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VCOM Students

Student Organizations

VCOM promotes an environment where students have many extra-curricular experiences that are offered to the entire class. The majority of student social activities on campus are provided by or supported by Student Services and/or the VIA Wellness Committee.  

VCOM also provides students the opportunity to explore their professional interests by promoting student professional organizations and committees.  The student professional organizations are primarily focused on careers the students are interested in exploring for residency or their future profession and are limited in number so as to balance the student’s curricular demands with their social life.  The student organizations sponsored by VCOM are limited in number and include:
 

VCOM-Sponsored Organizations

VCOM-Sponsored organizations are those that enhance professional development and include the following:

ACOEP club members
American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP)

The American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) is a student organization designed to support fellow osteopathic medical students interested in pursuing a career in emergency medicine. ACOEP promotes opportunities for students to enhance their knowledge of basic medical procedures utilized in the emergency room setting. The organization also provides opportunities and resources for students to interact with osteopathic emergency physicians and the national ACOEP student chapter so that students can gain as much as possible from their education and time at VCOM.

Student with outreach patient
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)

The primary focus of VCOM’s student chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) is to deliver healthcare and education to our surrounding communities, while simultaneously providing students with the opportunity to learn and explore the field of osteopathic family medicine. The organization is committed to providing members with access to local family physicians, information about post-doctoral training programs, as well as additional tools and skills to help them succeed in a future career as an osteopathic family physician.

Students standing over patient
American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI)

The American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) focuses on providing the most important resources and opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in internal medicine. By introducing members to VCOM’s internal medicine faculty and numerous guest speakers, members learn first-hand about internal medicine and its various sub-specialties such as endocrinology, cardiology and pulmonology, and radiology. All of the events offered ultimately assure that as an organization they are promoting student learning in the field of internal medicine.

Students with faculty
American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG)

The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) student organization works with VCOM’s OB-GYN faculty to foster and develop awareness and interest in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology among the medical student population. The organization strives to help our student members develop highly competitive Residency Applications, to increase awareness of women’s health issues, to educate students about sub-specialties in OB-GYN and the services provided by women’s health physicians, and to coordinate service opportunities which promote the health and well-being of women and neonates in the community.

Student face painting on child
American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP)

The Student Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP) works to provide exposure to the field of pediatrics through both educational events and community service. The student organization has also placed special emphasis on building relationships with various community partners in order to promote both pediatric health as well as osteopathic medicine.

child with medical student
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons-Medical Student Section (ACOS-MSS)

The purpose of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons-Medical Student Section (ACOS-MSS) is to represent and educate future osteopathic surgeons at VCOM. The organization helps students achieve this through many different activities which include: stressing the understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery; helping to promote education in the field of surgery, including gowning and gloving, scrubbing, sterile technique, suturing and tying techniques, operating room behavior, instrumentation, universal precautions, osteopathic manipulative management of the surgical patient, pre- and post-operative management of surgical patients, and surgical documentation; and providing a forum for discussion amongst students and surgeons.

students playing flag football
American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM)

The American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM) is a student organization created for student doctors with an interest in Sports Medicine. The organization’s highest priority is to provide student doctors with opportunities to acquire a skill set that could benefit them in their future careers. AOASM strives to provide opportunities in the local community where members may gain useful experience by partnering with sports medicine physicians. The organization has a passion for service in the community, particularly promoting the health benefits of physical activity.

ghhs student members
Gold Humanism Honors Society (GHHS)

The mission of the VCOM Student Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society is to sustain the commitment of future osteopathic physicians to provide compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent patient care in collaboration with the Arnold Gold Foundation (AGF). This honor society is for rising fourth years who are exemplars of compassionate and humanistic patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine; the GHHS is a humanistic honor society. 

MOVE club members
Medical Outreach and Volunteer Effort (MOVE)

The Medical Outreach and Volunteer Effort (MOVE) student organization at VCOM–Carolinas strives to improve the overall health and well-being of our local community by providing health services and health education.

suicide awareness - yellow flowers and pond
The American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists (ACONP)

The American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists (ACONP) offers members the opportunity to hear professional clinicians speak about different healthcare experiences, which can help students grow and become better physicians. The organization also stays involved in the community by educating and sharing facts on how and when to seek treatment.

