The University at Buffalo School of Medicine sponsors multiple student run interest groups in a variety of fields.
    Student organizations are an integral part of life on campus and serve not only the interests of the medical students here, but also the community in general. Here you can find information for and about the student run clubs within the school of medicine.

     All student organizations must seek recognition and registration with some entity of the University, preferably with the student government.

If you are interested in starting a club of your own please see our Application for further instructions.

Current Organizations, 2011-2012

• American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (more info)
  
  The AAPI Medical Student and Resident Section represents over 10,000 students across the country. Although Asian Indians constitute less than 1 percent of the population of the United States, they constitute 10-12 percent of the student body in medical schools in the U.S. This dynamic, bright, and enthusiastic group of future physicians engages in clinical practice, community service, cutting-edge research, and the promotion of Indian culture. Their membership in AAPI is growing faster than any other group
• American Medical Association-Medical Student Section (more info)
  AMA (AMA-MSS) is the largest club at our school and serves as a national voice of medical students for advancing health care and advocating for the future of medicine. We are dedicated to representing medical students, improving medical education, developing student leadership, and promoting health activism through community service events and political action. Some of our annual activities include Breast Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis walks, a week sponsoring activities surrounding Covering our Nation's Uninsured population, a Halloween party for diabetic children, Women's Health Lecture Series, local politician lecture series, an after school program for urban youth, state/national meetings, social events and fundraisers. By joining the national organization you are connected to the network of national physicians in addition to other tangible benefits. Talk to one of our officers if you are interested in joining or have further questions. Welcome to Buffalo!
• American Medical Student Association (more info)
  AMSA is about more than just improving medical student lives. We live in the richest country in the world, yet many have no health insurance. Research shows that health disparities are rampant in America. AMSA’s role in these issues is extremely important, because our strength is giving power to medical students to take action and create change about issues that they care about. It’s the presence of visionary medical students and our energy that makes AMSA such a powerful organization. How is AMSA different from other organizations? When you join AMSA, you become part of a vital force of future physicians who believe that patients and health professionals are partners in the management of health care, and that access to high-quality health care is a right and not a privilege. At AMSA, activism is a way of life. Student idealism is transformed into meaningful public service, innovation and institutional change.AMSA has six Action Committees: Advocacy (on Disabilities, on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Medicine, on Minority Affairs, and on Women in Medicine), Community and Public Health, Global Health, Health Policy, Humanistic Medicine and Medical Education. The Action Committees concentrate on areas of health care that are important and relevant to medical students. By providing a multitude of quality resources and ideas for chapter projects, the Action Committees help you and to expand your education and minds to everything that they don't teach you in medical school
• Anesthesia Interest Group
• Benjamin Rush Society (Psychiatry) (more info)
  The Benjamin Rush Society provides support and information to students interested in the field of psychiatry. This small sized organization gives its members a chance to meet and interact with psychiatrists in a variety of settings. These include lunch time speakers, a mentorship program, informal dinners at doctor's homes, presentations by professors and physicians, as well as dinners with the Western New York Psychiatric Association at some of the nicest restaurants in Buffalo. The psychiatry faculty are very excited to meet students interested in their field, so they are very willing to accommodate new ideas and opportunities. This club is perfect for those interested in learning more about the field of psychiatry during the first two years of medical school
• Cornerstone Manor Clinic/Christian Medical and Dental Association(more info)
  An interdenominational fellowship open to all students interested in service, CMDA offers support for medical students seeking to integrate their faith and studies. CMDA of WNY provides opportunities for involvement in two local medical clinics (for the underserved), and presents lectures on ethics in an effort to increase student awareness of healthcare needs in America and around the world. Cornerstone Manor Clinic offers weekly medical services for women and children atCornerstone Manor Women's Shelter (a division of the Buffalo City Mission). There are no membership requirements to attend or participate in CMDA sponsored events. Those wishing to support the ministry can become members of the Local Council, the leadership committee responsible for carrying out the activities of the organization. Attendance at national events is encouraged, including the Christian
• Doctors for Soldiers
• Emergency Medicine Student Association(more info)
  The Emergency Medicine Student Association (EMSA) is a student-run club that has open membership to all medical students at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.The UB Emergency Medicine Residents' Association/Medical Student Affiliate exists to encourage quality education and experience in the field of emergency medicine. The group also promotes awareness and interest in the field and supports individuals who have chosen Emergency Medicine as a career option. Objectives of the UB EMSA/MSA include:1. Promoting awareness and participation in issues pertinent to medical students interested in emergency medicine through the provision of workshops and guest speakers.2. Providing a readily accessible resource system incorporating faculty, residents, peers, and ancillary emergency medicine personnel.3. Representing UB students who are EMSA members at the state and national levels.4. Facilitating the learning of basic skills necessary for all medical students through the provision of workshops
