STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Traditionally, student groups at Tufts are established and run by students.
There are a few groups that stay consistent from year to year while others
wax and wane according to student interest. Listed below are just some
of the organizations that have existed in the recent year. If your concerns
are not represented here, feel free to start a group.
Student groups are funded at biannual student council meetings. To apply
for money, a budget for proposed activities must be presented to the Council.
If a group received moneys from the council in the previous year, receipts
from the previous year must be submitted to account for the antecedent
allocation. There are some guidelines on how much money groups can receive
from the council. The guidelines are distributed in the curriculum office
before each funding meeting. Student council representatives will announce
to the classes when funding meetings are scheduled.
The following is a listing of student activities/clubs at Tufts University
School of Medicine:
Africa Health Interest Group
ACHE - American College of Healthcare Executives
AMA - American Medical Association
AMSA - American Medical Student Association
AMWA - American Medical Women's Association
Bio-Medical Ethics
BCAI - Boston Coalition for Adult Immunizations
BIG - Bone Interest Group (updated 11/19/04)
Brainstorm
CMDS - Christian Medical and Dental Society
Coalition for Managed Care Reform
The Connective Issue - Unofficial Tufts Medical
Student Newspaper
Domestic Violence
EMIG - Emergency Medicine Interest Group (updated
11/13/04)
FMIG - Family Medicine Interest Group
Fight Club
Frameless
Hillel Foundation
HHH - Humanistic and Holistic Health Care
Ignis Catholic Fellowship
KICS - Kids in Cancer Support
Marathon Training Club
Massachusetts Medical Society
Medical Futures Society
Medical Student Gala
Medical Student Yearbook
MSFC - Medical Students for Choice (updated 12/22/04)
Medical/Dental Asian Baptist Student Koinonia
Music Club
OSR - Organization of Student Representatives
Physicians for Human Rights
Posner Club (updated 11/14/04)
Sharewood Project
Soccer Club
SAMDA - South Asian Medical-Dental Association
SHARE - Students for Health Action Reform and Equity
SIGN - Student Interest Group in Neurology
Support Groups
Surgery Interest Group (updated 11/12/04)
TAGLAB - Tufts Association of Gays, Lesbians,
and Bisexuals
Tennis Club
Tufts Arab American Health Association
TAAHF - Tufts Asian American
Health Forum
TBA - Tufts Basketball Association
(updated 11/11/04)
Tufts Literary Society
(updated 11/13/04)
Tufts Military Medical Students Association (updated
11/19/04)
Tufts Muslim Congregation
Tufts Sign Language Club
(updated 11/13/04)
Tufts Student Research Club
Ultimate Frisbee Club
Volleyball
Wine Appreciation Club (updated 11/13/04)
Women's Health Interest Group
Wellness Committee
Students are encouraged to participate in the activities and clubs.
However, if you feel you want to share another common activity with your
classmates, start a group!
AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
American Medical Association has a medical student
section where students can play a vital role in the formulation of health
policy at the federal and state levels. The goal is to improve quality
and access to health care as well as work to serve the professional needs
of physicians and medical students. (see also: MASSACHUSETTS
MEDICAL SOCIETY)
AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
AMSA, the American Medical Student Association, is an organization
run by students and run for the students. The purpose of AMSA is to educate
medical students on issues in medicine that are normally not part of the
traditional medical school curriculum. AMSA also serves to bring together
students with common ideas and backgrounds, acts as a political voice on
issues important to students, and fosters community outreach programs.
AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
The American Medical Women's Association at Tufts Medical School has
the most number of members in the nation and is the most active organization
at Tufts. The objectives of AMWA nationally are to bring together women
medical students and physicians to promote their education and training,
educate them and the public on health issues of women, encourage women
to study and practice medicine, ensure the equal opportunity to do so,
and cooperate with other organizations having comparable interests. Our
local branch of AMWA promotes advocacy for women's health issues, a source
for networking, and insightful programs for career development. AMWA at
Tufts offers a source of companionship, the opportunity to meet physicians
in various fields of medicine, and the chance to learn more about the role
of women in medicine.
