Student Interest Groups

Below is a list of available student interest groups. Contact the SOM Office of Student Affairs for a student interest group registration form.

Academic Medicine

Purpose: The Academic Medicine Interest Group (AMIG) is a student-run organization that seeks to educate UMMC medical students about careers in academic medicine, generate student interest in academics and research, and encourage students to incorporate academic activities into their careers as future physicians. AMIG will hold monthly meetings during which students will have the opportunity to listen to speakers from various specialties and engage in discussions exploring concepts of the triad of academic medicine - education, patient care, and research. AMIG will also focus on providing resources such as career planning, shadowing/research opportunities, and developing relationships with faculty through mentorship programs. Other benefits for members include various workshops, journal clubs, and opportunities to travel and work with students and faculty at other organizations and institutions who share our interests in promoting careers in academic medicine.

Officers:

• President: Emily Nonnemacher
• Vice president: Nick Gilbert
• Secretary: Rachel Yi
• Director of research and education: Russell Roberts
• Surgery faculty liaison: Rob Dambrino
• Medicine faculty liaison: Kayla Richter

Advisors:

• Dr. Sharon Douglas
• Dr. Savannah Duckworth

Anesthesia

Purpose: The mission is two-fold: 1) Help students gain a better understanding of the exciting field of anesthesiology, including the skills involved and the spectrum of practices within the field; and 2) provide students who have decided to pursue anesthesiology as a career with resource to maximize their competitiveness as they enter the residency application process.

• Website

Officers:

• President: Avani Patel
• Vice president: Ramon Jackson
• Secretary: Kate Harriel

Advisors:

• Dr. Kristen Bell
• Dr. Chawla Mason

Association of Women's Surgeons

Purpose: AWS is an organization with international membership whose mission is to inspire, encourage, and enanble women surgeons to realize their professional and personal goals. The AWS Medical Student Committee is charged with developing resources to support, educate, and inspire women medical students pursuing a career in surgery. The organization's goals are: to promote professional growth and development; to enhance and facilitate interaction among women surgeons throughout the world; to foster an environment supportive of personal values and individual diversity; to advance the highest standards of competence and ethical behavior.

Officers:

• President: Samantha Whitwell
• Vice president: Sarah Farmer
• Secretary: Rachel Kuehn
• Treasurer: Ana Gayle Christian
• Community outreach chair: Harman Kaur

Advisors:

• Dr. Felicitas Koller
• Dr. Shuntaye Batson

Biannual African American Visit Day Organization

Purpose: The purpose of this organization is to address an article written by the AMA in 2015 that addressed the problem of the decrease of African American males in the medical profession. We are dedicated to doing things to help increase the number of minorities interested/attending medical school. Our biggest event is our AA Visit Days that we hold in the fall and spring of every academic year in which we bring college and high school students to UMMC and introduce them to medicine and assist them in overcoming any barriers that may exist between them and pursuing a career in medicine.

Officers:

• Co-creators:
  • Michael Chiadika
  • Jeremy Stocks
• Co-organizers:
  • Jamarius Waller
  • Zach Glenn
  • Logan Wilson

Advisor: Dr. Manuel

Black Representation in Medicine (BRIM)

Purpose: The purpose of the Black Representation in Medicine (BRIM) program is to increase the number of African-American men and women who apply, gain admission, and successfully matriculate into graduate programs related to healthcare professions, specifically medicine.

Officers:

• President: Kandice Bailey
• Vice president: Ashley Brown

Advisors:

• Dr. Stephen Manuel
• Ms. Lesley Dickens

Cardiology

Purpose: To educate rising medical students about the practice of Cardiology and to garner interest and demonstrate the importance of the organ system in every field of medicine.

Officers:

• President: William Crews
• Vice president: Daniel Duddleston
• Secretary: Anusha Chinthaparthi
• Treasurer: David Wilbanks
• Community service: Grant Robinson

Advisor: Dr. Thomas Skelton

Club Med

Purpose: To promote communication among members and faculty. To obtain information about careers in internal medicine. To promote the profession of internal medicine. To serve the medical school and campus public. To promote student membership in the American College of Physicians (ACP).

