Student Organizations Catalogue

The Adolescent Medicine Interest Group (AMIG) provides an opportunity for interested students to learn more about treating and managing the unique needs of adolescents. Our goal is to introduce the field of adolescent medicine as a career option, as well as to supplement our medical knowledge in areas that are more focused toward teen patients. In the past, this group has offered talks about career options and issues in adolescent medicine, including eating disorders, teenage pregnancy, and adolescent sexuality.

The AIG is a student interest group for medical students interested in anesthesiology. We provide shadowing opportunities, clinical workshops, and informational panels/meetings for students looking to learn more about this awesome specialty!

The Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) provides a supportive community for students considering a career in dermatology. We offer opportunities for students to form meaningful experiences and networking within the field.

Emergency Medicine Interest Group aims to expose medical and nursing students to topics in Emergency Medicine (EM) earlier in their medical education while concurrently beginning to practice the relevant skills in the pre-clinical years through simulation training sessions. Simulation sessions provide medical students the opportunity to practice the skills and techniques that are discussed in the lecture series, as well as basic skills commonly seen in the ED like suturing, airway management, and casting. To further enhance clinical problem-solving, small-group case nights and panels are held by faculty and residents. Additionally, students are able to pursue shadowing opportunities both in the ED and in EMS systems.

The field of Otolaryngology (ENT) covers an incredible breadth and depth of medical as well as surgical care. The field has evolved considerably and now encompasses seven subspecialties including pediatric otolaryngology, rhinology, facial plastic surgery, neurotology, surgical oncology, laryngology and sleep surgery. Our group serves as a source of didactic lectures, interactive physical exam sessions, and clinical/surgical shadowing opportunities, all with our amazing ENT attendings here at UMass who are excited to show what they love about their chosen field.

The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) provides interested students with an opportunity to explore the diverse field of family medicine, including the specialty's emphasis on social justice and health equity. Students will get the opportunity to network with family medicine providers and build clinical skills through panel discussions, procedure workshops, shadowing and research opportunities, and much more!

This group is an opportunity for students to gain experience working with GI faculty at UMass. In addition to coordinating shadowing opportunities for students, this group also facilitates student opportunities to attend faculty GI case conferences, meet with GI faculty and learn from their experiences. Faculty host monthly case conferences and discussions for students so that the students may learn from their expertise.

GSSA (Global Surgery Student Alliance) is a national student run group that aims to foster awareness around global surgery. Our chapter here at UMass works to expose students to the fundamental aspects involved in achieving worldwide sustainable and accessible surgical care as well as the necessary steps in developing a career in global surgery. We welcome both medical and nursing students, as well as anyone else from the UMass community, interested in exploring the field of global surgery.

The Hem/Onc interest group seeks to encourage interest in the field of hematology/oncology. We plan events for students that include panels, independent lectures, and opportunities to connect with residents and attending physicians with the goal of increasing student exposure to the field.

The IndEx (Industry Exploration) program is aimed to help Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students and postdocs at UMass Chan explore careers in biotech/pharmaceutical industries in the Worcester/Boston/New England area. IndEx arranges for small groups of trainees to visit biotech/pharma companies to experience company culture firsthand and obtain netwroking opportunities. The companies will host a range of activities that may include a tour of relevant facilities, one-on-one or group discussions with company scientists, and discussions with company HR staff to learn about the company's hiring processes. The program will help students explore careers in industry, help them understand the working structure of industries in general, and will also provide a platform to network with scientists in industry.

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Infectious Disease Interest Group’s (IDIG) mission is to introduce pre-clinical medical students, nursing students, and other graduate-level students to the infectious disease specialty with a focus on the multitude of career paths within the field. We provide shadowing opportunities for interested students throughout the year, host panels where students can directly interact with faculty in the infectious disease department at UMass Chan, and invite faculty/other special guests in to talk about integral + relevant infectious disease topics.

The Internal Medicine Interest Group aims to provide students with academically enriching experiences in the incredibly broad field of internal medicine. These experiences include panel discussions, clinical observation experiences, skills sessions, and opportunities for networking with physicians and residents within internal medicine & its subspecialties.

Interventional Radiology is an innovative and rapidly growing field that uses minimally invasive techniques guided by imaging to address problems of every organ system. The Interventional Radiology Interest Group (IRIG) aims to increase visibility and early exposure among medical students and promote mentorship between IR faculty, residents and students. We have formal shadowing opportunities in vascular and neurointerventional radiology, hands-on workshops as well as panel and lecture discussions with IR faculty and residents. We want to educate students about the residency program application process and varied routes of entry into IR, including the newer Integrated IR residency pathway.

Leadership in Medicine is an elective course that aims to develop and enhance the necessary leadership and teamwork skills for first and second-year medical students in order to prepare them for clinical rotations and medical practice. This elective is designed to explore the key intersection of diversity and leadership in many different aspects. The elective includes interactive sessions on leadership style, networking, compassionate leadership, how to drive change, community health and leadership, diversity in mentorship, and how to build a diverse team. The sessions are facilitated by faculty with special expertise or interest in the topic being discussed.

The Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (LMIG) is a tri-school organization committed to promoting evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic intervention within UMass Chan and the greater Worcester community. This includes a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease. The LMIG increases the awareness of lifestyle medicine across disciplines through programming for students, clinicians, and the community. Our organization is rooted in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease by improving health-awareness and empowering patients to take an active role in their wellbeing.  

