A Pioneering Approach Towards Statewide Medical Student Engagement in Radiology: Early Experience of the New York State Radiological Society

Purpose: Radiology plays an integral role in healthcare as it guides clinical decisionmaking across nearly all medical specialties. However, medical students (MS) often have limited exposure to the field, especially early in their education. Although student-led initiatives can provide a means to bridge this gap, there is limited interaction among medical school radiology groups, and organized engagement at the state level has not yet been described. Thus, we share the design, implementation, and early outcomes of the New York State Radiological Society (NYSRS) Medical Student Subcommittee (MSS), which is under the umbrella of the Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) and is one of the first few state-wide, student-led American College of Radiology organizations.

Methods/Materials: Core initiatives included expanding NYSRS student membership across the state and increasing engagement. Membership was defined by the active roster of provided e-mail addresses. Student engagement was assessed with attendance at NYSRS-sponsored events, applications for active involvement, and establishment of NYSRS liaisons for each medical school. Within one year of inception, the MSS observed the following: membership tripled (17 in 2024, 52 in 2025), executive board applications more than doubled (6 to 13), and a statewide liaison network was established at 14 of 17 New York medical schools.

Results: These results highlight the impact of the MSS initiatives, particularly on students from smaller medical schools without an in-house radiology department. Expanded leadership roles afforded students the opportunity to actively participate in an organized state-wide radiology society and develop skills in communication, advocacy, and project management while contributing meaningfully to NYSRS initiatives.

Conclusions: Future goals include establishing a formal mentorship program, an annual poster symposium, and expanded outreach through social media and messaging platforms. Through early state-wide student engagement, the MSS strengthens the educational pipeline, promotes inter-institutional collaboration, and prepares future radiologists for leadership, advocacy, and scholarly contribution.