BIO-MEDICAL ETHICS
The goal of the bioethics group is to generate informative discussions
around the bio-medical ethical issues. The hope is that through informative
talks by outside experts, and meaningful discussions among Tufts students,
our understanding of ethics will be cultivated and deepened. Through actively
participating in discussion concerning ethics, the students will begin
to see the complexity of ethical issues, yet simultaneously learn how to
effectively tackle such matters.
BONE INTEREST GROUP
Contact: Tuan Tran M'07
What is BIG? The Bone Interest Group is about optimizing the exposure of
medical students to all aspects of bone (i.e. diseases, management, public
health, and related fields). BIG is a system based group, in which medical
students will observe health care professionals of different fields
collaborating on many different levels to achieve the maximal care for bone
diseases. In doing so, BIG espouses a mission of educating, raising
awareness, and involving medical students in a cooperative fashion in the
fight against bone illnesses.
CHRISTIAN MEDICAL DENTAL SOCIETY
(CMDS)
Officers: Caleb
Lee M'03 , Ben Newton
M'03 , Nii Norte Lokko D'03
CMDS is a national and international group of concerned Christian doctors
and dentists. Here at Tufts, the chapter meets for informal Bible study
and fellowship, conducts community service projects and holds dinner-speaker
series with other local chapters where doctors and dentists come to share
views and experiences.
THE
CONNECTIVE ISSUE
Co-Editors-in-Chief: Matthew
LeMaitre M'04 , Gary
Blancher M'04
The Connective Issue is an unofficial biweekly online student newspaper.
Please visit www.tuftsissue.com.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE INTEREST
GROUP
Contact: Mathew Kutcher M'07
The Emergency Medicine Interest Group was formed in 1999 in order to provide
the opportunity for Tufts medical students to discover the unique aspects of
emergency medicine through seminars, skills-sessions, and hands-on experience.
The Emergency Medicine Interest Group holds monthly physician presentations and
workshops pertaining to the training, experience, and lifestyle of practicing
emergency medicine. Presentation topics include paramedical emergency medicine
services, special skills of the emergency physician, disaster relief teams and
international work, and community involvement.
FAMILY MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP
Contacts: Ginevra Fay-Bobb
Family Medicine Interest Group is a partnership with Tufts University
School of Medicine, Tufts University Department of Family Medicine, and
the Tufts Family Practice Residency and Clerkship programs. Through
this organization we promote the benefits of primary care, serve as a source
of information for students interested in family medicine, and
develop the opportunities for students to have practical experience
in family medicine. FMIG has had lunchtime meetings addressing issues
such as having a family in family medicine, what family medicine residency
is like, and alternative medicine. For practical experience, we host
a procedural workshop teaching students about phlebotomy, suturing, splinting/casting,
and even flex sigmoidoscopy through a hands-on approach. Community
service is another way in which FMIG "gives back." The successful TAR WARS
program taught 5th graders the harm of cigarette smoking, while other community
service activites such as reclaiming a neighborhood playground and working
in a local soup kitchen has taught us a thing or two about being physicians
within a community. With the creation of the the new (required) Family
Practice Clerkship and the renaming of the Tufts Family Practice Residency
(formerly Malden Hospital FPR), Tufts FMIG is blessed with many active
physicians who are able to give insight, advice, and any necessary help
to anyone interested in family medicine.
HILLEL FOUNDATION
The offices of the Hillel Foundation at Tufts are located at the Medford
Campus. Medical students are welcome to join Hillel for Shabbat, high holiday
services, dinners and Passover Seders. Hillel offers a wide range of social,
educational, cultural and religious activities, as well as programs planned
specifically for graduate students. For more information, contact the Hillel
foundation at 617-627-3242.
HUMANISTIC AND HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE
HHH is a student group dedicated to educating medical students on alternative
therapies. We have about 16 guest lecturers a year, mostly attended by
first and second year medical students, and a biannual newsletter. We have
also helped to start a few new alternative medicine selectives, and we
are working to have more third and fourth year elective rotations in alternative
therapies.
KIDS IN CHEMOTHERAPY SUPPORT
GROUP
Student Coordinator: Jill
McGovern M'03
KICS, a big brother/big sister type program, is a joint venture by Tufts
University School of Medicine and The Division of Pediatric Hematology
and Oncology at NEMC. It was initially set up to provide emotional support
for children undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment for cancer. Additionally,
it provides Tufts students with experiences associated with the treatment
of the chronically and terminally ill. This program is the only one of
its kind among medical schools nationwide.