The MassAHEC Rural Health Scholars Pathway is an interprofessional learning experience.  Its aim is to nurture the interest of UMass Chan students who want to explore practice in rural and small-town communities. Participating students:

• are paired with a primary care physician mentor at the Barre Family Health Center or another practice in a small town.
• learn about important linkages between clinical practice and public health aimed at developing healthy communities (PURCH students participate in activities in the Springfield and Greenfield areas),
• have the opportunity to meet and to be mentored by others in the medical, nursing, public health, population health and governmental sectors as well as other health care disciplines who work to meet the needs of rural and small-town communities,
• become part of a small group of students who participate in interactive workshops and share a desire to care for underserved residents in small towns and rural areas.

The Med/Peds IG is designed to support students who are interested in training in combined medicine/pediatrics after graduation.

The Military Medicine and VA Interest Group aim to educate students about the practice of medicine in the military and the care of current and former members of the military, facilitate connections between students and the VA to provide educational opportunities related to working with veterans/the VA, and serve as a resource and network for students committed to or interested in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP).

The OB/GYN interest Group at UMass Chan Medical School is committed to the promotion of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a future career path for UMass Chan students. Our goal is to expose students to the various aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology and provide both mentoring and clinical opportunities for those wishing to further develop their interests in the field. By giving medical students early insight into Obstetrics and Gynecology during the FOM1 and FOM2 years, we hope to provide opportunities that will create a foundation for students interested in becoming specialists in the future.

The Ophthalmology Interest Group aims to promote an interest in Ophthalmology by providing opportunities to learn more about the specialty, interact with faculty, and facilitate research involvement. Whether or not you want to apply into Ophthalmology, this is the premier group to learn all there is to know about this innovative and exciting specialty!

The Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group seeks to enable students to explore the field of orthopedics and get to know the UMass orthopedic surgeons. We help organize shadowing opportunities and weekends on call with residents. We also put together other events such as panels with Orthopedic Surgeons and casting workshops. We are passionate about the field of orthopedics and aim to enable students to become involved in orthopedics, as well.

Whether you are someone who knows you want to become a pediatrician, or someone who is just looking to learn more about pediatric medicine you have a place in the Pediatric Interest Group! Our goal is to help pre-clinical students explore their interest in the field through various learning opportunities such as Pediatric Morning Report, Pediatric Mini-Rounds, NICU Shadowing, and more.

Introduce students to the field and potential career paths, provide focused lectures, research opportunities, shadowing opportunities, and skills sessions to build experience.

The Psychiatry Student Interest Group (PSIG) was created for students who are interested in entering the field of psychiatry, as well as those who are interested in exploring current topics in psychiatry. The mission of PSIG is to promote an inclusive environment where students feel supported in their goals of pursuing psychiatry as a career. To achieve this goal, PSIG hosts faculty, resident, and student panels, organizes opportunities to shadow residents, holds movie nights, organizes guest speaker events, connects students to research and volunteering opportunities, and provides a bridge for mentorship with UMass psychiatry faculty. PSIG is a part of the national Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network (PsychSIGN) and encourages members to register with PsychSIGN. In addition, PSIG supports students to attend PsychSIGN's annual regional conference in the Fall and national conference in the Spring.

The Radiology Interest Group is a student led organization that exposes students to careers in radiology through panel discussions and mentorship by senior medical students, radiology residents, and radiology attendings.

We are a student-led organization that focuses on creating innovation simulation events for pre-clinical medical students to further their medical education with hands-on training in clinical skills and techniques. Simulation aids serve as an alternative to real patients, creating a safe environment for students to practice clinical skills with decreased risk and harm. This method of teaching, along with its many benefits, has recently gathered increased interest, and advances in technology has enabled its use to grow significantly.

The Sports Med Interest group aims to give students the opportunity learn about sports medicine and the various ways to enter the field. Through shadowing both in clinic and at local college and high school games, lectures, and hands-on learning, we hope provide students with the experience necessary to understand what being a sports med physician entails.

The Student Interest Group for Neurology is an interest group run by medical students interested in exploring the field of neurology and facilitating connections with neurology faculty. Opportunities in the interest group include exposure to neurology research at UMASS Chan Medical School, community outreach through our Building Relationships Among our Intergenerational Neighborhood (BRAIN) volunteering initiative, and our Optional Enrichment Elective (OEE) - Advancements in Clinical Neuroscience.

The Surgery Interest Group (SIG) is a student-led organization for students interested in pursuing or exploring the field of surgery. We hope to broaden students' horizons through events around campus and organizing shadowing, research, and mentoring opportunities, such as hosting panels for 4th-year students and surgical residents to share their advice/experiences and the Pre-Clinical Surgery Program.

Oncodermatology involves the diagnosis and management of skin toxicities that develop from anti-cancer treatments. Research to minimize these toxicities is central to improving patient quality of life and dignity while receiving their anti-cancer therapy. Further, toxicity-associated disruptions of anti-cancer treatment increase morbidity and mortality associated with the cancer. Our group recognizes the profound importance of oncodermatology and meets quarterly to discuss current literature. At each meeting, we discuss three journal articles and engage with a guest speaker. We are fortunate to have support from our mentor, Dr. Svoboda. 