• Website

Officers:

• President: Caleb Zumbro
• Vice president: Peyton Reves
• Community service representatives:
  • Mary Ball Markow
  • Kristen Wilson
• M4 representatives:
  • Jimbo Dickerson
  • William Morgan
  • Dana Smith
• M3 representatives:
  • David Wilbanks
• M2 representatives:
  • Drew Desrosiers
  • Jordan Rimes

Advisor: Dr. Savannah Duckworth

Dermatology

Purpose: To foster interest in dermatology as a career among students, connect students with dermatology faculty and residents as mentors, and educate students about dermatologic conditions.

Officers:

• President: Hadley Pearson
• Vice president: Drew Desrosiers
• Secretary: Bonnie Hodge
• Class of 2020 Representative: Hannah Roberts-Badon

Advisor: Dr. Nancye McCowan

Dreamweavers

Purpose: Relief of stress through any form of crafting, primarily crocheting and/or knitting. All creations should be donated to the VA CLC.

Officers:

• Founder(s):
  • Kaitlyn Salter
  • Ronnie Jett Case II
  • Anna Beth Bryant

Advisors:

• Virginia Covington
• Jan Simpson

Emergency Medicine (EMIG)

Purpose: The organization aims to enhance exposure to emergency medicine by providing medical students with shadowing opportunities, skills labs, and guest speakers.

Officers:

• President: Nicole Novotny
• Vice president: Dusty Bratton
• Shadowing coordinator: Jillian Merica
• Treasurer: Cooper Overton
• Secretary: Brent Treadway
• Activities coordinator: Taylor Allen

Advisors:

• Dr. Allison Barrett
• Dr. Jonah Gunalda

ENT Student Interest Group

Purpose: To advise and guide future otolaryngologists through the application and Match process.

Officers:

• Co-presidents:
  • Robert Wineski
  • Joseph "Alex" deGruy
• Vice president: Benjamin Stevens
• Secretary: Marlee Wadsworth
• Treasurer: Alexa Engel

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Carron

Family Medicine

Purpose: To inform medical students about the practice of family medicine and to have a central organization that allows students interested in the field of family medicine to meet and encourage one another.

Officers:

• President: Will Casey
• Vice president: Craig Bullock
• Secretary: Katrina Johnson
• Treasurer: Justin Dyer
• Events coordinators:
  • Van-Vi Le
  • Leah Burch
• Community service coordinators:
  • Falon McKnight
  • Jordan Cothern
• M4 representative: Brad Murray
• M3 representative: Ethan Collier
• M2 Representative - Brooks Pratt

Advisor: Dr. David Norris

FrancoMed, Medical French Student Group

Purpose: Enhance the knowledge base and proficiency of French medical terminology for clinical use and the practice of medicine in French-speaking areas of humanitarian need.

Officers:

• President: Kate Garner
• Co-vice presidents:
  • Danielle Brown
  • Colton Lee

Advisor: Dr. JR Colvin

Gay-Straight Alliance

Purpose: To promote a more welcoming and supportive environment at UMMC for LGBT students. To address healthcare disparities in the LGBT community through education initiatives and volunteerism. To foster the development of a social and support network for LGBT and allied students, faculty and staff through on- and off-campus activities and events.

Officers:

• President: Reid Black
• Representative, School of Graduate Studies: Kathryn Hellman
• Representative, School of Medicine: Kathryn Adam
• Representative, School of Pharmacy: Rustin Combs
• Representative, School of Dentistry: Austin Huffman
• Representative, School of Nursing: Ka'Bresha Potts

Advisors:

• Dr. Eric Blaudeau
• Dr. Liz Robertson

Global Health (GHIG)

Purpose: To educate medical students, residents and faculty about health disparities in our local community and around the world by hosting a monthly lecture series. GHIG also seeks to connect students to mission opportunities and to provide financial support to students engaged in medical missions work.