Students meet weekly to watch movies, listen to guest speakers, and
discuss the personal and emotional issues which surface as a result of
our interactions with our cancer patient friends, their families, and their
medical care. We plan one group activity per semester. These trips are
a chance for the kids and us to get away from the hospital setting, and
they provide an opportunity to glimpse the dynamic relationships in the
program and meet the people we've talked about during meetings.
MARATHON TRAINING CLUB
Contact: Paul
Sweeney M'03
Thirteen Tufts runners completed the 2000 Boston Marathon, nine had
never run one before. This club is a support group for runners
and a training group for those interested in running the Boston Marathon.
It is possible for people who are not regular runners to be marathon-ready
in 4 months with proper instruction and training. There are many
obstacles to training for a marathon while in medical school: scheduling
time for running, getting on a training schedule, tiredness, and injury.
The benefits of improved health, good habits, and stress relief necessitate
overcoming these obstacles. By having weekly training runs, motivational
readings, and coaching on proper stretching and injury avoidance, the Marathon
Training Club makes running fun. With a team-like atmosphere we incorporate
the healthy habit of exercise into a regular schedule.
MASSACHUSETTS
MEDICAL SOCIETY
Tufts 2000-2001 Chapter Leaders:
President: Elan
Hekier M'02
Vice President: Monica
Shah M'03
Treasurer: Shirley Huang
M'03
The purposes of the Massachusetts Medical Society shall be to do all
things as may be necessary and appropriate to advance medical knowledge,
to develop and maintain the highest professional and ethical standards
of medical practice and health care, and to promote medical institutions
formed
on liberal principles for the health, benefit, and welfare of the citizens
of the Commonwealth.
The MMS has a medical student section, where students can play a vital
role in the formulatino of health policy at the state level. The
goal is to improve quality and access to health care as well as work to
serve the professional needs of physicians and medical students. Feel free
to contact your Tufts Chapter Leaders.
For MMS membership and information call 800/322-2303 X1372.
MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE
Contact: Shelly Tien M'07
MSFC works to ensure that all women receive comprehensive reproductive health services. Through curriculum reform, speaker events, conferences, and
workshops, Med Students for Choice is committed to raising awareness and educating medical students in reproductive health care.
MUSIC CLUB
Contact: Eva Christensen M'02
The Music Club is open to any students who would like have fun making
music. Students of *all* levels and *all* years are welcome.
The school owns a drum set, congas, amplifiers, music stands and other
equipment to make jamming in
between classes possible. In recent years, we've had many people
get involved with a funk/jazz/rock band and a drum circle. There
is also a lot of interest in classical music. It's a blast!
ORGANIZATION OF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Tufts Delegate: Eric Nelson
M'02
This is the group of student representatives of the American Association
of Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC is the association which reviews and
regulates medical schools and medical education in general. Each medical
school has one student who is the voting delegate to the OSR, and an alternate.
POSNER CLUB
Contact:
Tuan Nguyen M'08
The Posner club is a club that is dedicated to using Posner Hall's on-campus
central location to provide activities for our classmates. We will have study
breaks around testing times, BBQ's, special event parties and other fun events.
Events are not limited to Posner Hall residents and we hope that members of the
Tufts Medical community can enjoy all that Posner has to offer.
SOCCER CLUB
President: Mario
G. Solari M'03 (617) 524-3202
Vice President: Garrett
C. Zella M'02
Secretary: Leon
Chang M'03
Social Chair: David
A. Goldman M'02
The TUSM Soccer Club offers athletic participation
for all skill levels. We hold weekly games with portable goals on the Esplanade
or on the Common, where all are welcome to join. We also participate in
more competitive full-field matches against Harvard Medical and Boston
Medical in the fall and spring. The TUSM Alumni have generously donated
customized soccer jerseys for this purpose. In the winter, we enter
a team to play in a competitive indoor-arena league. The Soccer Club continues
to flourish. We look forward to your participation.
SHAREWOOD PROJECT
The Sharewood Project is a student organized, student-/physician-collaborated
health care clinic at the Church of All Nations aimed specifically at offering
medical services to the medically under-insured in the Boston-Chinatown
community. Every Tuesday night, the clinic offers drop-in urgent and primary
care services with the intention of extending those services to a more
comprehensive level, i.e. nutrition counseling, mammography advocacy, social
service counseling, etc.