To be committed to the education and exploration of medical students interested in providing healthcare to any group(s) facing barriers to access to the medicine; to promote the active improvement of medical education; to involve its members in the social, moral, and ethical obligations of the profession of medicine; to assist in the improvement and understanding of community health problems; to advance the profession of medicine; to work to ensure that medicine reflects the diversity of society, with diversity including but not limited to differences in age, culture, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, gender, and disability.

The Consulting Club at UMass Chan Medical School aims to prepare current trainees for a successful transition from academia to business-related careers. We view our biomedical training as foundational to understand, interpret, analyze, and solve complex problems. We provide educational workshops, a hands-on training regimen, and networking events to help trainees develop business acumen. We assist trainees in translating and applying these skills to solve business problems in the life sciences industry.

The Urology Interest Group is a student-led organization that brings the students of UMass Chan Medical School exposure to the field of Urology – an exciting specialty that blends surgery and medicine in a very unique way. Our goal is to educate students about Urology through campus events, connect students with shadowing, research, and mentoring opportunities within the field, and allow for the sharing of wisdom and advice between students and faculty to help foster the growth and development of future urologic surgeons—this is facilitated through panels with Urology residents and faculty, hands-on surgery skills clinics, and information sessions about the early AUA match.

The Wilderness Medicine Interest Group and the Wilderness Medicine OEE are the best ways to gain useful skills related to the practice of medicine in remote areas. Come to our sessions to hear from incredible speakers, take part in scenario-based learning, and go on adventures in the wilderness of the Northeast!

The Worcester Free Care Collaborative (WFCC) is the student body that oversees a range of free medical clinics in the Greater Worcester area. Our clinics offer medical care, social support services, and educational materials to improve the health and well-being of our patients. We are dedicated to serving the residents of our community regardless of their income, insurance, or housing status.

Best Buddies is a group dedicated to supporting members of the Worcester community with special needs through group activities and individual buddy pairings with students of UMass Chan Medical School.

Correctional Health Educators is a group of students passionate about improving health education for adolescents. We partner with Massachusetts Department of Youth Services to work with juvenile detention centers in the Worcester area to teach interactive health education classes. Our curriculum covers sexual education, healthy relationships, nutrition, alcohol, and drug use. Our purpose is to foster a safe and supportive environment to facilitate conversations on health while developing our health education skills and correctional health knowledge-base.

In March of 2020, students at the University of Massachusetts Medical School founded the student Crisis and Emergency Preparedness Committee (CEPC): a student-run interdisciplinary organization that sought to coordinate UMass Chan student volunteer efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021, CEPC organized opportunities for student engagement, including vaccination clinics, efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy in the community, outreach with multilingual vaccine education, and support for clinical healthcare workers. CEPC has also worked closely with UMass Chan administration and local public health leaders to deploy student volunteers to administer the COVID-19 vaccines at vaccination sites across Central MA.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, CEPC has changed its mission to encompass more aspects of emergency prevention and response. CEPC is dedicated towards, but not limited to, several main goals. Coordinating and staffing vaccine clinics around Worcester, Working with faculty and local administration to coordinate preparedness efforts related towards any crisis that may afflict the community, and Educating students on a variety of topics to better respond to and prevent emergencies.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is guided by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s vision statement: “Healthcare will be dramatically improved by placing human interests, values and dignity at the core of teaching and practice.” The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Chapter consists of select medical students, residents, and faculty recognized for their qualities of integrity, dedication, compassion, altruism, respect, empathy and curiosity. Student members from the UMass Chan chapter work with residents and faculty members to champion a culture where humanism is the cornerstone of medicine. This year, GHHS developed five pillars to encompass the vast reach of humanism in medicine. Each pillar has an overarching theme with members working on projects that focus on advancing these themes at UMass Chan.

1. Advancing & Transforming Medical Education

2. Wellness for Students and Residents

3. Community Outreach and Advocacy

4. Honoring Identity, Self and Diversity 

5. Humanism and Narrative Medicine

The Max Baker Resource Center (MBRC) is an initiative created and maintained by students of the UMass Chan community to combat food and resource insecurity by addressing financial, social, and situational barriers to accessing necessary materials for individual health and wellness. This organization oversees that take-what-you-can and leave-what-you-can center to increase availability of healthy foods, hygiene materials, and school supplies to promote success in school and employment within the UMass Chan community.

Black men are highly underrepresented in medicine. To change this, we work primarily with young men of color at North High School through a series of workshops to develop their interests in STEM, particularly in medicine. We have at times expanded enrollment to any student at North High depending on the number of men of color who sign up. Our past workshops have included pig heart dissections, ultrasound-guided biopsies, hands-only CPR skills sessions, healthy eating cooking classes, movie screening and discussions, career panels, and so much more!

Mentors for Young Mothers (MFYM) is a UMass Chan Medical School student-run organization that works with You Inc.’s Teen Parent Supported Living Program to support and educate teen mothers experiencing housing instability in Worcester. Students facilitate workshops at two residential facilities and present information on topics such as healthy relationships, STIs, nutrition, and job interviewing skills. In addition to weekly workshops, medical students are paired with a mother at one of the residences for a one-on-one mentor-mentee relationship.