• Family Medicine Interest Group
• Friends of the Night People Clinic (more info)
  Coming soon.
• Head and Neck Society (more info)
  The mission of this organization is to expose medical students to the surgical specialties involving the head and neck. These fields include but are not limited to otolaryngology and all of its accompanying subspecialties as well as some aspects of plastic surgery. Membership is open to all students and is free of charge. The organization will be sponsored by polity and will also do its own fundraising (see below). Dr. David A. Sherris, the Chair of Otolaryngology at Buffalo is the advisor of our organization.Meetings and/or events will include: Speakers from head and neck surgical specialties, Learning opportunities about current head and neck issues, Volunteer opportunities, Resident panel, One hour clinical review of head and neck anatomy, Other events to be determined.We are working hard to assemble a list of head and neck surgeons to offer shadowing opportunities. Our goal is to provide experience opportunities in the wide variety of subspecialties of head and neck surgery such as pediatrics, cosmetics, oncology, as well as general ENT practice. Obtaining a list of MD’s and PhD’s who are willing to take students for research is another priority of this organization. Otolaryngology is an extremely competitive field, and this will help students when applying for residency positions as well as build a foundation for research that may continue in their post-graduate years.We work closely with an organization called Operation Smile. This organization aids in surgically repairing the cleft lips and palates of children whom are not able to afford the operation. There is the potential to have a speaker from Operation Smile give a lecture to the medical school to increase awareness of the organization and issues surrounding cleft lips/palates. We will be fundraising for this program as well as for our organization by selling UB School and Medicine and Biomedical Sciences neckties and hats
• Heart Smart (more info)
  If you enjoy working with children, and are interested in getting involved with community health education, but don’t have much time on your hands, Heart Smart is the perfect club for you. Heart Smart was developed by the American Heart Association to help educate children about their hearts and healthy living. It involves groups of UB Medical Students visiting fourth and fifth grade classes in local elementary schools. The Heart Smart group gives a short informative introduction about heart healthy lifestyles, breaks up the class, leads small group activities, and ends with a question and answer wrap-up.. The program focuses on cardiac anatomy and physiology, atherosclerosis, and healthy lifestyles. The entire program is scripted, so it is not difficult to learn. The total time commitment is only about two hours. This program is certainly fun, and the kids are always ready to learn and very willing to participate. And in addition to being able to share your knowledge with others, you can also learn from it yourself. If you are interested in pediatrics, cardiology, community health, or just think kids are cool, we highly recommend getting involved with this program
• International Medicine Interest Group
• Society for Internal Medicine (more info)
  The Society for Internal Medicine group serves to inform UB students of the diverse career opportunities in the field of internal medicine. We invite faculty members who practice internal medicine or a subspecialty to participate in talks, panel discussion, and demonstrations. These sessions serve to introduce first and second-year students to an exciting and diverse number of specialties with many opportunities, ranging from primary care to subspecialization. Other sessions are directed at upperclassmen and include discussions on the match process with the director of the UB Internal Medicine Residency Program as well as successfully matched UB students. Students also have the opportunity to become student members of the American College of Physicians – American Society of Internal Medicine and to be involved at the state and national levels
• Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic (more info)
  Coming Soon
• Medical Students for Choice (more info)
  Medical Students for Choice, or MS4C, is a club founded on the reality of the choices of women regarding their reproductive healthcare. The club concerns itself with the practitioner shortage, the lack of abortion education in medical schools, and escalating violence against abortion providers. In the past few years, the club has brought in speakers to discuss such issues as the religious debate regarding abortion and other topics. Furthermore, the club establishes opportunities for students to shadow at the Buffalo Women’s Clinic to experience the reality of reproductive choice. In the future, the MS4C hopes to bring in more speakers regarding women’s choices and increase educational awareness of reproductive choice. As a member of MS4C, you have the opportunity to attend national conferences and to help raise the awareness of reproductive choice and abortion
• Oncology Student Group
• Orthopedic Interest Group
• Outdoor Adventure Club
• Physicians for Human Rights
• Sight Savers (Opthalmology)
• Sprouts
• Student Interest Group in Neurology (more info)
  The Student Interest Group in Neurology, or SIGN, is a student group designed to introduce medical students to the field of neurology by providing educational seminars and physician mentors. SIGN is affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and has 140 established chapters in medical schools around the country. This year, the newly reactivated SIGN chapter at UB will host lunch time lectures, volunteer activities and field trips. Through these activities, we hope to provide information about the subspecialties in neurology, the educational/training requirements and opportunities for students to shadow local neurologists. Students do not have to commit to neurology as a medical field, and we encourage anyone to attend the meetings. In addition, lunch will be provided. There is no cost to join. We will have an introductory meeting in August, and plan to have lunch lectures on South Campus. Specific dates and locations will be provided via class announcements and e-mail.Please visit our website at: http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/polityorg/sign/ or contact us directly. We will also have an information table during Orientation Week
