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Special Interest Organizations

Anti-Racism Action Subcommittee (ARAS)

Our mission is to create a platform where we can honestly discuss race, racism and their influence on the lives of everyone in our greater community. We included “Action” in the name of our group intentionally. Our hope is to foster continuity, accountability, and transparency in our efforts to make positive, lasting change at UT Southwestern. We believe students' voices should be heard, recognized, and used to create a culture of anti-racism at our institution.

Ifeanyi Ibezue Ifeanyi.ibezue@utsotuhwestern.edu
Erica Ogwumike Erinmaerica.Ogwumike@utsouthwestern.edu

Armed Forces Landing Zone (AFLZ)

Armed Forces Landing Zone student organization is a community of UTSW's fighting men and women. It aims to be a resource for veterans, current service members, and members of the first responder community – both faculty and students – to meet, socialize, and otherwise support each other in academic and professional pursuits with particular emphasis on welcoming new members to the UTSW family.

Angelo Scanio Angelo.Scanio@utsouthwestern.edu
Jae Oh Jae.Oh@utsouthwestern.edu

Asian Student Association in Health Professions (ASAHP)

The Asian Student Association aims to provide an environment for cultural enrichment for students of Asian heritage and our allies. Our goal is to promote cultural awareness and emphasize the importance of representation of Asian students in health professions.

Deniellealexa Briones Deniellealexa.Briones@utsouthwestern.edu
Jason Lee Jason.Lee@utsouthwestern.edu

Biomedical Innovation Society (BI)

The Biomedical Innovation Society (BIS) is open to all medical students, faculty, and staff interested in developing technologic solutions to healthcare challenges. The mission of the BIS is to support the activities of the Biomedical Innovations elective program, while providing opportunities for participation to individuals unable to enroll in the course. Members will be empowered with the skills and mindset required to accurately assess clinical needs and develop feasible solutions in a team-based environment.

Carolyn Kim Carolyn.Kim@utsouthwestern.edu
Amy Mu Amy.Mu@utsouthwestern.edu

Clinical Psychology Diversity Club

Founded in spring 2008, this group believes that diversity encompasses all of the features that make individual clients unique, including, but not limited to, race, gender, ethnicity, disability, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, and country of origin/regional location. We meet monthly to discuss diversity as it relates to the practice of clinical psychology. Discussions are based on relevant literature, clinical experience, and guest speakers from various organizations in the community. In addition, the Club aims to provide volunteer opportunities for underserved and underrepresented populations in the community and to compile resources for client referrals.

Kendall Sharp Kendall.Sharp@utsouthwestern.edu
Fiona Gilpin-Macfoy Fiona.Gilpin-Macfoy@utsouthwestern.edu

Consulting Club

The club's mission is to improve business acumen of UT Southwestern trainees and facilitate their transition into business-related careers, including management consulting and life sciences consulting, via year-round education and relationship-building events engaging consulting firms, local start-ups, and peers.

Sumana Venkat Sumana.Venkat@utsouthwestern.edu
Justin Kong Justin.Kong@utsouthwestern.edu

Dallas Allied Health Scholar Connection

Founded in spring 2023, the Dallas Allied Health Scholar Connection aims to guide and mentor pre-allied health students in the process of graduate school application preparation. Members use their personal experiences to encourage and prepare aspiring allied health professionals in this intimidating time. Our services include one-on-one mentoring, application review, and admission essay brainstorming.

Rachel Sullivan Rachel.Sullivan@utsouthwestern.edu
Jaden Lee Jaden.Lee@utsouthwestern.edu

Disability Interest Group

Founded in spring 2022, the mission of this group is to advance curricular efforts on disability at UT Southwestern, support and create a welcome environment for students with disabilities, educate others about individuals with disabilities, and create community amongst people who care about disability. This group will work to create open communication and empowerment for students with disabilities, as well as help educate our current students on people with disabilities.

Laura Wilson Laura.Wilson@utsouthwestern.edu
Vanessa Ramirez Vanessa1.Ramirez@utsouthwestern.edu

Diversity & Inclusion Alliance (DIA)

Founded in summer 2015, DIA is committed to enhancing the learning environment for future health care providers to better serve our diverse population and proactively engage differences among colleagues and patients.

Munevver Duran Munevver.Duran@utsouthwestern.edu
Laura Vargasortiz Laura.vargasortiz@utsouthwestern.edu

Financial Literacy Organization

Founded in spring 2019, the Financial Literacy Organization's purpose is to bring together a community interested in personal finance and to promote financial literacy across campus. We also strive to educate health professionals in developing strong personal finance skills and to engage students in smart financial decision making while encouraging diverse conversations surrounding finance.

