Tino Mkorombindo is a third year MD/MBA candidate at the University of Louisville School of Medicine/College of Business. You can follow him on instagram, twitter, or linkedin.
Welcome! Here we are actively compiling a list of organization that underrepresented scholars should be a part of. These organizations will provide valuable information and access to new opportunities. Be sure to check out our blog about how to utilize online message boards. If you would like to contribute to this section, email info@greaterinfluence.org
Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is a student organization that focuses on diversity and increasing opportunities for students of color. The Student National Medical Association puts great emphasis on social and cultural awareness in healthcare, the needs of underserved communities, and the concerns and advancement of minority medical students and medical school faculty. The SNMA’s members include medical students, pre-medical students, residents, and licensed physicians. It runs a number community outreach programs that deal with important issues within healthcare, such as sexual health awareness, violence prevention, and smoking cessation. Members can participate in educational and mentoring opportunities in addition to the SNMA’s national committees, which include a number of student interest groups. Of course, the SNMA also advocates for its mission in the political sphere.
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association(APAMSA) was formed to address issues of Asian Pacific American health, which it felt were being largely ignored by existing organizations. Since its initial formation, APAMSA chapters have formed at schools across the country to improve the health and well-being of the Asian Pacific American community and promote understanding of the unique challenges Asian Pacific Americans face in medicine.
Association of American Indian Physicians was established to improve the health of American Indian and Alaksa Natives in part by promoting education in the medical disciplines. The organization supports students through information on scholarships, internships, and fellowships for Native American and Alaska Natives.
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) — LMSA (formerly NNLAMS) was founded to represent, support, educate and unify Latin American medical students in the U.S. Now more than 30 years in existence, the organization works to eliminate health disparities, educate medical students on Latino health issues and advocate for rights of Latinos in the health care system. LMSA leaders also work closely with the National Hispanic Medical Association.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is an important voice when it comes to medical ethics and legislation, as it represents all American and Canadian medical schools and most teaching hospitals. It is worth noting that the AAMC is the not-for-profit organization that administers the Medical College Admission Test, more commonly known as the MCAT, and the American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS. Any aspiring doctor will almost certainly take the MCAT and will most likely apply to med school through AMCAS. The scope of the AAMC’s mission is extremely broad and encompasses everything from research to patient care initiatives. Major concerns for the AAMC include health education, global health, and advancements in medical technologies and therapies. According to its official website, the “AAMC represents 128,000 faculty members, 83,000 medical students, and 110,000 resident physicians.” To get the most up-to-date information on the AAMC, you can visit the AAMC website.
American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is a national organization that is governed by its student-members. AMSA represents any concerns that aspiring physicians may have as they work toward their careers in medicine, including improving the medical training experience and access to quality healthcare, both in America and around the world. Med students, pre-meds, interns, residents, and licensed physicians can all become members of AMSA. In addition to running its own magazine, The New Physician, AMSA takes an interest in the political policies surrounding medicine. The organization offers a suite of benefits to its members, such as career and leadership development seminars, webinars, and international exchanges. Students are encouraged to participate in local chapters, events, and meetings and to take advantage of everything AMSA has to offer. If you would like to read more about AMSA, you can find plenty of information on the AMSA website.
Student Doctor Network (SDN) is a nonprofit organization with a membership that includes pre-health students, graduates, and doctors. According to the SDN’s official website, the “educational mission of SDN is to assist and encourage all students through the challenging and complicated healthcare education process and into practice.” The SDN’s extensive and historic membership contributes to a large online database of information for aspiring doctors. Its forums are an important and widely used resource for pre-health and graduate health students.