The Sharewood Project is based on the commitment to honor service, education,
and communication in the surrounding community. The operation of this clinic
provides direct health care access to those who otherwise would not have
such services available to them. It provides clinical experience in the
field of primary care for first and second year medical students and allied
health students. Furthermore, it provides a more personal experience for
future health care providers, challenge their understanding of community,
and sensitize their perspective concerning people who are medically under-served,
people with addictions, and people who have social problems that are not
likely treated adequately in standard medical situations. All Tufts
medical students are welcome to volunteer.
SOUTH ASIAN MEDICAL-DENTAL
ASSOCIATION
SAMDA, formerly known as the Tufts Association of South Asians (TASA),
was formed in 1997 in order to bring together members of the medical and
dental schools at Tufts University to learn more about issues pertinent
to South Asian health professionals. In addition to organizing various
social gatherings, SAMDA sponsors events to further the understanding of
South Asian culture itself including charity projects, guest speakers,
and other opportunities to practice basic medical and dental skills. Events
to meet and network with other graduate schools throughout the Boston area
have also been put together. SAMDA represents the Tufts chapter of the
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). All are welcome.
SURGERY INTEREST GROUP
Contact: Robert Rix M'07
Contact: William Miele M'07
The SIG is a club for students who are thinking about a career in surgery or
for those who are curious to see what the surgical specialties are all about.
We meet once a month in the surgery library where a guest surgeon will give a
talk about his or her specific surgical specialty and life as a surgeon in
general. Surgical residents are also present to give advice/input on applying
for a surgical residency, life as a surgical resident, or to answer any other
questions students may have. We try to correlate the speakers specialty with
the curriculum topics of first or second year students in an effort to make the
talk more relevant for the medical students. The meetings are usually held on
Tuesdays at 6 pm with pizza and soft drinks provided for those in attendance.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Medical school and stress? This question comes from a survey taken
four years ago in which first year students disclosed their many sources
of stress. Most of them identified with three or four choices identified
in this statement. Even students with healthy coping skills often find
balancing both academic and personal stress overwhelming. Over the years,
students have formed support groups to help reduce much of the anxiety,
depression, frustration, insomnia, and sense of isolation associated with
medical school and its emotional challenges. Students and administration
implemented support groups as a resource for all pre-clinical students.
TENNIS CLUB
Contact: Amanda
Rhee M'03 (617) 451-3502
Are you looking for a great way to meet people
and make connections with med students of all years and doctors alike?
Hot off the pro tour? Haven't touched a racket in years? . . .or
your entire life? Well then, my friend, the tennis club is for YOU!!
If you were involved last year, all of the goals we so ambitiously proposed
will actually be realized this year! These include a more expansive
player phone list which will include Tufts students of all years, doctors,
and students from other schools; a free tennis clinic for kids; a tournament
or ladder with an $expensive prize$ for the winner (he, he); and a free
clinic for us. A little overwhelming? Don't you fret!
Even if you're just looking for someone to smack a ball around with, you
can take advantage of our player phone list.
So keep an eye out for tennis emails and I'll
see YOU on the courts!
TUFTS ASSOCIATION OF GAYS,
LESBIANS, AND BISEXUALS AT BOSTON
TAGLAB is a student group which exists to provide a voice and moral
support for students who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and provide space
for dealing with related personal issues, especially those pertaining to
the social aspects of being out in the medical world and at Tufts. To help
students realize the pros and cons of being out, we have started a mentoring
program for first year students and doctors at NEMC. Through this program
students learn the benefits of being out, and are introduced to a social
network of doctors who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual. Currently we have
thirty members, including dental, veterinary, medical, and graduate students,
lecturers, and employees. Some of our activities include forums to discuss
gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues and coming out issues. Also, parties
are often held with GLB doctors at NEMC and with dental, veterinary, graduate
students, and professors. The medical school group is designated as the
only group for all of the medical school, dental school, veterinary school,
and the professors of these schools. Our parties are not limited to gay,
lesbian, or bisexual students.
