School of Medicine

Student Organizations

Student Organizations Office

Ms. Tracey Eady, B.B.A., Secretary
Secretary II
Richard J. Mazurek MD Medical Education Commons
Suite 204
313.577.1465
313.577.0049 fax
studentorgmailbox@med.wayne.edu

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Medical School Student Affairs/Student Organizations Office provides services designed to serve all students. The office provides medical student housing information and assists student organizations.

The objectives of extra curricular programs include:

• To increase an awareness of health issues between the community and medical students through mutually beneficial projects.

• To provide medical students with experiences that will sensitize them to the medical practice.

• To enhance medical student leadership skills to better serve society in the future.

• To provide sources of information about health care developments and innovation. In achieving this objective, the student programs invite noontime speakers to address the special needs and concerns in the medical profession.

• To offer opportunities for medical students to work closely with medical leaders in professional organizations.

• To provide to metropolitan area youth proper information and an awareness of harmful effects of drugs and give them an incentive to withstand destructive peer pressure.

• To promote and reinforce the importance of self- respect and how to be effective role models and mentors for area youth.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs is the umbrella under which all Student Organizations function. In order to qualify as an official WSU SOM Student Organization, a group must:

• Name a Faculty Advisor. No group will be approved as an official student organization without having designated a Faculty Advisor.

• Submit a written mission statement and roster of proposed officers for approval to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

• Once the organization is approved,

• The President (or his/her designee) of the organization must meet with Ms. Tracey Eady to obtain a designated storage bin, room reservations and audio/visual equipment in the Student Organizations Office.

• The President (or his/her designee) must meet with Ms. Allison Gherardini in the Office of Student Affairs, to submit a budget request.

Medical School Housing Program

It is the students’ responsibility to find housing, however, the Office of Student Organizations annually publishes a WSU/School of Medicine housing guide. Student recommendations are accepted to help meet students’ needs in finding housing. Please note: WSU Housing Office is different than what is provided by the Office of Student Affairs for more information call: (313) 577-2116.

Housing guides are available in the Office of Student Organizations, 1369. Roommate/apartment mate forms can be picked up in the Office of Student Organizations.

Please contact Ms. Tracey Eady at (313) 577-1465 or email at teady@med.wayne.edu

Roommate Request Form

Aesculapians Service Honor Society
Aesculapians is an honorary service organization that is devoted to the city of Detroit and the WSU School of Medicine. Each March, new members are selected by their peers for their interest and participation in extracurricular activities.  The Aesculapians sponsor the annual medical school Lampoon, host the annual Ice Cream Social, assist with Commencement and a number of other medical school activities and community programs. https://www.med.wayne.edu/aesculapians/index.asp

Africans in Medicine (AIM)
Africans in Medicine, Michigan chapter began in 2008-2009.  The goal of AIM is to bring together Africans and African-Americans interested in making a positive impact in African and its diasporas. AIM welcomes all people from all races to come and work with us in achieving these goals. We have worked with the Charles H. Wright African American museum on numerous projects such as hosting a Health fair during the African World Festival and also an Obesity Prevention class. AIM embarked on their first medical Mission to Haiti in May 2009. We took medications, clothing supplies to orphans in Haiti and worked in a free clinic. AIM hopes to do more this year and we need your involvement to make it happen. AIM works closely with BMA (Black medical Association) such as holding Health Panel discussions; think tanks discussions;  working with  Detroit Public Students to dispel the myths about Africa. 

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)
Alpha Omega Alpha is the national medical academic honor society. Students are eligible for election to AOA at the end of Year II and Year III. Membership is limited to the top 16% of each graduating class. Membership selection criteria are determined by the national governing board of AOA.

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is a national organization committed to addressing pertinent issues and providing academic opportunities for current and future Indian-American physicians.  WSUSOM’s student chapter strives to integrate and support students of Indian origin, while enriching and educating the greater community.  AAPI is dedicated to community service, student bonding events, and cultural exploration events.  Events include Diwali lunches, charity fundraisers, community outreach screenings, and active participation in medical school ethnic events.

