At WMed, students have ample opportunities to develop their leadership skills while making a difference. Whether you鈥檙e interested in being a voice for your peers on Student Council, serving on an institutional standing committee, joining a student interest group to prepare for your future, or building community as a Learning Community Representative, you can find a way to practice your passion at WMed.聽
Student Leadership
Student Council
The Student Council represents all medical students and communicates the needs and opinions of the student body to faculty and administration. Each class has its own representation comprised of four elected members. These students are responsible for contributing to the development of school policies and administrative matters that effect students throughout their four years. The Student Council also coordinates student activities such as:
- Specialty Speed Dating
- The Big Sib/Little Sib mentoring program
- White Coat Black Tie
Committees
Medical student membership on standing committees provides a great leadership experience, while also giving students a say in changes at the medical school. As a member, students are expected to make recommendations to the administration based on their perspective, as well as those of their peers. WMed offers medical students the opportunity to serve on the following committees:
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![Learning Community Apgar Breakfast 2022](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Apgar%20Breakfast.jpeg)
Learning Community Representatives and Peer Mentors
WMed places students in聽Learning Communities聽during their time at WMed to build a sense of community and collaboration among and between classes. Each of WMed鈥檚 four Learning Communities have peer Learning Community Reps who are charged with promoting and creating a collaborative, wellness-focused learning environment for all students. The LC Reps also host fun events that offer students time to build relationships within and between classes, try something new, and step away from studying for a little while! The four Learning Communities are Apgar, Blackwell, Cushing, and Drew.聽
Peer Mentoring
WMed has a peer mentoring group called MESS, which stands for Mentoring and Supporting Each Other for Success. MESS is a student-run peer mentoring group with the goals of maintaining wellness among peers, providing advice and tips for success, and being a support system in times of need. MESS is available on a one-on-one basis and also hosts group wellness events. All M2-M4 students are invited to serve as MESS peer mentors and provide support.聽
Student Interest Groups
At WMed, we have over 90 Student Interest Groups (SIGs) for students to join. These groups provide a unique opportunity for students to get involved beyond the classroom, clinic and hospital. There are SIGs dedicated to individual specialties, who have skilled advisors with long-standing medical careers. WMed also offers special interest SIGs, with topics ranging from social justice and the arts to athletics and wellness. If you don鈥檛 see something you are interested in, there is always the freedom to start a SIG of your own!
![WMed Student Organization Fair 2022](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Student%20Org%20Fair.jpeg)
Student Organizations
WMed has established student chapters of a variety of national organizations. These chapters provide opportunities for students to get involved in medical student programming that effects communities nationwide. Student delegates of these national organizations are encouraged to attend annual meetings to promote collaboration among medical students and schools across the country. Currently, the Student Organizations include:
- American Medical Association: Medical Student Section
- American Medical Student Association
- American Medical Women's Association
- Association of American Medical Colleges: Organization of Student Representatives
- Latino Medical Student Association
- Medical Student Pride Alliance
- Student National Medical Association
Honor Societies
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
The Michigan Epsilon chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society at WMed recognizes students who have shown dedication to academia, peer teaching, leadership, humanism, and service, and personify Alpha Omega Alpha's motto to "Be Worthy to Serve the Suffering." Students become eligible for this honor in their third year, and are selected by faculty who are members of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
We believe in the importance of developing humanistic future physicians who are dedicated to compassionate, respectful, and empathetic patient care. For students who have exhibited these characteristics while in medical school, we have established a chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. The goal of this society is to recognize and celebrate students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to humanism in medicine, the highest standards of patient care, and the likelihood of becoming humanistic physicians. Students are nominated for this honor in their third year by their peers. In addition, our institutional commitment to advance humanism in medicine is demonstrated through our membership in the聽Academic Medicine Gold Partners Council.