Power of Presence is a student group that aims to ensure no one is alone at the end of their life. Our volunteers provide a caring presence for lonely patients and respite for families who can’t always be with their loved ones. Being present with someone in this capacity is a truly intimate, meaningful experience and a great privilege. Volunteers are trained on how to provide companionship, to listen actively, and to respond to non-verbal communication. They may read out loud to patients or give therapeutic hand massage. We also hold lectures  a few times a year exploring different themes pertaining to end of life care.

The primary focus of Practice Safe Skin is creating and providing sun safety education to outdoor workers and youth groups. Our education includes, but is not limited to, discussions about the effects of harmful UV rays, how to best protect yourself from sun exposure, and basic identification of skin cancers. Practice Safe Skin is also helping with the transition of UMass Chan Medical School becoming a recognized Indoor Tan-Free “Skin Smart Campus” by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. Ensuring the well-being of our students, UMass Chan Medical School will be providing a safe and healthy learning and living environment on and off campus, pledging to keep indoor tanning devices off our campus and our affiliated buildings. We also promote skin cancer prevention policies. The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative is sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer which concluded that there is a strong association between increased risk of skin cancer and indoor tanning use. UV radiation exposure from indoor tanning is completely avoidable which allows for interventions to help reduce skin-cancer related illness and deaths. Numerous studies have found that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with melanoma as one of the most common cancers diagnosed among young adults. According to The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group, the use of indoor tanning facilities before the age of 35 increases the risk for melanoma by 75 percent.

As doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical students, and healthcare providers in the United States, we are committed to protecting our patients' physical and mental health and wellbeing. Every day, we use data obtained through rigorous scientific research to counsel our patients about how they can best protect themselves and their families from medical risk. As we bear witness to the devastation of firearms, we cannot remain silent about the significant danger that gun violence poses to our patients. As guardians of health and wellbeing, the medical community has a responsibility to address gun violence. This responsibility knows no political barrier. Unfortunately, after landmark research showed that the presence of firearms increases the risk of both homicide and suicide death in the home, political divisions limited funding for this subject. This limitation continues to impair our ability to develop the knowledge necessary to advise our patients. (1,2) SAFE is naming gun violence for what it is - a health threat of epidemic proportion - in order to rally the medical community to fight for the interests of our patients. It is time for us to bring the same urgency and dedication to the task of eliminating gun violence as we have to exposing other health risks, such as cigarette smoking. Gun violence threatens personal and public health. Through research, education, and support of evidence- backed policy, we can determine how best to arm our patients with facts and information that allow them to make the most informed decisions surrounding firearms.

The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus (SSC) Initiative is sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer. The SSC Initiative awards colleges that promote skin cancer prevention education and prohibit indoor tanning devices on campus and in college-affiliated buildings. The Skin Smart Campus Leadership Initiative helps colleges across the country become Skin Smart Campus recognized. We are passionate about this effort as there is a strong association between skin cancer and indoor tanning. Some research has demonstrated that tanning salons are particularly concentrated near colleges. A study out of UMass Chan found that of the top 125 US colleges listed in US News and World Report, 48% had indoor tanning facilities either on campus or in off campus housing and 14% allowed campus cash cards to be used to pay for tanning.

The purpose of this initiative is to build a program to provide tutoring for students at North High in various subjects including math and science courses (including AP courses) as well as SAT exam preparation. Our goal is to help students build a solid foundation in math and science and establish learning and studying methods while in high school before heading off to college. Along with that, we hope to help students by allowing them to have a platform to establish connections with medical students to look up to and to ask questions as they start their endeavor in STEM, since people in medical school come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds.

UMass Chan MAHPs is a student-run organization that exists to provide an open and inclusive environment for aspiring healthcare professionals to explore and understand the various requirements for admission to graduate school. UMass MAHPs provides an opportunity for students of the UMass Chan Medical School community to connect with aspiring healthcare professional students to support their personal, academic, and professional goals and development.

The Worcester Refugee Assistance Project (WRAP) is a non-profit organization composed of a network of individuals committed to assisting local refugees from Burma in attaining sustainable self-reliance. UMass Chan Medical School students have collaborated with WRAP for the past seven years and through this partnership, UMass students work alongside refugees and social justice advocates. Students learn about social determinants of health in meaningful ways while giving back to the Worcester community. WRAP offers a wide range of programs many of which are led by UMass students. These programs include a Youth Mentoring, Teen Mentoring, Children’s Education, and Youth Group, as well as a newly established Adult Group and COVID-19 education and vaccination campaign. We look forward to developing a case management program next year.

Worcester Technical High School Mentoring Program serves to connect University of Massachusetts graduate students with Worcester Technical High School juniors and seniors who are enrolled in the Biotechnology pathway. Mentors work one on one with students to provide guidance and support as they begin the college application process. Mentors also provide information about potential careers pathways in science and medicine. We begin working with the juniors in their spring semester and continue working with them through the senior fall.

The goal of Advocacy Allies is to increase the trust between Black community members and the healthcare system. We aim to increase trust by supplying medical students of color to act as patient advocates for Black patients. Our patient advocates will help the patient with note taking, communicate medical information, and report any instances of medical racism or discrimination. We hope that having a medically literate advocate of a similar background will increase black patients’ confidence in their ability to interact with the healthcare system.

From the national branch: "The American Medical Women's Association is an organization which functions at the local, national, and international level to advance women in medicine and improve women's health. We achieve this by providing and developing leadership, advocacy, education, expertise, mentoring, and strategic alliances." Here at UMass Chan Medical School, we hold events throughout the year that foster collaboration between women physicians and medical students, provide training workshops, strive towards accessible opportunities and mentorship, and create uplifting community together.