Officers:

• President: Abbey Arcement
• Vice president: Harman Kaur
• Treasurer: Jessie Patel
• Co-secretary:
  • Bridget Cheng
  • Shelby Walters
• Community outreach:
  • Bethany Summerford
  • Kelsey Pettus

Advisor: Dr. Alan Penman

Hippocratic Forum

Purpose: To foster interprofessional relationships and understanding, as well as learn about alternative views and professions in the medical community.

Officers:

• President: Falan McKnight
• Secretary: Brent Treadway
• Sentinel: Shelby Walters
• Interprofessional committee:
  • Callie Grey
  • Hala Abisamra
• Alternative POI:
  • Peyton Reves
  • Taylor Allen

Advisor: Dr. Alan Penman

History of Medicine Interest Group

Purpose: The History of Medicine Interest Group is a student led organization that is dedicated to celebrating the history of medicine and its development. HMIG is an academic program that is open to students from any of the university's professional programs. HMIG strives to provide students with an opportunity to attend presentations and lectures by physicians who have had a significant impact on medical history. HMIG is also dedicated to providing interested students with available research opportunities tasked with preserving the history of medicine.

Officers:

• Founder/President: Alexis Griffith

Advisor: Dr. Ralph H. Didlake

Humanities and Medicine

Purpose: To give medical students an opportunity to incorporate the humanities (history, art, literature, philosophy, etc.) into their study of medicine and inspire them to consider the comprehensive human experience of each patient in their future practice of medicine.

Officers:

• President: Stephen Grado
• Co-vice president:
  • David Duff
  • Savannah Mitchell
• Secretary: Erin Dyer
• Treasurer: Omama Ahmad

Advisor: Dr. Tarif Bakdash

Jackson Free Clinic

Officers:

• Student director: Ann Marie Mercier
• Secretary: Morgan Davis
• Treasurer: Jack Fitzpatrick
• Physician volunteer coordinators:
  • Logan Ramsey
  • Mary Elizabeth Butts
• Student volunteer coordinators:
  • Jessica Arnold
  • Hannah Miller
  • Ford Franklin
• PR/Fundraising:
  • Patrick Wood
  • John Bobo
• Information technology: Hobart Zhu
• Acquisitions:
  • Hadley Pearson
  • Brent Treadway
  • Claire Harkey
• Education:
  • Lauren Deaver
  • Annie Folks
• Structure: Johnny Lippincott
• Grant writing:
  • Connor Tierney
  • Salma Dawoud
• Research: John Yi

Literati Medicus (Book Club)

Officers:

• Co-chairs:
  • Charlie Pritchard
  • Kristen Newman
  • Dana Smith

Medical Spanish (Club de Espanol)

Purpose: To foster interest in the language and culture of our Spanish speaking population. To teach basic Spanish speaking skills and medical terminology. To equip medical personnel with the language skills necessary to become Spanish translators for UMMC and any future hospital/medical team they may work for.

Officers:

• Co-president:
  • Brent Treadway
  • RJ Case

Advisor: Dr. Jerry Clark

Medical Student Cancer Interest Group

Purpose: Promote interest in cancer care, research; Promote communication among members and faculty; Obtain information about careers in medical oncology and malignant hematology; Promote the profession of medical oncology; Serve the medical school and campus public.

Advisor: John Clark Henegan

Medical Student Infectious Diseases Interest Group

Purpose: To increase student interest in the field of infectious diseases (ID), allow students interested in the field of ID to learn about career and volunteer opportunities, and connect students with ID faculty and fellows as mentors.

Officers:

• Co-president:
  • Bridget E. Cheng
  • Denise E. Powell
• Co-secretary:
  • William D. Buchanan
  • Peyton L. Reves

Advisors:

• Dr. Jose Lucar
• Dr. James "Ben" Brock

Neurosurgery

Purpose: To foster professional growth and career development of members of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine who are interested in the field of neurosurgery.