American Medical Association (AMA)
This group's goal is to promote and maintain programs which enhance the quality of health care in the community. The objective of the AMA Student Section is to encourage and support the active participation of medical students in professional organizations including the Michigan State Medical Society and the Wayne County Medical Society and to provide a representation of student opinions and ideals in organized medicine. Student Section members serve on MSMS and WCMS committees and attend national, statewide and local meetings and programs.

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States, and with that it has over a half-century history of medical student activism.  AMSA is a student-governed, national organization which is committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training; from working to improve the health and wellness of the underserved in America and abroad to helping to create a better experience for medical school students. 
 
For example, at the AMSA National Convention this past spring thousands of medical students rallied in DC for a public national health insurance program. At the same time, AMSA is the student organization responsible for ensuring a fair match system for 4th year medical students by creating a system that holds preference for medical students rank prior to the institution of residency. 
 
The interests and concerns of students involved in AMSA is represented through the work of our action committees which span interests from Global Health and Gender and Sexuality, to Community and Preventative Medicine and Health Policy.  As a first year student, AMSA offers the opportunity for you to hold leadership position in one of our many committees, and create or help to plan events for the student body as well as the community to help educate and advocate for healthier communities locally and globally.

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
The objectives of AMWA are to promote an understanding of the health issues of women, to address the present and future positions of women in medicine, and to be receptive to the needs and challenges faced by professional women in general. Our participation as a student branch of The American Medical Women's Association provides the benefit of affiliating with a national organization of women physicians and medical students.

Amigo Medicos
The mission of Amigos Médicos is to help students understand and meet the healthcare needs of the medically underserved members of the Hispanic community through education and community service.  These goals are achieved through medical Spanish language sessions, volunteer experiences in bilingual healthcare settings such as Covenant Community Clinic and CHASS Clinic, and travel opportunities to Mexico and South Carolina.

Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG)
The Anesthesiology Interest Group, founded in 2002, is for all medical students (years I - IV). The primary goal of the AIG is to educate and expose students to the field of Anesthesiology. In addition, the group looks to foster an increased interest in the field. Students will have opportunities to interact with, and learn from, practicing physicians and residents. Topics covered will include defining the role of the Anesthesiologist, daily life, the future of the profession, associated sub-specialties, as well as, residency and match. All interested are encouraged to join.

ARIE Foundation
The ARIE Foundation is an outreach program dedicated to helping kids with cancer and is new to Wayne State this year. It began as a student run organization at NYU School of Medicine as a non-profit organization, relying on tax-deductible donations from people interested in making a difference. The ARIE Foundation was created by medical students and gives donated sports cards and other collectibles to terminally ill, hospitalized children.

Our chapter will work closely with Children's Hospital of Michigan. Four or five members per week will visit the children and deliver donated items. Additionally, we plan to establish a web site with home pages for kids with cancer.

Armenian American Medical Student and Housestaff Association
The Wayne State University Chapter of the Armenian American Medical Student & Housestaff Association will focus on social, professional, and community outreach goals.  Our mission is twofold. First, we will serve as a medium for professional and social networking. In this capacity we exchange information and ideas concerning matter of medical education and training. Second, we will establish medical education and preventative public health programs for the general public.  Professionally, we will facilitate networking for our members by helping them make contacts with Armenian physicians in the Detroit Area.  Finally, the AAMSHA of WSU will focus on giving back to the community by participating in community outreach programs.  This will be accomplished by directing our attention to both needy Non-Armenians and Armenians alike throughout the Detroit Area.

Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
APAMSA aims to promote awareness of issues that affect Asian/Pacific American medical students and to assist others in understanding about the Asian cultures and lifestyles. This organization sponsors and participates in many university wide events, such as: the Ethnic Cultural Week, guest speakers and clothing drives. APAMSA is also active in its outreach programs to the Asian community in Metro Detroit. Members attend regional and national conferences regarding issues affecting Asian Americans, such as health, immigration, and cultural/language barriers. APAMSA welcomes all who are interested in participating in its activities.

Black Medical Association (BMA)
Founded in 1969, the BMA is the local affiliate of the Student National Medical Association. The BMA is one of the oldest and most active student organizations in the medical school. The BMA supports the development of academic excellence and professionalism among African-American and minority students and encourages communication between the school's student organizations and the student body in general. The BMA participates in the general community through a variety of outreach programs aimed at youth development. 
Specifically, we vigorously support the educational goals of our members through our educational committee as well as our tutors and big sib/little sib program. We celebrate our culture throughout the year with programs such as Black History Month Program and Kwanzaa Celebration. We also give back to our community through various programs including: Reach Out to Youth, the S.A.Y Clinic, and more.

Canadian Medical Student Association
The Canadian Medical Student Association serves as a forum for socialization and communication amongst Canadian and non-Canadian medical students.  Through group meetings and organized match panels, students have the opportunity to share their experiences on issues unique to Canadian students such as paying for medical school without financial aid, obtaining an American SSN for employment, and matching through ERAS with a visa or through CaRMS.

Cass Clinic Program
On Saturday mornings, WSU medical student volunteers actively engage in health care services at the Cass Clinic located in the downtown area. The purpose of the Cass Student Health Clinic Program is to provide opportunities for WSU medical students to gain true "hands-on" experience in procedures and patient care under the guidance of an attending physician. The Cass Health Care Clinic focuses primarily on providing medical care to a medically indigent population living in the university/medical center area. The Cass Student Health Clinic Program is sponsored by the Aesculapians.

Chaldean American Medical Student Association
The Chaldean-American Medical Student Association (CAMSA) is a student-run not for profit organization established to promote Chaldean culture and language through the fabric of diversity.  Along with providing medical students with volunteer and networking opportunities, it is our focus to promote higher education for future health professionals.  CAMSA will also provide community service and aid to underserved Chaldeans and non-Chaldeans in metropolitan Detroit. 

Christian Medical Association
The Christian Medical Association is a national professional organization of physicians and medical school students who have joined together to help men and women both physically and spiritually. The WSU chapter is an interdenominational fellowship of believers who consider themselves Christians first and medical students second. The participants believe that Bible study, worship and fellowship are essentials that cannot be neglected during medical school. Everyone is welcome to come to its weekly meeting held every Wednesday at noon.  

Code Blue
Code Blue is a phrase used in hospitals to designate a life-threatening emergency. In 1989, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) and the American Medical Association (AMA) issued a "code blue" in response to the adolescent health crisis in the United States.  Highland Park Public Schools and Wayne State University School of Medicine entered into a partnership in September 1992 to form the Code Blue mentoring outreach project, which develops a continuing relationship between a group of medical students and their assigned classroom of students. The goals of the project are to help children avoid risky behaviors, make informed healthy decisions, and to build positive self esteem through meaningful and interactive discussions. 

Covenant House
We are a group of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to the lives of homeless youth in Metro Detroit through our involvement with Covenant House Michigan. Our involvement gives us the opportunity and responsibility to make an immediate, positive difference, and hence, a long-term impact upon the health and welfare of the struggling homeless and adolescent population of Detroit. We hope you will join us in accomplishing the five main goals of our organization: 1) develop a foundation for School of Medicine and Detroit Medical Center, 2) increase accessibility of Detroit's homeless youth to medical care, 3) increase preventative medical education in the homeless population, 4) mentor and inspire Covenant House Michigan "kids" and recipients of care, 5) work with existing student groups to facilitate community awareness of the School of Medicine's dedication to the City of Detroit.

