportunities

Separate from Surgery Olympics, we provide M1s opportunities to work with surgery faculty members performing research to have early exposure to mentorship and research. SCRUBS members are encouraged to reach out to us, so we can connect them to faculty members looking for assistance on a research project. This offers M1 students the chance to gain invaluable research experience in the field of surgery.

M3 How to be a Sub-I Panel

Our M4s give advice and answer questions for M3s about to embark on their Sub-Is. The panel assists in preparing medical students for their sub-I by providing guidance on how to choose a sub-I, tips on how to best prepare and insight on how to be successful while on service.

M4 Match Panel

Our M4s who recently matched into a surgical specialty share their experiences and insight with medical students. This annual panel provides medical students interested in pursuing surgery the opportunity to ask questions and gain advice about matching from fellow medical students who just went through the process.

Diversity in Surgery Series

During this series, faculty and residents share their experiences, insight, and advice to students, covering a range of topics including but not limited to socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, political, religious, gender and sexual diversity, as well as the experiences of first-generation and disabled patients, students, trainees and providers.