Officers:

• President: Rob Dambrino
• Vice president: Zach Johnson

Advisor: Dr. Chad Washington

OB/GYN

Purpose: The OBGYN Interest group exists to bring medical students interested in women's healthcare together, along with providing opportunities for other medical students to learn topics concerning women's healthcare. We also strive to do volunteer work in the community, especially in areas that would benefit women and women's healthcare. The OB/GYN Interest group works closely with the OB/GYN department at UMMC to ensure medical students interested in OB/GYN have access to advice and support from the department residents and staff. We are affiliated with the AL-MS ACOG section and attend events sponsored and supported by AL-MS ACOG.

Officers:

• President: Ashley Surles
• Vice presidents: Ann Marie Mercier and Gabrielle Rattliffe
• Treasurer: Chiamaka Ngwudike
• Secretary: Rachel Kuehn
• Meeting coordinator: Torey Krause
• ACOG correspondent: Kim Zachow

Advisor: Dr. John Preston Parry

Oncology

Purpose: The UMMC Oncology Student Interest Group (OncSIG) is setup to provide students opportunities to meet and learn from physicians, fellows, residents, and researchers about the different fields of oncology. These will include: medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, orthopaedic oncology, as well as clinical and basic research.

Officers:

• President: Andrew Day

Advisor: Dr. Srinivasan Vijayakumar

Ophthalmology

Purpose: To increase the knowledge and understanding of the practice of ophthalmology for the interested medical student while providing opportunities to meet department faculty, residents, fellows, and other students interested in the field.

Officers:

• President: David Riem
• Vice president: Daniel Robbins
• Secretary: Kristen Stephens
• Resident and faculty teaching award chair: Elliot Browning
• Ophthalmology guide co-chairs:
  • Johnny McKenzie
  • Salma Dawoud

Advisor: Dr. William Watkins

Orthopaedic Preparation Program

Purpose: The aim of this group is to help students gain a realistic perspective of the orthopedic field early in their medical education. The Orthopaedic Preparation Program will provide a forum where students at UMMC can discuss topics relevant to the musculoskeletal system, obtain current information regarding orthopedic residency programs, and to connect with mentors to gain advice on pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery.

Officers:

• President: Lee Sullivan
• Vice president: Logan Wilson
• Treasurer: Jacob Mercier
• Secretary: Kelsey Hillhouse

Advisors:

• Tara Kelly
• Dr. Jim Hurt

Pathology

Purpose: To expand awareness and interest among students about the field of pathology and encourage more students to consider pathology as a career; to allow interested students to make contacts with faculty and residents; and to raise awareness among students about the crucial role pathology plays in modern medical practice.

Advisor: Dr. William Daley

Pediatrics

Purpose: To provide interested medical students with a base understanding of the field of pediatrics as well as opportunities to assist Batson Children's Hospital.

Officers:

• President: Erin Dyer
• Vice president: Callie Grey
• Secretary: Caitlin Kutz
• Treasurer: Shanu Moorthy
• Batson liaison: Jerry Rodgers
• PIG roast chairs:
  • Gurjit Kaur
  • Shelby Sattler
• Delegate to the American Academy of Pediatrics:
  • India Byrd
  • Meghan Case
• March of Dimes chair: Rachel Lambert

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Crout

Peer Assisted Learning Society (PALS)

Purpose: The purpose of the Peer Assisted Learning Society is to enhance the existing medical school curriculum through "wear-peer" instruction and to establish a diverse community of role models who aim to participate in meaningful social interactions that create a sense of community and belonging amongst medical students and educators.

Officers:

• President: Andrew Strachau
• Vice president: Bethany Summerford
• Secretary: Jundra Pegues
• Treasurer: Kandice Bailey

Advisor: Andrew Notebaert

Psychiatry (PSIG)

Purpose: We are dedicated to nurturing the psychiatric interests of our membership and to facilitating broader student education and understading of psychiatry across campus.

Officers:

• President: Joseph Maxwell
• Vice president: Lauren Deaver
• Secretary: Perry Morgan
• Treasurer: Sorsha Morris
• Community service: Lakeshia Gibson
• M3 representative: Moniqua Tillman
• M2 representative: Jordan Rimes

Advisor: Dr. Sara Gleason

Pulmonary Medicine/Critical Care

Purpose: This is an interest group designed to help students explore pulmonology and critical care as potential fields of specialization. This will give students an opportunity to hear about the specialty and hear from physicians who have pursued careers in the field.

