Student Organizations

A variety of clubs and organizations are approved on campus; a non-inclusive listing is below.

1. College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Government Association (SGA)
The SGA is the official body for all osteopathic medical students. The meetings are open to all students in the college, and SGA welcomes proposals and participation from the entire student body. Responsibilities of the SGA include collecting and expressing student opinion, dispensing funds for student activities and student organizations, acting as a liaison for the student body to the administration, promoting osteopathic medicine, supporting organization and class activities, and working to improve the quality of life for all students at RVUCOM.

The initial Student Government Association President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer will be elected by secret ballot during the second month of the initial semester of RVUCOM. Thereafter, the following policy will be in effect.
The student council President and Vice President are elected before the end of the spring semester from the OMS-2 or OMS-3 class. The student council Secretary and Treasurer are elected early in the fall semester from either the OMS-1 or OMS-2 class. During class elections, each class elects two representatives to serve on the student council. These representatives serve with the elected class officers to make up the student council.

The SGA president is the RVUCOM representative to the Council of Student Council Presidents (CSCP) of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). CSCP is an organization composed of the student government presidents from each of the osteopathic medical schools.

2. Class Officers
Each class will elect a class President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer and two class representatives to the student council during the first month of the academic year. All officers will serve as representatives for the student council. OMS-1 students will hold a second election for officers late in the Fall Semester; these officers will serve until the election of new class officers at the beginning of the OMS-2 year.
All officers may serve for more than one year and may succeed themselves in office.
The officers elected for the OMS-3 class shall serve as the officers for the class during the OMS-3 and OMS-4 years and will be elected during last month of the OMS-2 academic year.

3. Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is the official organization for osteopathic medical students and the affiliated student organization of the American Osteopathic Association. Its purpose is to advance the osteopathic profession, advocate for public health and welfare as well as represent the views and opinions of osteopathic medical students. SOMA national affiliations with similar groups at other schools provide the largest network for information exchange and interaction available today. Membership in SOMA brings many benefits including free subscriptions to Student Doctor and Medical Student and discount prices on diagnostic equipment, the Preceptorship Program, SOMA scholarships, life insurance programs, and more. Locally, SOMA is involved in the school, hospital, and citizen communities through various service projects and socials.

4. Undergraduate Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine Association (CSOM)
The Undergraduate CSOM is the student division of the state osteopathic association. It is open to all osteopathic students and deals with those medical and political issues unique to the state of Colorado. Benefits include invitations to a variety of conferences and educational programs, as well as financial support to these programs and several scholarships.

5. American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)-Undergraduate Chapter
The objective of the undergraduate chapter of the ACOFP is to advance the specialty of family practice in the field of osteopathic medicine and surgery. The organization works toward the advancement of family practice and recognition of the importance of the family practitioner’s role in the context of osteopathic medical services in the community. The chapter advances the role of the family practitioner as the backbone of modern medical practice. The Colorado Society of the ACOFP is the state division of the national organization and maintains a direct liaison with the RVUCOM chapter. Membership in this organization entitles students to benefits such as seminars, educational programs, and financial support to various family practice conferences.

6. Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS)
The student chapter of this national organization is open to all College of Osteopathic Medicine students in the military or public health service. The chapter serves as liaison between on-campus military students and those on rotations or military alumni.

7. Association of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
The objective of this organization is to promote and advance the discipline of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and to instruct students who are interested in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, and structural relationships to health and disease.

8. Christian Medical and Dental Society
The Christian Medical and Dental Society is a national organization that began in 1931. The chapter is composed of health care professionals and students who are committed to living out their faith through their profession. Benefits of the club include seminars, journals, and newsletters.

9. DO CARE Student Chapter
DO CARE, a national organization founded by concerned osteopathic physicians, is dedicated to providing medical care to underserved people in any geographical area of the world. Student participation is welcomed, and the RVUCOM chapter offers exciting and unique opportunities to student physicians to participate in these medical missions.

