Being a medical student is about more than your time spent in the classroom and clinics. Student Life is here to help you explore new interests and find your passion. Join a Student Interest Group or a Student Organization to learn more about a medical specialty, to advocate for your beliefs, or to raise awareness for a cause. Join an institutional committee to network with faculty and staff at WMed, and help create change while you are here. Help build community as a Learning Community Representative, or be the voice for your peers by joining Student Council. If none of these ideas sound appealing to you – then create your own group!
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 impacts 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.
Student Interest Groups
WMed has over 80 Student Interest Groups for students to join. These groups provide a unique opportunity for students to get involved beyond the classroom, clinic, and hospital. Explore the full list below; if you don’t see something you are interested in, you are always welcome to start a SIG of your own!
- Advocacy
- Community Health Interest Group
- Cook with Communities
- First Generation and Low-Income Students in Medicine
- Global and Public Health Interest Group
- HEAL
- Health Science For All Program
- Kalamazoo Defender Interest Group
- Kalamazoo Pre-Med Mentorship
- Medical Students For Choice
- SafeMD
- Substance Use Disorder Awareness Interest Group
- White Coats for Life
- WMed Blood Initiative
- WMed's Alliance for Disability Advocacy
- Arts & Culture
- Arts in Medicine
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
- Christian Medical and Dental Organization
- Cross Border Interest Group
- Fiber Arts
- HeART of WMed
- Jewish Medical Student Association
- Literature and Medicine Interest Group
- South Asian Student Alliance
- Health & Fitness
- Basketball Interest Group
- Disc Golf Interest Group
- Food As Medicine Interest Group
- Frisbee Interest Group
- Golf Student Interest Group
- Hiking and Trails Student Interest Group
- Medicine in Motion
- Physical Fitness and Education Interest Group
- Pickleball Interest Group
- Racquet Sports Interest Group
- Running Interest Group
- Soccer Interest Group
- Student Mental Health Alliance
- Volleyball Interest Group
- Weightlifting Student Interest Group
- WMed Cycling Interest Group
- Yoga and Wellness
- Medical Specialty
- Anesthesiology Interest Group
- Cardio Student Interest Group
- Dermatology Interest Group
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Student Interest Group
- Emergency Medicine Interest Group
- Endocrinology Interest Group
- Family Medicine Interest Group
- Genomic Medicine Interest Group
- Hematology/Oncology Interest Group
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Interest Group
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases Interest Group
- Internal Medicine Interest Group
- Medicine-Pediatrics Interest Group
- Neonatology and Embryology Interest Group
- OB/GYN Interest Group
- Ophthalmology Interest Group
- Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group
- Pathology Association at WMed
- Pediatrics Interest Group
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Radiation Oncology Interest Group
- Rheumatology Interest Group
- Sports Medicine Interest Group
- Street Medicine Kalamazoo
- Student Interest Group Network in Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurosurgery
- Surgery Interest Group
- Ultrasound Interest Group
- Women In Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group- RJOS Student Chapter
- Professional
- AI in Medicine Interest Group
- American Muslim Medical Student Association
- Anatomy Introduction & Mastery Interest Group
- Bioethics Interest Group
- Content Review and Mastery
- Financial Literacy Interest Group
- Medical Terminology Interest Group
- Teaching and Learning Interest Group
- Uniformed Services Interest Group
- Social Engagement
- Chess Interest Group
- Cooks with Books
- Euchre Interest Group
- Gaming Night Interest Group
- Garden Interest Group
- Parents in Medicine
- Student Ambassadors
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.
Student Council
The Student Council represents all WMed 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; the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences cohort elects one member. These students are responsible for contributing to the development of school policies and administrative matters that effect students throughout their time at WMed. The Student Council also coordinates student activities such as the Big/Little pairing, Specialty Speed Dating, and White Coat Black Tie.
Learning Community Representatives
WMed places students in Learning Communities during their time at WMed to build a sense of community and collaboration among and between classes. Each of WMed’s four Learning Communities have 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, try something new, and step away from studying for a little while!
Committee Membership
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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Honor Societies
At the end of the third year, students have the opportunity to apply for membership to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society or Gold Humanism Honor Society (based on their eligibility.)
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society 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 after the completion of their core clerkships in their third year, and are selected by faculty who are also members of the Society.
Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizes 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.