The UMass Chan Community Garden is a student-run community garden growing vegetables in the Spring and Summer seasons. The student group provides fresh produce to the greater UMass community. This student interest group is perfect for anyone who enjoys gardening, nutrition, sustainability, or community advocacy.

We educate the UMass Chan community on racism and other forms of discrimination, build community among the three schools and the Worcester community, and advocate for trainee concerns around diversity and inclusion.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is guided by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s vision statement: “Healthcare will be dramatically improved by placing human interests, values and dignity at the core of teaching and practice.” The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Chapter consists of select medical students, residents, and faculty recognized for their qualities of integrity, dedication, compassion, altruism, respect, empathy and curiosity. Student members from the UMass Chan chapter work with residents and faculty members to champion a culture where humanism is the cornerstone of medicine.  This year, GHHS developed five pillars to encompass the vast reach of humanism in medicine. Each pillar has an overarching theme with members working on projects that focus on advancing these themes at UMass Chan. 1. Advancing & Transforming Medical Education 2. Wellness for Students and Residents 3. Community Outreach and Advocacy 4. Honoring Identity, Self and Diversity  5. Humanism and Narrative Medicine.

Health Professionals for Human Rights is the UMass student chapter of Physicians for Human Rights. Through advocacy and action, we work to alleviate human rights abuses abroad and domestically. Our largest project is the student-run Worcester Asylum Clinic which provides physical and psychological medical evaluations to supplement our clients' asylum applications.

JewMass is UMass Chan’s Jewish organization serving everyone on the campus. We partner with local Jewish organizations to put on a variety of events celebrating Jewish culture, holidays, perspectives, and more. Whether you’re looking to connect with Jewish peers and faculty or to learn about Judaism, we’d love to see you at any of our events!

LMSA is committed to fostering the relationship and advancement of Latin-identifying students at UMass Chan. We aim to create a welcoming atmosphere for all who want to be involved. Our efforts hope to embrace those already at UMass Chan and those who looking to be part of UMass Chan.

M.A.S.A.L.A (Medical Alliance for South Asian Learning and Advancement) is an organization that brings students and faculty from similar cultural backgrounds together to connect via shared experiences while also showcasing our culture for increased intersectionality on campus. On top of being a social organization hoping to create a warm, hospitable setting for those coming to UMass Chan and wanting a space to celebrate their culture, we also hope to be able to have open discussion about particular experiences that medical students and faculty of this common background and identity may share while developing a career in medicine.

Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) is a national organization with the goal of creating tomorrow's abortion providers and pro-choice physicians. UMass Chan’s Chapter of MSFC holds information sessions about reproductive health including abortion, hosts procedure trainings for manual vacuum aspiration and non-scalpel vasectomy, provides opportunities to shadow abortion providers, and facilitates involvement in local advocacy and policy discussion.

The Middle Eastern & North African Student Association (MENASA) is a student group designed to create a community for all those who identify as having ties or interest in MENA-culture. We strive for an inclusive community that celebrates culture, encourages dialogue, raises awareness, and invests in the local MENA-community.

To foster a supportive, inclusive, and educational environment spreading tools and awareness for the neurodivergent community

The Non-English Speaking Clinical Care Interest Group (NESC-IG) aims to teach and immerse students in medicine as seen through the eyes of non-English speaking patients. Through a variety of activities held throughout the year, including panels with interpreters and providers who work with non-English speaking patients, as well as opportunities to work with our Worcester community, we will learn about the importance of cultural humility and build a set of skills to use as future healthcare workers providing for diverse populations.

The North American Indigenous Health (NAIH) Interest Group is a coalition of students working towards greater health equity by educating ourselves and other medical providers about the unique responsibilities we owe to North American Indigenous groups and the impact of generational inequities on Indigenous health today. 

As physicians we are trained to identify the factors that influence our patient’s health, many of which include social barriers, health care system delivery, and current public policy. As such, physicians should advocate for positive change on behalf of the health and well-being of our patients. Organized Medicine collaborates with organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA), Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), Worcester District Medical Society (WDMS), and American Medical Student Association (AMSA) to represent the physician and trainee perspectives on topics ranging from racial justice to medical education. With these partnerships, students have the opportunity to write and review policy, meet with their local or state elected officials, learn more about health care policy, and are empowered to make changes in their community.

QMass is a student interest group committed to making UMass Chan a more LGBTQIA+ inclusive and supportive place for students, patients, and community members. Our mission is to provide resources, hold community events, and spearhead advocacy initiatives to build connections, raise awareness, and promote the well-being and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals both within and connected with UMass Chan. In addition, QMass aims to provide professional, emotional, and social support for students at UMass who identify as LGBTQIA+ or who are interested in LGBTQIA+ related topics. We are committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across the curriculum, students, and faculty at UMass Chan Medical School. QMass West is the PURCH/Baystate chapter of the QMass LGBTQIA+ group. QMass West is based at Baystate and is focused on the above goals with regards to PURCH students, faculty, and community members, as well as general T.H. Chan School of Medicine students rotating at Baystate. Similar to the main QMass group, QMass West aims to increase advocacy for LGBTQIA+ patients, students, and community members, promote LGBTQIA+ health education, and provide resources for LGBTQIA+ T.H. Chan School of Medicine community members. 