TUFTS ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH
FORUM
The Tufts Asian American Health Forum (TAAHF) exists to bring together
and represent Asian American medical students on issues important to them,
such as professional development and health issues of Asian communities,
as well as social interactions among Asian American medical students at
Tufts and the three Boston area medical schools. Past activities
have included social events, volunteering in Boston Chinatown, cultural
shows, speakers on acupuncture and domestic violence in minority communities,
and more...The club's mission is really whatever the members make of it.
TAAHF is a chapter of the national Asian Pacific American Medical Student
Association, which holds an annual national conference and frequent regional
conferences.
TUFTS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Contact: Sachin Shah M'07
The TBA holds an intramural basketball league during the fall and spring
semesters. There are usually 7-10 teams that play games on Saturday mornings.
All are welcome, men and women, as long as they are enrolled in the Tufts
Medical School. The cost per person is usually between $25 and $30.
TUFTS LITERARY SOCIETY
Contact: Jen Lai M'05
The TUSM Literary Society was established in 2002 for the purpose of promoting
leisure reading within the TUSM community of students, faculty, and
administration. Our diverse collection of leisure books is housed in the
Office of Educational Activities - for all community members to enjoy for free! Recent popular titles have included: The Lovely Bones, Da Vinci Code,
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier &
Clay, Disgrace. We welcome new members -- simply visit our shelf in the OEA
and check out a book. Happy reading!
TUFTS MILITARY MEDICAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Contact: Norman Stone M'07
The Tufts Military Medical Students Association is a network of students who assist each other in demystifying the complicated requirements attendant to
sponsorship in the AFHPSP.
Medical students who are sponsored under the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP) face many unique challenges, including the
preparation for, and attendance of basic officer training school; performance of active duty tours; completion of reimbursement and other paperwork; and preparation for the special military residency match.
TUFTS SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB
Contact: Matthew Kutcher M'07
The Tufts Medicine Sign Language Club holds weekly classes in American Sign
Language and organizes events focused on hearing loss and Deaf culture. Classes
are taught by a Deaf fellow from the Boston Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Children at the Children's Hospital and focus on understanding the experience
and language development of Deaf persons, as well as learning a basic vocabulary of conversational and medically-related American Sign Language.
TUFTS MUSLIM CONGREGATION
The goal of the Tufts Muslim Congregation (TMC) is to address the educational,
religious, and social needs of the Muslim community at the medical and
dental schools as well as the Tufts/NEMC community at large. TMC offers
weekly Friday prays and arrangements during Ramadan are made with the Tufts
community in Medford as well as other local universities. Members have
been involved in fund-raising and local relief efforts for the innocent
victims of oppression around the world, most recently in Bosnia and Somalia.
TMC is beginning to work with the Islamic Medical Association (IMA) on
a national level to facilitate communication with students at other medical/dental
schools throughout the country. For more information contact Colleen Romain
at the Office of Minority Affairs, 636-6576.
TUFTS STUDENT RESEARCH
CLUB
Contact: David
Goldman M'02
The goals of the Tufts Student Research Club are
to promote student interest in research, assist students in finding research
positions and funding, and give students practice in presenting their work.
Elected members also serve on faculty research committees.
WELLNESS COMMITTEE
Contacts:
Dr. Jonathan Schindelheim (617) 636-3303
Garrett Zella M'02
Monica Shah M'03
Jade Schecter M'03
The TUSM Wellness Committee is a group of students and faculty dedicated
to helping those of you who are stressed out, burned out, questioning why
you decided to attend medical school, or who are abusing drugs or alcohol.
We are here to listen, support, and guide you to available resources with
the assurance that your privacy and civil liberties are respected. Confidentiality
is the utmost priority.
We have sponsored lunch discussions on Sleep Disorders, Alcoholism,
and Relationships. We have also had a Healthy Foods Fair with free
food and recipes and apple-picking in the fall. Everyone is welcome
to attend our meetings and events.
WINE APPRECIATION CLUB
Contact: Arthur Yan M'07
The Tufts Wine Club sponsors social events and seminars
in striving to increase awareness and appreciation
for wine among students and faculty. The club organizes formal & informal
tastings, visits to wineries & conventions, and
invites guest speakers for discussions on the scientific and artistic
elements to this ancient beverage. Everyone is welcome to
participate regardless of wine tasting experience
and enological knowledge.