Gold Humanism Honor Society
This organization was established at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2005. The Gold Humanism Honor Society is an organization of students who recognize the necessity of fostering compassion in the hospital and clinic.  Students from the 3rd and 4th year class, as well as residents and attending physicians, are peer nominated and selected based on their demonstration of commitment to humanism in medicine.  The organization hosts such events as the Third Year Student Clinician Ceremony to welcome upcoming third years to their clinical rotations, and medical documentary movie nights where we watch and discuss a movie and how an illness affects people’s lives.  GHHS volunteers at YouthVille, an afterschool program for young girls where we talk about issues affecting teens such as body image, alcohol awareness, and future career goals and is putting together a journal showcasing poetry, artwork, and essays written by students, residents, and faculty during their medical careers.  http://humanism-in-medicine.org/

HealthFOCUS
Health For Our Children in Urban Settings (FOCUS).  The mission is to promote awareness of the challenges involved in providing medical care to children in urban settings. We aim to provide a forum for networking among community organizations, area residents, and the health professionals that serve them. It is our hope that we educate and inspire others to action. Finally, we strive to promote Children's Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine, in recognition of their effort to improve the health of the community's children.

Hematology & Oncology Peer Education (HOPE)
Our mission is to educate aspiring physicians about blood disorders and cancer, and the fields of hematology and oncology, while also serving as a resource for volunteer, research, and residency opportunities.  HOPE consists of 6 committees, 17 coordinators, and 24 faculty advisors.  There will be monthly meetings for members and many activities throughout the school year.  Membership is free and open to any medical student.
HOPE Committees:
Guest Speaker Committee        Research & Journal Club Committee
Shadowing Committee            Website & Newsletter Committee
Volunteer Committee            Community Activities Committee        

History of Medicine
Medicine is a constantly changing field, shaped by scientific innovation, educational reform, and a commitment to community service.  The goal of the History of Medicine Interest Group is to understand and reflect upon these changes and their origins.  We welcome students, faculty, staff and community members with an interest in the social, cultural, and historical aspects of medicine and science.  Through student and faculty presentations, guest speakers, and field trips, the group will gain a better understanding of the practice of medicine by illuminating its history.  Meetings are held monthly, with periodic emails of interest sent to list-serve members.

Humanistic Medicine (HuMed)
HuMed is designed to allow students to explore medicine and the human condition. Students have the opportunity to develop an understanding of psychological, spiritual and physical health. This is achieved through activities that relate to culture, complementary and alternative medicine, morality and ethics, and psychosocial issues in illness.

Islamic Medical Student Association (IMSA)
The IMSA serves the social, professional and spiritual needs of the Muslim Medical Students’ community at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in an organized, consistent and unifying manner; to inspire medical students to make positive, effective, and ongoing contributions towards the medical and social needs of the local and global society.

Jewish Medical Association (JMA)
Membership in the Jewish Medical  Association is open to Jewish medical students as well as students of other religious and racial backgrounds. The chief goal of JMSA is to provide a forum for medical students to socialize, interact, share and learn about Jewish traditions, culture and beliefs.

Joy-Southfield Clinic
Students will volunteer to triage patients and take history (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, weight, chief complaint).  They can also shadow the doctors there and will be included in the assessment of the illness.  Students may be trained to take blood and perform flu vaccinations.  Volunteers may also give dietary and fitness suggestions to patients at risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Latin American Native American Medical Association
The Latin American Native American Medical Association at Wayne State University would be committed to addressing current issues in health as well as medical education in the Latin American and Native American population.