The goal of the Refugee Health Interest Group is to identify and serve the unique needs of new refugee arrivals and current refugee families resettled by the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC) in Worcester. The Refugee Health Interest group pairs UMass Chan students with refugee families in need of help navigating medical and social resources to assist in the resettlement process. Additionally, the Refugee Health Interest Group provides medical students with the opportunity to shadow physicians at the Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) to gain cultural understanding and global health clinical experiences. The Refugee Health Interest Group plans on forming a formal four-way partnership with the RIAC, ACE, and FHCW to streamline all refugee health efforts between UMass Chan and the Worcester community.

Helping minorities understand, attain, and succeed in STEM. Promote diversity and inclusion institutionally and in neighboring communities

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is the nation's oldest and largest student organization focusing on the interests and concerns of students of color. SNMA is committed to supporting both current & future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of culturally competent & socially conscious physicians.

Climate change is the greatest global public health crisis of our generation as evidenced by the increasing incidence of natural disasters, heat-waves, ocean rise, food instability, and the changing patterns of infectious diseases. Importantly, rising global temperatures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as children, elderly, and individuals with predisposing illnesses. International efforts are lacking in attempts to curb the climate crisis so it is imperative that swift action be taken on an individual and organizational level. As future healthcare providers, we must not only be educated about the effects of climate change but also use our collective voice to generate institutional change to better serve our patients. The UMass Chan Coalition for Climate Action aims to bring awareness to the climate crisis, educate current and future physicians to the health effects of climate change, and collaborate with the UMass Chan Medical School administration and other student organizations to bring more sustainability initiatives to both the UMass and greater Worcester communities.

The UMass Chan Medical School American Muslim Medical Student Association provides for the first time an avenue of interaction and discourse amongst Muslims and all others throughout the medical school system within Worcester, including those in the UMass Memorial Healthcare system. We aim to be a source of local events, whether in the form of celebrating Islamic holidays, volunteering efforts for cultural immersion, or learning more about Islam and its tenets. We invite those who work or study on the campus, whether as medical students, residents, nurses, physicians, professors, or other healthcare workers. In particular, this group is open to all, as we hope to establish elements of cultural humility, understanding, and interfaith. We also aim to promote awareness of issues that affect Muslims throughout today’s world and in the process aim to shed light on our collective human nature. Welcome!

The purpose of this organization shall be to provide students with the education, tools, and resources necessary to become skilled care providers and social-change agents within the healthcare system as it relates to sexual and reproductive justice.

UMass Chan Christian Fellowship (UCF) is a community of Christ-seeking students, staff, and clinicians at UMass Chan Medical School: T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Tan Chingfan Graduate School of Nursing, and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. UCF is a chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). We exist to love others and to tell everyone about the redemptive finished work of Jesus Christ. Weekly Bible studies are available through this group!

UMass Chan APAMSA is a chapter of a national organization. The Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) is a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities. APAMSA serves as a forum for student leaders to engage these health issues and develop initiatives and projects addressing those needs. The local, regional, and national activities of APAMSA aim to promote the health of the APIA community and help healthcare workers understand how to care for APIA patients in a culturally sensitive manner. Finally, APAMSA provides an important venue for medical students to meet, exchange experiences, and develop personally and professionally through leadership and service.

Our work at UMass Chan Medical School focuses specifically on cultivating a culture that supports and celebrates Black, Latinx, and Indigenous learners, raises awareness of racism as a public health crisis, and building capacity across the entire campus community to center the needs and perspectives of patients and community members of color.

The goal of the Urban Health Scholars Longitudinal Enrichment Elective is to encourage student interest in primary care, particularly to serve culturally and linguistically diverse, traditionally underserved populations.  The longitudinal elective, spanning four years of medical school, is partnered with the Rural Health Scholar Longitudinal Enrichment Elective; both are supported by MassAHEC. In T.H. Chan School of Medicine Year 1, students complete didactic and experiential opportunities related to urban health and be assigned an LPP at an urban health center.  The students will meet regularly with faculty to reflect on and process what they are learning and the implications for their future profession; attaining mastery includes repeated reinforcement and ongoing reflection. Students will be supported in the development of a Capstone and Summer Assistantship. In T.H. Chan School of Medicine Year 2, the students will participate in 5-10 hours of didactic/experiential opportunities with the incoming class, continue their LPP placement and Capstone. Students will be prioritized for a Population Health Clerkship which responds to their interest. In T.H. Chan School of Medicine Years 3 and 4, students will strengthen their leadership skills by co-leading the seminars and skills sessions, complete their Family Medicine clerkship, urban health FCEs, Capstone and present/publish as opportunities arise (e.g. Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, National Association of Community Health Centers). Students will be supported by Kendra Marien, MSW, Director, Central MA AHEC (faculty appointment in process), Linda Cragin, MS, Director, MassAHEC and Warren Ferguson, MD, MassAHEC Medical Director, and family medicine faculty based at their LPP sites.  Suzanne Cashman, ScD, as co-director of the Rural Health Scholars Longitudinal Enrichment Elective and evaluator of the AHEC grant is also significantly involved.

