Clubs and Organizations
American Medical Women’s Association — Student Chapter
The UNE COM Chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association supports and educates about the equity and advancement of women in medical professions. This group is open to all students interested in learning more about gender differences in terms of treatment and expectations at work, healthcare outcomes, and salary gaps. AMWA hosts a variety of speakers, networking events, and fundraisers to help make the world a better, healthier place for everyone.
National Affiliation: American Medical Women’s Association
This is not a group that is exclusive to women. AMWA has male members and they are very welcome in the group. We provide support for one another. We introduce medical students to female physicians in the hopes of forming an alliance/mentorship and sharing experiences. As a group, we look to laugh and learn together in the promotion of osteopathy and women’s health.
Christian Medical and Dental Association
Do you have to give up your mission in pursuit of your medical career? The Christian Medical Dental Association provides a place for students to talk about their Christian faith, share experiences, and hear first-hand stories from doctors and professionals to help clarify this question. The group is dedicated to figuring it out together.
National Affiliation: Christian Medical and Dental Association
Global Health Club/DOCARE
DOCARE advocates for patients in global environments and educates the community about global health. They also provide lectures and training related to global health such as tropical medicine, infectious disease, cross-cultural awareness and diversity, and medical access in resource-limited settings.
National Affiliation: DOCARE
Health Policy Club
The Health Policy Club provides opportunities for you to educate yourself on health policy issues in general, and advocate for a better health care system that works for all people.
National Affiliation: Physicians for a National Health Program
Jewish Medical Student Association
The Jewish Medical Student Association (JMSA) serves as a resource for Jewish medical students and other students interested in Judaism. JMSA promotes awareness and understanding of the Jewish community at COM and the Osteopathic profession through events such as Shabbat dinners, Passover Seders, and a Latke fundraiser.
Latino Medical Student Association
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship, and education as it advocates for Latino health. LMSA hosts weekly class, leading members through the medical interview in Spanish. In addition to the medical interview content, the leaders of the club integrate cultural education on a variety of topics such as how to best bridge social and language barriers when serving the LatinX community.
National Affiliation: Latino Medical Student Association
Muslim Student Association
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) upholds the Osteopathic principle of promoting a holistic approach to health and medicine through holding cultural sensitivity workshops with fellow faith groups on campus to facilitate dialogue, awareness, and understanding. Additionally, the MSA will combat the media narrative about Islam and educate those interested regarding the true teachings of our religion through interfaith discussions. The MSA will also ensure the facilities and services can adequately accommodate religious obligations, such as having places for prayer and providing halal food on campus.
National Affiliation: MSA National
Medical Students for Choice
Medical Students for Choice is an advocacy and educational group dedicated to supporting tomorrow’s abortion providers and pro-choice physicians. The group upholds the belief that all people deserve sexual and reproductive health consistent with their own personal and cultural values and recognizes that people are the experts in their own bodies and make their own decisions regarding sexuality, health, and whether and when to have children. It supports future physicians who believe that abortion and contraception are vital aspects of medical care that should be embraced as standard practice.
National Affiliation: Medical Students for Choice
Student National Medical Association
Student National Medical Association (SNMA) supports current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians.
SNMA chapters based at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools throughout the nation, and some colleges, implement our programs and activities locally. SNMA programs are designed to serve the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color. In addition, SNMA is dedicated both to ensuring that medical education and services are culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations and to increasing the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical school.
National Affiliation: Student National Medical Association
Student Physicians for Social Responsibility
Student Physicians for Social Responsibility (SPSR) recognizes a physician’s inherent responsibility to serve others and encourages students to further their education through an exploration of disparities in healthcare, community health, and patient advocacy. SPSR also recognizes the reciprocal relationship between environment and health and aims to further understand how climate change, environmental injustice, cultural norms, social determinants of health, and individual environments might affect health. SPSR hosts discussions about how COM students might use their knowledge to further their clinical practice and promotes initiatives that might affect positive change within the local community and within healthcare at large.
National Affiliation: Physicians for Social Responsibility
White Coats for Black Lives
One of the primary tenets of osteopathic medicine is the reciprocal relationship of structure and function. This is true for the body as a unit, and also the field of health care. Events in 2016 made it abundantly clear that racism is still ingrained within all structures of society, including the profession of medicine. The White Coats for Black Lives club serves to illuminate overt systemic racism and implicit racial bias during the formative years of student-doctor education and support the COM administration in improving student diversity and diversity training. Together we can work toward eliminating racism and discrimination in the practice of medicine and achieve healthcare equity for all.
National Affiliation: WC4BL National Working Group