In order to understand and address these issues, the group would focus on:

1. Networking between medical students and medical professionals both statewide and nationally.
2. Coordinating guest speakers for cultural events at Wayne State University SOM
3. Academic support for medical students
4. Community outreach
5. Working with Wayne State SOM administration on Latin American/Native American issues

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Medicine (LGBT)
The LGBT People in Medicine group has a three-fold mission:

• SUPPORTIVE: To foster an accepting and supportive environment for the LGBT students and their allies in the Wayne State University medical community. This also involves establishing professional contacts with LGBT faculty members, residents, and other area physicians.
• ADVOCACY: To educate our peers at the medical school on health and social issues in the LGBT community by inviting speakers and sponsoring awareness and visibility programs
• COMMUNITY: To serve the LGBT community in the Metro Detroit area through volunteering, increasing awareness on health issues, and working with other community organizations to maximize our effectiveness

Medical Student for Choice (MSFC)
Medical Students for Choice is dedicated to ensuring that women receive the full range of reproductive health care choices. MSFC recognizes that one of the greatest obstacles to safe and legal abortion is the absence of trained providers. As medical students, we work to make reproductive health care, including abortion, a part of standard medical education and residency training. More specially, these are our goals: a) to build a network of support and resources for the medical students and residents who are working to become tomorrow's abortion providers, b) to reform medical school curricula and training to include abortion and reproductive health as a standard part of medical education, c) to increase education and training opportunities for medical students and residents in abortion and reproductive health and d) to educate students, the public and policymakers in medicine and government in order to raise awareness of the vital need for abortion training.

Medical Student for Life
Our mission is to form a group of medical students who uphold a respect for life from the moment of conception to natural death.  First, we will create awareness throughout the medical school.  Second, we wish to create physicians with strong morals and regard for life.  Third, we will make community outreach part of our agenda.  Finally, we will lobby our elected officials and medical school deans to create laws and policies to support our mission.

Military Medical Student Organization (MMSO)
The Military Medical Student Organization was established with the following goals: 1) to develop lines of communication within the military medical student community; 2) to serve as an information source for military medical students and others interested in military medicine; and, 3) to develop pride, teamwork, and esprit de corps among military medical students.

Preventive Medicine Action Group
The action group examines issues relevant to the field of preventive medicine and then addresses those issues with action (s) in the community. The group raises awareness of preventive medicine as a recognized medical specialty and also advocates for greater prevention and public health interventions on city, state, and national levels.  One free community health screening is coordinated by the action group per year.

Project H
The mission of Project H is to provide resources to the Wayne County Family Center, a homeless shelter for men, women and children in Westland, so that all residents have the opportunity to reach and/or maintain their physical, emotional, spiritual and environmental wellness.

Psychiatry and Neuroscience Interest Group
Formed in 1995, this interest group seeks to educate medical students about the career opportunities in psychiatry. The group provides to the student body information on mental health services in the metro Detroit area.

ReDetroit
ReDetroit is intended to be a civic and social organization that will take care and take advantage of various resources in Detroit. This organization will be doing Habitat for Humanity outings, Adopt-A-Park, Food shelters, and Angels Night and trips to places like the DSO and the DIA. The activities of the group are largely open-ended so that the members of the group will make the group what they want. The whole idea is to get the student body excited about Detroit as a community.

Robert R. Frank Student Run Free Clinic
Purpose of Clinic:
The purpose of the Clinic is to engage in all lawful activities, including, but not limited to the following:
a.      Provide health care at no cost to all patrons who attend the Clinic.
b.      Provide educational material and general medical information to all patrons who attend the Clinic.
c.       Provide medical students enrolled at WSUSOM with an educational opportunity to better develop necessary skills in history taking and physical examination with respect to general patient care and management.

Goals of the Clinic:
The goals of the clinic include, but are not limited to:
a.      Provide the highest quality medical care to qualified patients of Mercy Primary Care Center regardless of ability to pay.
b.      Provide clinical experience with a unique and diverse patient population.
c.       Promote values of teamwork, mutual respect, and leadership within the organization.
d.      Provide invaluable training in all aspects of patient care, from practice management, chronic disease management, care of patients with limited access to care and patient autonomy.
e.      Provide an atmosphere that fosters innovation in healthcare delivery and seeks to improve the American medical system using the energy and dedication of the WSUSOM community.