This OEE will be a unique opportunity for undergraduate medical students to explore the integration of medicine and the visual arts. Art is an extremely useful tool for physicians. Physicians can use art to communicate complex procedures and medical concepts to patients, to provide therapy to patients, or to raise awareness about issues in healthcare. Physicians can also use art for self-reflection, well-being, and prevention of burnout. Students will learn about the history and importance of medical illustrators and art therapists. Students will also gain basic art skills in the context of medical illustration, graphic medicine, and art therapy. Students will be able to practice and use these skills to create a final project showcasing what they have learned during the OEE. 

The CARE (Collaborative Advocacy for Resilience and Empathy) Committee is a medical student committee affiliated with the UMass Chan Committee of Student Well-Being. We strive to promote diverse wellness efforts in small, meaningful doses to medical students at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine. We work with and help support various student organizations and OEEs to further their promotion of wellness on campus. Each semester typically has 5 sessions which run from 5:30pm-8:00pm. The session begins with a collaborative cooking experience where all the involved students cook a meal while learning new recipes, incorporating alternative ingredients, and acquiring new culinary skills that can be incorporated into daily practice. Following the cooking segment, everyone joins together and eats while a guest speaker joins and shares their knowledge about the specific topic of the session. These topics have included: Food insecurity, cooking for diabetes, cooking for IBD, Prenatal health, and an introduction to plant-based eating. This OEE welcomes all students from any of the 3 schools in UMass. No prior cooking experience is necessary!

Throughout our medical school career, we spend a great amount of time learning about the remarkable treatments, medications, and therapies that we can administer to patients in need. Although this information is important and necessary to learn, our medical school curriculum falls short when it comes to educating us about nutrition and its vital role in health and wellbeing. In the Culinary Medicine OEE, our goal is to help fill in some of these gaps by creating a space where interested students can cook healthy plant-based meals together (both in-person and virtually through Zoom) and learn from experienced faculty and guest speakers who share their wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition and holistic living. Each semester typically has 5 sessions which run from 5:30pm-8:00pm. The session begins with a collaborative cooking experience where all the involved students cook a meal while learning new recipes, incorporating alternative ingredients, and acquiring new culinary skills that can be incorporated into daily practice. Following the cooking segment, everyone joins together and eats while a guest speaker joins and shares their knowledge about the specific topic of the session. These topics have included: Food insecurity, cooking for diabetes, cooking for IBD, Prenatal health, and an introduction to plant-based eating. This OEE welcomes all students from any of the 3 schools in UMass. No prior cooking experience is necessary! Each semester typically has 5 sessions which run from 5:30pm-8:00pm. The session begins with a collaborative cooking experience where all the involved students cook a meal while learning new recipes, incorporating alternative ingredients, and acquiring new culinary skills that can be incorporated into daily practice. Following the cooking segment, everyone joins together and eats while a guest speaker joins and shares their knowledge about the specific topic of the session. These topics have included: Food insecurity, cooking for diabetes, cooking for IBD, Prenatal health, and an introduction to plant-based eating. This OEE welcomes all students from any of the 3 schools in UMass. No prior cooking experience is necessary!

Docapella is an interprofessional acapella group that seeks to bring healing through song. We believe that the physician is more than a scientist, but also a person and a musician. The goals of our group are: to bring together UMass Chan community members of all interests through a capella singing; to bring joy to the UMass Chan community, including patients; and to use the power of song to promote healing and interpersonal connection.

Adapted from The Moth storytelling radio show and podcast, Med Moth was established by medical students at UMass Chan in 2016 to provide a forum for those in the medical community to share reflections on their experiences in medicine. The goal of Med Moth is to promote humanism in medicine through storytelling by all members of the UMass Chan medical community. In the past we have heard from a diverse variety of voices including the Chief of Pediatric Surgery, registered nurses, and medical students. Our events are very simple. We typically have 6-8 speakers share 5-10 minute stories. Past talks have been about the speaker's journey into medicine, meaningful patient encounters, or other experiences that have shaped their personal or professional identity in health care. Some have been humorous (a horrible first day of internship) and others have been more serious (coping with the guilt of making a medical error). This provides the opportunity for individuals to not only reflect, but also learn from the diverse perspectives and experiences of their peers.

We intend to provide students who choose to join an opportunity to play chess with other students. Chess boards/pieces are expensive and it is difficult to find other people to play with. We will provide that infrastructure for people as well as providing a fun place to come and relax once a week.

To provide learners with an introduction to medical ethics, especially in clinical and academic environments, and to foster discussion around current ethics issues in medicine and research. 

Students will be given the space to learn both about the Deaf community (i.e. culture, common practices, etc.) as well as common signs that can be used when greeting a Deaf patient. We will dedicate a portion of the time to open and engaging discussions regarding certain topics faced by the Deaf community, such as the medical view of deafness, practices and customs within the Deaf culture, and more. The initial portion of each meeting will introduce these concepts and ideas, to be expanded upon and discussed in smaller breakout rooms via Zoom. Students will then join together as a whole group and expand upon these discussions further. The remainder of the time will be spent on educating and teaching the students American Sign Language (ASL) signs that are related to the topic covered in the earlier discussion, through the help of case presentations and case-based learning, also in smaller breakout rooms. This learning is solely intended to aid students in developing skills to establish rapport with future patients and will not be comprehensive for patient interactions. Sessions will emphasize the limitations of the course-imparted ASL and will highlight the critical role of interpreters in Deaf patient-provider interactions. By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the cultural norms within the Deaf community, the barriers these individuals face while approaching healthcare, and common ASL signs to use in practice to help mitigate some of these barriers.