Officers:

• President: Tyler Sims
• Vice president: Jackson Ross
• M3 representatives:
  • William Crews
  • Caleb Zumbro
• M2 representatives:
  • William Ross
  • Resham Rahat
• M1 representative: J'undra Pegues

Advisor: Dr. Avani Mehta

Quality Improvement

Purpose: The UMMC Quality Improvement Student Interest Group (UMMC QISIG) is an interprofessional chapter of the Cambridge Massachusetts Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The purpose of our organization as an interprofessional chapter is to work towards advancing patient safety and quality improvement.

Officers:

• President: Alex Gochenauer
• Vice president: William Thomas
• Secretary: Sarah Eldred
• Director of projects:
  • Payton Winghart
  • Emily Nonnemacher
• Director of education:
  • Mallory Pullman
  • Haley Houghton
• Director of communications:
  • Jackson Browning
  • Tiffany Martin

Adivsor: Dr. Kathleen Young

Radiology

Purpose: The Radiology Interest Group (RIG) was created to increase medical student interest and awareness of radiology. The group serves as the liaison for students who want to learn more about radiology and build a relationship with the department. Typically, group meetings are comprised of around 50 students ranging from year one to year four of medical school and consist of overviews of the field delivered by residents and faculty combined with hands-on demonstrations which offer students the opportunity to perform ultrasounds, biopsies, etc.

Officers:

• President: Jack Strahan
• Vice president: Evan Blair
• Secretary: Will Stewart
• M4 Representative: Jamey Cutts

Advisors:

• Dr. Charlotte Taylor
• Dr. E.P. Farley

School of Medicine Wellness Committee

Purpose: The committee's purpose is to encourage wellness among medical students (with a particular focus on M1 students) through regular programming and promoting other wellness initiatives (from UMMC Wellness Committee and ASB Wellness Committee). The group will also work with Dr. Burgess and Dr. Meredith to provide the Student Counseling and Wellness Center with feedback on their services.

Advisors:

• Dr. Danny Burgess
• Dr. Philip Meredith

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN)

Purpose: SIGN fosters medical student interest in neurology by providing opportunities to participate in clinical, research, and service activities in neurology, and increasing the student's neurologic knowledge. Student members of SIGN are eligible for free AAN membership and may also apply for national SIGN scholarships.

Officers:

• Co-president:
  • Lakeshia Gibson
  • Emily Nonnemacher
• Vice president: Sean M. Duke
• Secretary: Jacob Stout
• Community Service Chair: Jordan Rimes

Advisor: Dr. Christa Nobleza

Surgery

Purpose: To promote an interest in the field of surgery while providing students at UMMC the opportunity to interact with surgical physicians and to foster opportunities to improve surgical skills and techniques.

Officers:

• President: Kyle Curtis
• Vice president: Alexander McRae

Advisor(s): Dr. Jacob Moreman

UMMC Pacemakers

Purpose: The mission of this organization is to establish a fun and rewarding experience for medical students to engage with the Jackson community. In doing so, this organization aims to bring runners together through competition and camaraderie in hopes of creating a healthy and enthusiastic atmosphere. We will strive to move Mississippi in a positive direction one step at a time!

Officers:

• President: Travis Fortin
• Vice president: Jeremiah Reese
• Secretary: Wisam Beauti
• Treasurer: Dana Dillistone

Advisor: Mike McMullan

Urology

Purpose: To help students gain a better understanding of the field of urology and its various subspecialties and to provide insight from practicing physicians as well as current residents.

Officers:

• President: Clayton Newell

Advisor:

Wilderness Medicine

Purpose: To advance health care, research and education related to wilderness and outdoor-related medicine.

Officers:

• President: Hannah Miller
• Vice president: Wood Dale

Advisor: Dr. John McCarter