Integrating New Members through the New Investigators & Trainees SIG
The New Investigators & Trainees Special Interest Group (SIG) fosters collaboration and creates opportunities for building leadership skills, professional development, and mentorship and sponsorship for American Headache Society members. Co-chairs Nan Cheng, MD, and Beth Robertson, MD, FAHS want the SIG to be a welcoming place for members new to the Society or coming to the Annual Scientific Meeting for the first time. “You don’t have to be a trainee to be part of our [g]roup, and you can never age out because we're always welcome to all of our members,” says Dr. Cheng.
Hear directly from Dr. Cheng about the recent initiatives and future of the New Investigators & Trainees (NITS) SIG:
Finding A Home and Future in AHS Through NITS
Dr. Cheng's first encounter with AHS was at the Annual Scientific Meeting, which felt intimidating to her at the time. However, through NITS, she found her home and now works to create a supportive experience for first-timers. “People that I met in this SIG actually have become my long-term friends and people I really look forward to meeting during every Meeting,” mentions Dr. Cheng. “I really want to create that experience for everyone who comes to AHS. We're very much of a family, and I think that that's the wonderful thing about our organization.”
AHS has not only provided a community for Dr. Cheng, but helped shape her professional journey, from medical student to attending, and now as the founder of her own practice. “It's really provided me a foundation to grow my career at every step of the way,” says Dr. Cheng. “It's given me people to talk to, ideas to bounce off of, and really ways to grow both myself personally and also as a leader.”
By integrating members into Society and providing professional support and leadership development, Dr. Cheng believes the NITS SIG is shaping the future of AHS — and the next leaders of the Society.
Turning Member Feedback Into Meaningful Experiences
Much like other Special Interest Groups, NITS’ initiatives are often driven by member suggestions or feedback. One of these suggestion-driven initiatives is Plenary Pals, which pairs a first-time Annual Scientific Meeting attendee with someone who has already been to several meetings. “This really creates a nice welcome into the Meeting, which can be very daunting for your first time,” explains Dr. Cheng.
Another initiative (currently in the works) is several webinars co-hosted by basic scientists and clinicians. This initiative stems from members identifying a disconnect between clinicians and basic scientists within the Society and also within the NITS SIG. Dr. Cheng hopes these webinars will create a bridge and help members better collaborate and create research projects.
Developing Resources to Further Careers
In addition to Plenary Pals and co-hosted webinars, the NITS SIG takes pride in two other initiatives: professional webinars and research primers. The Navigating Academic vs. Private Practice Contracts and Navigating the Job Market in Headache Medicine were created to address member concerns about navigating contract negotiations for their first job and figuring out the best field for them to practice. These webinars feature expert insight and practical strategies from AHS leadership and members. The SIG’s most recent webinar focuses on work-life balance.
In collaboration with the Methodology, Design & Statistical Issues SIG, NITS developed the “Research Mentorship Program” and “Research 101” sessions — which were well attended at the 67th and 68th Annual Scientific Meetings. These CME and CE-eligible sessions include education, Q&A, and roundtable discussion and mentorship. “It's a nice primer for people who are interested in research, but not exactly sure how to get started,” adds Dr. Cheng.
Ways to Get Involved
The NITS SIG aims to become an even more welcoming space for members. “We want to help our members really integrate into the Society and help them find their feet on where they belong,” says Dr. Cheng. “Which other SIGs they want to be involved in, which other projects they want to take on to really enhance the membership and the experience of people attending AHS.” To achieve this, the SIG is calling for AHS members to consider becoming mentors within NITS and support trainees looking for guidance. Dr. Cheng also encourages Society members to sign up to be a plenary pal when registering for the Annual Scientific Meeting, and help guide new members attending for the first time.