Excellence in academics plus real world experience, that is the UIC advantage-Joseph A Flaherty, MD Dean

Statistics: Largest of the four college of medicine sites-located in the heart of the world's largest medical district

updated 6.23..2005

Minority Medical Student Organizations

There are four minority medical student organizations in the College of Medicine: Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, La Raza Medical Student Association of Illinois, South Asian Medical Student Association and the Student National Medical Association.

APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association)

The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association is a national medical student organization dedicated to the advocacy of quality
healthcare for the rapidly growing APA community through education and volunteer projects. http://www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/prof/apamsa/

La Raza Medical Student Association of Illinois (La RaMa)

Founded in 1982 by a group of Latino medical students at the Chicago campus, La RaMa strives to increase the number of Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, and other Latinos accepted in the College of Medicine and the Latino community. This organization brings together Latinos of diverse backgrounds to achieve its objectives. ( http://www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/prof/larama )

SAMSA (South Asian Medical Student Association)

This organization was founded in 1994-95 to represent medical students of South Asian origin and to enhance awareness of South Asian culture. SAMSA aims at expressing the goals and aspirations of students of Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Nepalese origin. We will provide academic and social support for South Asian-American medical students and cultivate skills which will enable our members to play an active role as future leaders in this multi-cultural society.

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

Affiliated with the national organization, the UIC chapter of SNMA is one of the largest in the country. The objectives of this organization are to increase the number of African American and other minority students admitted to and graduated from health professional schools, to sponsor programs for minority youth to encourage their entrance into the health professions, etc. Through participation in SNMA, medical students learn about problems facing inner city communities, especially those problems related to health care.

The Urban Health Program strongly supports both La RaMa and SNMA; they in turn assist the program in its goals and objectives. Many activities are sponsored by the UHP and these student organizations. Newly enrolled students are encouraged to become involved and be an integral part in the progress of both associations.