10. Emergency Medicine Society
The Emergency Medicine Society is devoted to developing students’ interests in emergency medicine. Since emergencies present themselves to the physician at any and all times, this club seeks to instill those precepts necessary for handling an emergency properly and appropriately.

11. Hispanic Osteopathic Medical Association (HOMA)
The Hispanic Osteopathic Medical Association was created to increase the awareness of osteopathic medicine in the Hispanic community, to promote osteopathic medical health care in the Spanish speaking population, to promote improved understanding by osteopathic students of Hispanic populations, and to provide opportunities, for growth for student osteopathic physicians. Membership in HOMA is open to all students and physicians interested in presenting and expanding osteopathic medical concepts and views to the Hispanic community.

12. Jewish Association of Medical Students (JAMS)
The Jewish Association of Medical Students (JAMS) serves as a resource for opportunities in the Jewish community and educates the general student body about issues pertaining to Judaism and medicine. Membership is open to all students regardless of religious beliefs.

13. Lambda Omicron Gamma (LOG)
Lambda Omicron Gamma is a professional organization that sponsors educational and social activities.

14. National Osteopathic Women Physician Association (NOWPA)/American Medical Women Association (AMWA)
The National Osteopathic Women Physician Association/ American Medical Women Association is a professional organization composed of female students. The purpose and objective of the organization is to further the study of women’s interests and concerns in to the field of medicine and to promote osteopathic medicine as a philosophy, a science, and an art.

15. Psi Sigma Alpha
Psi Sigma Alpha is the national osteopathic medical honor society established to uphold standards of professionalism and community service.

16. Rural Medicine Association
The purpose of the Rural Medicine Association shall be to promote student awareness of and participation in rural and underserved areas.

17. Sigma Sigma Phi
Sigma Sigma Phi is a national honorary osteopathic service fraternity that through its student affiliates fosters student fellowship, scholarship, service to the college and the profession, and a commitment to the principles of osteopathic medicine.

18. Student Advocates Associate (SAA)
The College of Osteopathic Medicine Chapter of SAA was organized for the spouses/significant others of the students at RVUCOM and is chartered by the Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA). The primary objective of the SAA is to further the goals of the college and the osteopathic profession and to promote fellowship, goodwill, and unity within the school.

19. Student Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Obstetrics and Gynecology Club fosters an enhanced interest among students in obstetrics and gynecology.

20. Student Dermatological Association
The Student Dermatological Association fosters students’ interest in dermatology.

21. Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
The Student National Medical Association was created to produce sensitive, qualified physicians to serve minority and indigent communities. SNMA focuses on (1) providing its members with avenues that help foster an obligation to practice medicine within minority communities; (2) instituting programs for the dissemination of health care information and the empowerment of minority communities; and (3) serving the fraternal needs of minority medical students.

22. Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association
SOIMA is the student affiliate of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, the national certifying board for osteopathic internists. SOIMA’s purpose is to educate osteopathic medical students about the opportunities open to osteopathic physicians specializing in internal medicine.

23. Student Osteopathic Surgical Association
Those osteopathic medical students interested in surgery or its subspecialties are welcomed. The club strives to advance the both discipline and the knowledge and skills of the individual student with a career interest in surgical fields.

24. Student Pediatric Association
The Student Pediatric Association fosters students’ interest in pediatrics. The club is not only for those desiring to specialize in pediatrics, but also for those interested in family medicine and other fields in which pediatric patients will be encountered.

25. The Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy (UAAO)
The Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy is a professional organization dedicated to serving osteopathic medical students. It is the COM’s extension of the American Academy of Osteopathy, a national association established in 1937. The academy maintains the goal of developing the science and art of total health care, with an emphasis on palpatory diagnosis and the use of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Membership in UAAO allows students to receive the AAO publications and to attend the annual convocation, both at reduced prices.