Start a Regional Interest Group (RIG)

RIG Leadership Requirements
To establish a RIG, the leadership team must include the following three individuals:

• Medical Student Champion
• Resident Champion
• Faculty Anchor

SMSNA Membership Requirements
All RIG leaders are required to be active members of SMSNA. Medical students and residents are eligible for complimentary SMSNA membership, which also includes membership in the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM).

At the time of the RIG application, only the Faculty Anchor is required to be a current SMSNA member in good standing for the RIG to be approved.

The Medical Student Champion and Resident Champion do not need to be SMSNA members when the RIG application is submitted. However, both must submit their SMSNA membership applications before the RIG kick-off meeting can be scheduled.

To help move the process along quickly, membership applications submitted by Medical Student and Resident Champions will be fast-tracked through the SMSNA membership approval process.

When submitting a RIG application, you will be asked to provide:

• The location or geographic region of your proposed RIG
• Whether the group will be restricted to an institution, city, or state, or open more broadly
• Contact information for the Medical Student Champion, Resident Champion, and Faculty Anchor
• A brief description of the goals and objectives of your RIG (for example: education, research, or community outreach)
• A short explanation of the need for a RIG in your region

These details help the SMSNA Medical Student and Resident Committee evaluate how the proposed group will contribute to the broader RIG network.

Once submitted, the Medical Student & Resident Committee reviews the application to assess the need for a RIG in the proposed region and determine whether similar groups already exist.

Once approved, your leadership team will schedule an initial kickoff meeting within approximately six weeks. This meeting introduces the RIG and helps establish the group’s direction.

During the first meeting, RIG leaders typically:

• Introduce the purpose and goals of the RIG
• Invite interested students, residents, and faculty in the region
• Establish a regular meeting cadence (RIGs are expected to meet at least quarterly)
• Begin planning initial activities or events.