Peer tutor tutoring
Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP)

Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) prides itself on academic excellence as well as participating in activities such as: peer tutoring, VCOM Ambassador relations, White Coat and Graduation ceremonies, the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research Day, morale-boosting events, and preparing the board question of the day.

Student and faculty administering OMM at farmer's market
Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO)

In pursuing a doctor of osteopathy (DO) degree, one learns that Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) truly sets a DO apart as a physician. The Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) enthusiastically promotes the use and practice of OMM within the student body. As an organization, members primarily focus on helping the student body master OMM techniques and promote its practice.

Student doctors taking an oath to serve in the US military as physicians
Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS)

The Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) is a distinguished organization established to recognize the unique position that osteopathic physicians hold within the United States Armed Forces and in the defense of our nation. The organization’s mission is to promote awareness of the profound impact osteopathic physicians have in the United States military and to prepare SAMOPS members for a successful transition into military careers.

Students at potluck lunch
Student Government Association (SGA)

The Student Government Association (SGA) is a student-run organization that serves as the governance body for medical students. SGA plans activities that help to involve and excite the students, handles any issues that may arise with the student body to ensure that the students obtain the best school experience possible, and works closely with administrators, professors and clinicians to provide an environment for students to promote learning and discovery while emphasizing community, collaboration, and a spirit of unity and enjoyment for the people that we interact with on a daily basis. SGA is excited to be able to do great things for fellow classmates and join with the administration to make medical education a great experience.

SNMA Carolinas Group
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) was started to address the issues and concerns of both minority medical students and minority communities, both of whom are underrepresented in healthcare. While being an underrepresented student is not a requirement for membership, the organization focuses on creating opportunities for VCOM students to engage medical minority populations through community health initiatives.

students wheelbarrow race
Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)

The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is the student affiliate organization of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The organization works to educate future osteopathic physicians about current issues in healthcare and foster dialogue among healthcare professionals to continually improve the quality of our nation’s healthcare. Furthermore, SOMA encourages student-physician networking through events such as regional and national conferences, DO Day on the Hill, and various campus social events.

club members with hokie bird statue
Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA)

The VCOM Student Chapter of the Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA) was established to contribute to the mission of the College by serving locally to improve the health of rural communities through the delivery of healthcare services and health education. Assistance is available to members to promote leadership on rural issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. The VCOM chapter of the VRHA was the first established medical school chapter in Virginia in representing the state VRHA. Each year the organization meets the needs of many people in Southwest Virginia.

Local Chapters of External Medical Student and Health Professions Organizations

The following organizations are not sponsored by VCOM and do not carry the VCOM name, however, they are recognized for their service, for their support for VCOM students, and/or for their academic mission.  Therefore the organizations are provided the opportunity to meet on campus as long as such meetings are of a professional and/or educational nature.

 

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)

The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) is the oldest multispecialty organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women’s health.  The AMWA chapters seek to increase awareness of women’s health issues by providing mentorship, support, and community for female student physicians and working with our local community to provide outreach and medical services to women in need.

 

American Muslim Medical Student Association (AMMSA)

The aim of the American Muslim Medical Student Association (AMMSA) is to provide outreach to the local community and to enhance the delivery of healthcare, and educate students on the unique requirements of Muslim patients when receiving healthcare.

 

Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)

The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) provides students with opportunities to connect with Christian physicians as mentors, to participate in community service, and awareness of Christian resources related to health issues.

 

Hispanic Community Medical Outreach (HCMO)

The Hispanic Community Medical Outreach (HCMO) organization is dedicated to promoting health to the Hispanic community through education and increasing access to care. HCMO’s medical outreach initiatives involve health screenings and osteopathic treatment for Hispanic populations. Finally, HCMO is dedicated to improving the Spanish language skills of the VCOM student population.

 
LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Healthcare

The mission of Students for LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Healthcare is to create a culture of inclusion and acceptance by providing educational programs and resources with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective healthcare for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and all gender minority people.

 

Student Advocate Association (SAA)

The Student Advocate Association (SAA) is a non-profit organization of spouses, significant others, family members, and friends of the osteopathic medical students at VCOM. SAA is a student branch of the Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA) with a mission is to provide support for each other, the students of osteopathy, and VCOM.