• Students Interested in Pediatrics(more info)
  Students Interested in Pediatrics is a group directed towards improving pediatric care in the communities, providing for chronically ill children, and raising awareness. We are actively involved in the Reach Out And Read Program, which involves volunteers reading to patients at pediatric offices. We also fundraise to help improve pediatric care. For example, last year we helped raise money for the Pediatric Dialysis Unit at Children’s Hospital. In addition, we inform others of pediatric issues by holding lunch lectures. This group is available for anyone considering pediatrics as a specialty or for anyone who wants to further their understanding of pediatrics
• Student National Medical Association(more info)
  SNMA is the nation's oldest and largest organization focused on the needs and concerns of minority medical students. Membership includes nearly 5,000 medical students, pre-medical students, residents, and licensed physicians. At the very heart of SNMA are its community service efforts. With initiatives addressing adolescent health and sexuality, smoking cessation and prevention, tissue and organ donation, violence prevention and community education, SNMA strives to impact community education and health. In addition, SNMA also has three programs for undergraduate (MAPS), high school (HPREP) and elementary school (YSEP) students that were established to encourage underrepresented students to pursue careers in health-related fields. While educating students about medicine, SNMA members also utilize these programs as a means to teach healthy lifestyle practices, such as proper nutrition and exercise. All of SNMA’s health-related outreach programs aim both to increase patient access to medical care and other resources, and to empower future physicians to deliver competent and culturally sensitive patient care. SNMA is open to all who wish to make a difference and a unique contribution to the health and well-being of people of color and the underrepresented minorities in general. The University at Buffalo chapter is under the Region IX (New York and New Jersey) directorship. Region IX has 17 medical school chapters and 25 undergraduate affiliate chapters.
• Surgery Interest Group (more info)
  he Department of Surgery sponsors an interest group that meets monthly throughout the academic year. Free membership is open to all medical students. The majority of the members are first and second year students, but third and fourth-year students are also present at meetings. Meetings began in September of 2002. We have grown from 15-20 students to 35-45 students per meeting. The department pays for dinner and faculty members volunteer to speak to the students. Speakers from many surgical specialties and practice types are featured at each meeting to present their perspective about their career and field questions from students. The speakers are asked to speak informally to the group about 1-why they chose their specialty 2-what it took to accomplish training in that specialty 3-what their work life is like and 4-what their home life is like. The faculty member speaks for about 10-15 minutes and then answers questions for another 10-15 minutes. We usually have 2-3 speakers per meeting. The past four years we have also had a resident panel. The students really value this meeting and many have said that it was the best and most informative panelabout residencies they have attended. The student leadership in previous years has worked hard to organize a shadowing program. We have identified a core group of physicians that have agreed to allow students to shadow them. This past year we made the arrangements for shadowing but this year the students will contact the mentors directly through their preferred method of contact. Finally, we organize a skills lab in the spring. The students participate in a mini-version of the skills lab offered as part of the third year surgical clerkship. The students learn knot tying, suturing, IV's and intubation during this session. Meetings will begin again September 10th, 2007 and continue on the 1st Thursday of almost every month from 6:00-8:00pm in the Lippshutz Room on the South Campus. Sometimes the regular monthly meetings change to accommodate the student exam schedules. The December meeting is organized around other holiday events. Please visit our website at http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/polityorg/sig or contact a member of the student leadership below for more information
• TAR WARS (more info)
  Tar Wars is a tobacco-free education program for fourth- and fifth-grade students. The program is designed to teach kids about the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use, the cost associated with using tobacco products, and the advertising techniques used by the tobacco industry to market their products to youth. The program, which is owned and operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), is implemented in classrooms across the U.S. and abroad by committed volunteer presenters such as family physicians, residents, and medical students; school nurses; other health care professionals; educators; and community members
• Women's Health Interest Group (more info)
  WHIG is a nationwide organization of medical students and physicians who are concerned with women’s issues in medicine. In the past years, WHIG has held a discussion and dinner with numerous female physicians from the area. The physicians discuss what made them decide to enter the profession and specifically why they chose their specialty. They also discuss pressing issues facing women physicians today. Another event WHIG was a lecture in which a nurse from the Buffalo area described the steps taken to treat rape patients in the emergency room. WHIG hosted Girl Scouts Go to Medical School Day. This event gave local young girl scouts the chance to tour the medical school, to learn about the different fields of medicine, and to interact socially and to enjoy a lunch with other young girls interested in science and medicine. This club is perfect for those interested in learning more about women’s issues in medicine during their first two years of medical school, and is looking for motivated first-years to join and strengthen the organization
• Women in Medicine