Student Organizations, Interest Groups and Activities

Organization of Student Representatives (OSR)

The Organization of Student Representatives provides student input to the AAMC and its Council of Deans. Each of the American medical schools elects a student representative to this organization. The Medical Student Executive Council annually elects this representative. The OSR has annual national and regional meetings. During these meetings, the student members discuss the status and trends in medical education, and pass resolutions reflecting the organization’s position on important issues. These positions are then sent to the Council of Deans, the governing body of the AAMC. OSR representatives sit as members of the Committee on Undergraduate Medical Education (CUME).

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA)

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is an esteemed society whose purpose is to perpetuate excellence in medicine. Selection to AOA is competitively based upon academic achievement and demonstration of attributes exemplary of a physician. The society sponsors two programs annually: AOA Distinguished Professorship and AOA Student Research Day.

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

The American Medical Student Association is a national organization that offers students the opportunity to become involved in community outreach projects through locally organized chapters. AMSA is well known for its commitment to facilitating student impact on medical education and practice. As a national organization, AMSA offers many opportunities, such as preceptorships in a variety of specialties across the country, information regarding International Health Electives, participation in the International Medical Student Association, and access to experiences of other AMSA chapters. AMSA task forces include Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, Death and Dying, Women in Medicine, Law and Medicine, and many others. Involvement with AMSA also affords students the opportunity to meet and work with students attending other medical schools via regional and national conferences. Activities of the UT AMSA chapter have included discussion of clinics by M-3s and M-4s, ongoing M-1 support group, blood pressure screenings in the community with the Memphis High Blood Pressure Coalition and CPR training sessions. The UT AMSA chapter is a forum for student concerns, both personal and professional.

American Medical Association Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS)

The AMA-MSS is a national organization of medical student members of the AMA which is dedicated to the health of America. The AMA-MSS offers students unique opportunities to interact with students and physicians from across the state and the country. UTHSC has a long tradition of producing national leaders for the AMA-MSS. As a member of the AMA-MSS, students are full members of the AMA and as such receive all the benefits that are available to physician members of the AMA including subscriptions to JAMA, AM News - a weekly update on issues facing medicine, and Members Matters - a newsletter published by the AMA with more immediate concerns facing medicine. Members receive a free copy of the Drug Evaluation textbook, a helpful resource during Pharmacology. UTHSC members also receive the Journal of the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) and other publications from the TMA. On a local level, members receive Memphis Health Care News and updates from both our local chapter and the Memphis-Shelby County Medical Society. Members also receive special banking and insurance benefits through the AMA, as well as having the full resources of the AMA to call upon whenever needed for researching issues to finding information of externships and residencies. The local chapter also conducts a physician match program which matches M-1 and M-2 students with local physicians for a day to shadow them to learn more about the actuality of practicing medicine. UT’s AMA-MSS  chapter also conducts several seminars each year that offer students educational opportunities outside the traditional curriculum.

Council on International Outreach (CIAO)

The Council on International Outreach is the umbrella organization for all student outreach initiatives in the College. It serves to strengthen student commitment to the local community, promote awareness of global health care needs and our responsibility to meet these needs. CIAO facilitates opportunities for education abroad and supports student organizations engaged in public service. CIAO helps to set a standard of global responsibility by demonstrating the willingness of future physicians to help others. The organization is composed of students and faculty members from the College of Medicine as well as members from the community at large. Additional information may be obtained through the Office of Student Affairs.

Family Medicine Student Association (FMSA)

The Family Medicine Student Association is a service organization open to all medical students and their spouses. FMSA provides opportunities for students to become involved in addressing vital concerns and issues facing medical students, e.g., malpractice insurance issues, practice management, primary care physician distribution and manpower needs, and planning for the medical marketplace. Many students participate in the Family Practice Preceptorships during the summer between their first and second years.

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

The SNMA, founded in 1964, is a nonprofit corporate association of medical students of color. SNMA is committed to increasing the pipeline of students of color that consider and prepare for medical and scientific careers. The SNMA is dedicated to:

1. leadership development by augmenting and enhancing individual efforts as well as providing collective group development of medical students of color;
2. social awareness through student interaction with minority consumers and other health professional groups to keep abreast of social changes and their implications for the minority communities; and
3. service to humanity through a commitment to professional excellence which will ultimately benefit others in their chapters and in the community

The SNMA supports the concept of a well-rounded, thoroughly trained physician - one who can treat people, not just disease - and who can communicate with and understand the health needs of all Americans.

Student Clinician’s Ceremony (SCC)

The SCC is a transitional experience designed to provide guidance, information and support to medical students beginning their clerkships. Created by the Gold Foundation, the event is developed by students with the assistance of a faculty mentor, and aims to address some of the anxiety felt by students entering their clerkships. By providing insight, discussing fears and expectations, and revisiting the oath taken during the White Coat Ceremony, the SCC provides a forum for collective and reflective discussion of the students’ experiences in medicine to date. The ceremony also underscores the challenges and imperatives to providing humanistic care to patients at the same time as they are pressed to demonstrate high standards of skill performance. The Student Clinician’s Ceremony also recognizes outstanding residents through the Gold Foundation’s Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award. Third year students select up to six residents to receive the Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, based on their demonstration of commitment to teaching and compassionate treatment of patients and families, students and colleagues. Each award winner is presented with a certificate, a specially designed lapel pin and a check for $250 from the Gold Foundation. The awardees  are also showcased on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) website.