RunDetroit
The goals and purposes for our proposed organization include:

• Improve the physical fitness  of Detroit’s youth  and provide a safe environment for them to exercise outside
• Promote positive body image and self esteem and possibly include nutrition education once the program is more established
• Build relationships between mentors and mentees and to be a support for them in all aspects of life not just fitness
• Teach good sportsmanship and encourage positive attitudes
• Help the students  to achieve goals that they set for themselves
• Provide a fun activity for kids to do after school that will also keep them from getting involved in dangerous or to promote a healthy habits

Senior Citizen Outreach Program (SCOP)
The Senior Citizen Outreach is the only student program specifically designed to aid the elderly.  Our purpose is to reach out  to Detroit’s senior citizens and help them monitor their health through various screenings. Every few Saturdays a month we volunteer at St. Patrick Senior Center where we socialize and take blood pressure screenings of the seniors. Our focus is to help the seniors of Detroit while interacting and learning from them at the same time.

Sexually Transmitted Infections/AIDS (STI/AIDS)
The STI/AIDS Education Group offers presentations to middle and high school students in the Detroit Public School system. Medical student educators visit classrooms and deliver presentations on the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for STIs and HIV/AIDS. Emphasis is placed on the important roles that abstinence and barrier methods of protection play and on dispelling the many myths surrounding sexually transmitted infections.

Student Sight Savers
Our mission is to promote eye health and awareness among the large medically underserved population of southeastern Michigan. Both early detection and adequate health literacy have been shown to improve outcomes for patients with glaucoma. There is a high prevalence of diabetes and glaucoma among metro Detroit’s medically underserved, coupled with a lack of access to specialty care. Thus, there is a great need for screening and patient education efforts. Throughout the year we host several vision screenings at Cass Clinic, churches, senior centers, and health screenings in an effort to contribute to safety net for this high risk population. Student volunteers will learn to obtain a relevant eye health history, and perform a basic eye exam, including visual acuity testing, visual field testing, and glaucoma testing using our state of the art equipment. Our screenings are not supervised by a physician, but we refer any serious cases encountered to a local optometrist or the residents’ clinic at Kresge Eye Institute for a more detailed examination.

Student Society for Stem Cell Research (SSSCR)
Stem Cell research and medical treatments are becoming increasingly promising areas in modern medicine.  The Student Society for Stem Cell Research (SSSCR) is a club for medical students that are interested by the current advancements, bioethical issues, and controversies involved with stem cell research. Various speakers will come and present on different topics in the field. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer in the bone marrow drive and umbilical cord collection program that is collaborating with Karmanos Cancer Institute.  Specifically, the umbilical cord collection program seeks to raise awareness in soon-to-be mothers about the opportunity for cord blood donation. Opportunities also exist for obtaining consent from mothers for umbilical cord donation as well. For those interested in research involving stem cells, there is a research coordinator who will be able to place you in contact with doctors looking for students interested in stem cell research.  This is a club that is great for students interested in any specialty in medicine since an interest in stem cell issues can bolster any application and can be applied to just about any specialty.

Student Team Enabling Peers (S.T.E.P.)
Peer support amongst all medical students who consider themselves to be disabled, mentorship between disabled students, establishing contacts with advocates for disabled students amongst faculty, staff and administration of the School of Medicine in Scott Hall and at remote hospital locations. Development of standard policies and procedures regarding situations arising from disability to be carried out by the Office of Student Affairs by an appointed person. Working towards the integration of support services for disabled students into standard student affairs services.

Students of Non-Traditional Background (SONB)
To ease the transition into and through Medical School for students with “Non-Traditional” attributes such as a prior career, a non-medical degree, advanced degree(s), children, a spouse, an age above or below the mean age of matriculating medical students, et. al.