More than 25% of the United States qualifies as disabled.  However, despite being the largest minority, disability is still rarely addressed in medical education. This OEE endeavors to expand the understanding of the rich, complex culture and history of disability in the United States.  From the disability rights movement to the intricate system of special education and IEPs, this course will teach participants about the realities of being disabled in this country.  We feel exposure to the experiences of people with disabilities, both healthcare related and not, is important for future providers to understand some of the perspectives of patients impacted by disability.  This OEE will delve into the complexities of advocacy and medical decision making but it will also highlight the joy and beauty of the disability community.  Furthermore, each session will include the perspectives of people with disabilities, giving learners the chance to interact directly with a population that is rarely given a platform to share their own experience.

The Geriatrics Interest Group (GIG) is an interprofessional group that brings together nursing students (GSN), medical students, and pharmacy students to learn about caring for older adults and the unique challenges that they face. Through a program called the Navigate elective that pairs students with older patients to "navigate" them through their primary care appointments. By spending time with members of our older communities, we seek to foster mutual understanding and appreciation of all people particularly of geriatric populations. GIG offers learners insight into better ways to care for one of our most vulnerable populations, older adults.

To provide an introduction of what comprises health systems science (health policy and economics, quality improvement, value-based care, interprofessional care, social determinants of health, healthcare technology, and more). Give an overview of the foundational knowledge from which to build upon in future learning Collect student feedback and ideas to better integrate HSS into prospective medical education curriculum. https://umassmed.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/oume/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B317EE143-FE11-433E-9B54-AD7112459932%7D&file=AY22-23%20OE%20972%20Health%20System%20Science.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true"

Although the current curriculum has introduced us to the health concerns of women regarding cancer, pregnancy, and mental health issues, there has been little investigation of the greater implications of how health concerns affect women differently than men. Women also experience social injustices that may adversely impact health care and issues regarding the gender wage gap, body expectations and traditional family values are not discussed in detail in the core curriculum. This elective will give students opportunities to explore the biopsychosocial aspects to be considered when treating patients identifying as women or who have had experiences as women. In a smaller group setting, students can ask questions and generate meaningful discussions with fellow students, community members and faculty members about a wide variety of women’s health topics in more detail than is currently possible within the time constraints of current pre-clinical courses. These discussions will serve not only to deliver information but also improve students’ discussion skills surrounding sensitive, complex topics as we consider how evolving social conditions, political climates, and research inform and affect women's health. Students will also have the opportunity to build upon the interviewing skills introduced in the Doctoring and Clinical Skills course regarding the role of the physician in special situations and how the physician serves within an interprofessional team of healthcare workers and community leaders. Completion of this elective will afford students the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as advocates for the health of their patients as they actively explore how gender intersects with race, mental illness, violence, sexuality, and more as a social determinant of health. This OEE aims to build upon the diversity requirements by the school that explore the determinants of health that particularly affect women and will influence health care delivery by future health care professionals.

Our group is a branch of a larger organization that has chapters across New England. Our goal is to get healthcare students and professionals at UMass involved in fitness events. Be on the lookout for a race schedule, group training events, nutrition classes, and more! Medicine in Motion is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with multiple chapters across New England that aims to fight burnout in the medical field. Membership is composed of a diverse group of healthcare providers, and our mission is to address medical burnout through fitness, interdisciplinary community building, and philanthropy. We encourage healthy lifestyles and fitness among medical professionals to optimize performance and patient care, reduce medical burnout, and provide better and healthier examples for our patients.

We aim to share our love for the outdoors with all interested members in the UMass Chan community - whether you are a seasoned mountaineer or you are interested in going on your first hike. We lead hikes at various levels and in all seasons, locally and in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We also host workshops and gear demonstrations to educate members on safe hiking practices in all seasons. Our monthly trips provide an opportunity to meet other students from all three schools, while enjoying safe and challenging adventures that serve as an excellent break from your studies. Email the student leaders to sign up for our mailing list.

The UMass Chan Barbell Club is a group of medical students who enjoy spending their free time getting stronger and building lifelong healthy habits through strength training. We hope to provide an inclusive community to all, no matter prior experience, who are interested in any form of strength training; for example, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and strongman.

The UMass Chan Soccer Club is a group of medical students who enjoy spending their limited free time playing the world’s favorite sport. Any and all skill levels are welcome!

The purpose of the Graduate Student Body Committee will be to represent the graduate students of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School faculty, administration, community, and to act as one of the student governments of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Nothing in this charter is meant to interfere with the right of any student or group of students to represent their interests directly to the student body, the GSBC, the administration, the faculty, or the UMCMS executive council. 

The purpose of the GSNO shall be to foster and promote communication, cooperation, and continuity among graduate nursing, medical and biomedical science students, as well as with administration, faculty and staff. The GSNO board will support students, especially new students, during their time at Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing by being their advocates to school leadership and providing them with fulfilling opportunities—both in school and in the community—to enhance their learning experience.

To integrate students, residents, and faculty into smaller communities to foster collaborative learning and mentoring relationships, so that we will teach and learn from one another as we progress in our careers in medicine.

This is the student leadership body which advocates for students of all three schools at UMass Chan.