Women In Medicine and Science (WIMS)   

Women in Medicine and Science is a University of Tennessee Health Science Center student-led organization designed to facilitate communication, networking, and advocacy for all women trainees at UTHSC. We aim to build a supportive community that will nurture the professional development of current and future women in medicine and science.

The mission of WIMS is to support the successful participation of women in all roles within academic medicine and science through education, advocacy, mentoring, and networking. Events held each year include the Fall Kick-off, Fall Social, Mentorship Symposium, Women’s Weekend, a Professional Development Luncheon Series, and Careers over Coffee networking events

Student Interest Groups

Anesthesia Student Interest Group
Faculty Advisor: Howard R. Bromley, MD, MBA

1. Purpose: To inform medical students about the specialty field of Anesthesiology
2. Dates and location: Meets PRN per call of the group’s president
3. Membership Criteria: Open to any faculty and students.

Emergency Medicine Interest Group

1. Purpose: Introduce students to the study of  emergency medicine as  a specialty and serve as a source  of information for students who wish to pursue residency training in emergency medicine.
2. Dates and Location: Meetings are monthly; location varies.
3. Membership  Criteria:  Membership is open to anyone with an interest in emergency medicine. No dues are required

Family Practice Student Association
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Goodfred, D.O

1. Purpose: Introduce family practice residents and physicians to hands on training, educational opportunities and speakers.
2. Dates and Location: Scheduled monthly on Tuesday evenings at the GEB or SAC.
3. Membership Criteria: Ten dollars per  year membership fee which entitles members to receive monthly and quarterly journals.

Internal Medicine Interest Group
Faculty Advisor: Kim Huch, MD, FACP

1. Purpose: To inform medical students of the many opportunities in a career in Internal Medicine
2. Dates and Location: TBA
3. Membership Criteria: Open to anyone with an interest in Internal Medicine

Special Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN)
Faculty Advisor: Mervat Wahba, MD

1. Purpose: Introduce students to the study of Neurology as a specialty and serve as a source of information for students who wish to pursue residency training in Neurology.
2. Dates and Location: Meetings are semiannual; location varies
3. Membership Criteria: Open to anyone with an interest in Neurology. No dues are required.
4. Additional benefits: Scholarship funds are often available to those students who wish to  attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Ob/Gyn Student Interest Group
Faculty Advisor: Owen Phillips, MD

1. Purpose: The Ob-Gyn special interest group educates students about career opportunities in women’s health through discussions of health related issues particular to women.
2. Dates and Location: Meetings bi-monthly; location varies
3. Membership Criteria: Open to any faculty and students.

Student Interest Group in Ophthalmology (SIGIO)
Faculty Advisor: William R. Morris, MD

1. Purpose: Educating medical students at the University of Tennessee College of  Medicine about the specialty of Ophthalmology as a career choice; Increasing students’ knowledge of diseases of the eyes and their adnexae, examination techniques, and the eyes’ relationship to systemic diseases; Offering opportunities for medical students to  become involved in community  service, research, or other scholarly activities of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Of Tennessee Health Science Center College Of Medicine.
2. Dates and location: Approximately once quarterly
3. Website: http://www.uthsc.edu/eye/sigio/index.php

Pediatric Issues Student Association (PISA)
Faculty Advisor: Valerie Jameson, MD

1. Purpose: PISA was founded in 1997 by a group of students interested in providing young physicians with additional information and exposure to pediatrics. PISA arranges guests to speak on topics such as residency programs, childhood development, child abuse, and community service projects. The goal of this organization is to help students with difficult career decisions. PISA also serves to assist students interested in pediatrics with finding mentors, applying for residencies and making important class decisions.
2. Dates and Location: This group meets three times a term at the Le Bonheur auditorium.
3. Membership Criteria: Open to any student or faculty member sharing an interest or love for children.

Psychiatry Student Interest Group (PSYCHSIGN)
Faculty Advisor: Iverson Bell, MD

1. Purpose: To provide a forum for students interested in the psychological aspects of medical care, and to serve as a source of information and guidance for students who want to explore specialty training in psychiatry
2. Dates and Locations: TBA
3. Membership Criteria: Open to any student and faculty member sharing an interest in human behavior, and in the complex interplay between mental and physical processes in health and disease

Student Surgical Society
Faculty Advisor: Gayle Minard, MD

1. Purpose: Provide career counseling, fellowship and professional mentoring opportunities to medical students in pursuing professions in general surgery and the surgical subspecialties.
2. Dates and Location: Meetings are monthly; location varies.
3. Membership Criteria: Medical students enrolled at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine.

Phi Chi Fraternity

Phi Chi is the nation’s largest medical fraternity with more than 45,000 members worldwide. There are over 350 Phi Chi alumni in Memphis alone, many of whom are active in the Alumni Association. Located on the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center campus in Memphis, TN, the Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Chi is the largest chapter of the largest medical fraternity in the country. The goal of Phi Chi is to offer all medical students an opportunity to join an organization that will help them make the best of their medical school years.  The UT Chapter, chartered in 1914, welcomes both male and female members and offers housing opportunities as well as social and professional programs and activities.