Ultrasounds
The Ultra Sounds is an acapella group that has been designed by those, and for those interested in sharing music with other singers, their school, fellow students and their community. Our objective is to perform in organized school functions, local hospitals, nursing homes, and just about anywhere that people will enjoy listening to music sung by Wayne State University School of Medicine students. In addition to community outreach, this group is meant to be a fun and rhythmic way to enhance the overall medical school experience.

Vista Maria
Vista Maria is a non-profit organization that is striving to help troubled girls from Metro Detroit rebuild their lives. These girls have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma, and it is through the relentless efforts of Vista Maria that they are able to recover from their hardships. As Wayne State medical students, we have actively been volunteering at this organization for a few years now. We engage in intellectually stimulating activities with the girls, and thus provide them with guidance and support.  This year, we will be visiting Vista Maria monthly to teach the girls how to cook easy, fun, and affordable meals that they will be able to make themselves in the future. Opportunities also exist to mentor the girls one-on-one, volunteer in Vista Maria's health clinic, and more. Help make a difference by joining our Vista Maria volunteer group.  For more information about the organization, please visit: http://www.vistamaria.org.

Violence Awareness Organization
The Violence Awareness organization is dedicated to increasing awareness of the presence and effects of violence in our community and in the practice of medicine. We sponsor a one-week lunchtime lecture series with a variety of community leaders speaking on a host of topics, as well as special presentations and displays throughout the year.

Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group (WMSIG)
The Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group was established with support from the Wilderness Medical Society to promote education in and exposure to wilderness medicine. Medical situations exist that are unique to the wilderness due to the degree of isolation and lack of medical and safety principles essential to the outdoor enthusiast. The WMSIG provides an opportunity for members to gain an appreciation for these issues through workshops, activities, and outings.

World Health Student Organization (WHSO)
World Health Student Organization is a student-run organization whose central goal is to provide medical care to under-served populations both globally and locally. WHSO is best known for its international medical relief trips which annually send about seventy students to countries such as Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Our mission is to provide support in clinics, refugee camps, and the local communities while allowing students to acquire an understanding of healthcare systems of developing countries and to gain experience in clinical settings that are rarely found in the United States. WHSO also aims to increase the community interest in global health through educational seminars and informational guest speakers.  For more information, visit WHSO’s website at http://www.med.wayne.edu/whso/

Wayne State Institute for Healthcare Improvement
IHI is an independent non-profit organization helping to lead global improvement of health care by promoting partnerships with hundreds of faculty members who share what they know and learn from each other.  Its programs and activities are designed to enable committed individuals and organizations to innovate together, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects toward improving health care.  In particular, the IHI Open School is a resource that offers free online courses about how to improve patient safety and quality.  Both U of M and MSU medical schools have started their own chapters, and we would like to add Wayne State University School of Medicine to the movement.  More info regarding IHI is available at http://www.ihi.org/ihi/. 

Our goal as a student org and new school chapter would be to join this global initiative by providing Wayne medical students with both IHI resources as well as opportunities to get involved in patient safety and quality projects with local practicing faculty.

Writing Workshop
Twentieth Century poet-doctor William Carlos Williams once said that “When they ask me … how I have for so many years continued an equal interest in medicine and the poem, I reply that they amount for me to nearly the same thing.” The mission of the WSU SOM Writing Workshop is to pursue a thorough understanding of this overlap of writing and medicine. How does the medical profession influence compositional choices? What role can writing play in the healing process? Since March of 2009, we have addressed these questions at monthly workshops by way of group discussion, lit review, critique and analysis. Future plans include an online writing forum, guest presentations, and public readings.

Young Doctors of Detroit
The Young Doctors of Detroit (YDD) is a new program started in 2002 with the goal of increasing the exposure of positive, young role models (in the form of medical students) to the middle and high school students of Detroit. The Young Doctors of Detroit provides mentorship while offering specialized workshop sessions that we feel are crucial for empowering the young minds of urban areas. These workshops include preparing for college, leadership development, health/hygiene, and self-awareness/self esteem.