Leah McAleer Leah.McAleer@utsouthwestern.edu
Garrett Hayes Garrett.Hayes@utsouthwestern.edu

Finding Meaning in Medicine

Finding Meaning in Medicine is a conversation that invites student physicians to speak from the heart about personal experiences in their everyday lives that provide access to the deeper meaning of the practice of medicine. It provides a structured and safe space for 2nd-4th year clerkship students to reflect on experiences encountered on the clinical wards, build resilience, and connect with others to find a deeper meaning in medicine.

Priyanka Kadari Priyanka.Kadari@utsouthwestern.edu

First Generation College Students (FGCS)

Founded in fall 2021, FGCSS is a student organization for first generation college students. Our mission is to improve the experience of “first generation” medical professionals in training through community, mentorship, empowerment, and advocacy.

Tammy Ly Tammy.Ly@utsouthwestern.edu
Bilal Rehman Bilal.Rehman@utsouthwestern.edu

First Gen M.D.

Founded in spring 2023, Our mission is to connect first generation medical students (who may or may not be first generation college students) through social events, community outreach, and mentorship. We hope to create a safe atmosphere for students to discuss and reflect on their shared experiences, as well as serve as mentors for current college students who will also be the first in their family to attend medical school.

Catherine Agarwal Catherine.Agarwal@utsouthwestern.edu
Erik Abramson Erik.Abramson@utsouthwestern.edu

Global BrainHealth and SpineCare Initiative (GBSI)

The organization aims to learn how brain health applies to patients, healthcare providers, and the general public- including new research and medical innovations in brain health. We are powered by the Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, TX- a nonprofit research institute hosting world-renowned researchers and physicians exploring the science of brain health.

Billal Homayoun Billal.Homayoun@utsouthwestern.edu
Zuhair Zaidi Zuhair.Zaidi@utsouthwestern.edu

Global Health Interest Group (GHIG)

GHIG aims to inspire the UTSW medical community to pursue global health with collaboration, mindfulness, and advocacy. We hope to educate students and faculty alike about global health issues and to promote a global attitude centered around service and research.

Mayuri Vaish Mayuri.Vaish@utsouthwestern.edu
Tilda Nieminin Tilda.Nieminin@utsouthwestern.edu

Global Surgery Student Alliance

Founded in fall 2018, we are a special interest group of students who unite to develop and mentor the future surgeons, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians of the world. Our goal is to provide timely and affordable access to surgical care to every person, everywhere in the world. We publicly advocate on behalf of the great need within the global surgery field, advance education and research about global surgery, and produce future generations of physicians trained to address the challenges of providing sustainable care in low-resource settings.

Lauryn Spinetta Lauryn.Spinetta@utsouthwestern.edu
Joonoh Lee Joonoh.Lee@utsouthwestern.edu

High-Value Care Student Interest Group

Founded in spring 2024, The High-Value Care Student Interest Group aims to help teach and promote the principles of high-value care (the best possible health outcomes at the lowest possible costs) and arm students with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to have a transformative impact on their future careers at both an individual and institutional level. Club activities will include hearing from guest speakers that are leading the field and literature/subject reviews and presentations that will help familiarize students with the current landscape of healthcare economics, policy, and practice.

Spencer Simko Spencer.Simko@utsouthwestern.edu
Jacob Player Jacob.Player@utsouthwestern.edu

Informatics Interest Group (IIG)

The Informatics Interest Group was established in fall 2020. Technology is becoming increasingly more ingrained in modern day medicine – through electronic health records systems, digital health apps, personalized genomics, etc. As the next generation of physicians, we need to be aware of these technologies, appreciate the flow of data through their systems, and most importantly, understand the benefits as well as the limitations of such systems in how we deliver care The Informatics Interest Group aims to bring awareness to the field of clinical informatics and empower the next generation of physician innovators. We host talks, provide networking opportunities, compile a calendar for all informatics-related events on campus, as well as facilitate participation to attend national conferences.

Hongyi Zhang Hongyi.Zhang@utsouthwestern.edu
Saiabhiroop Govindu Saiabhiroop.Govindu@utsouthwestern.edu

Integrative and Complementary Medicine Interest Group

Founded in fall 2021. An ever-growing portion of the American population makes use of natural products, mind-body techniques, non-allopathic health practitioners and other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to support their own health and treat disease or illness. Sometimes these are complements to traditional care provided under physicians, but sometimes these modalities are used instead of Western medical practice due to concerns for side effects, invasiveness, or a desire to choose more natural, more affordable, or more culturally acceptable approaches. Meanwhile, an ever-growing body of medical literature on CAM approaches is now available, studying the safety and efficacy of these modalities, as well as how they can be integrated into allopathic medical practice.

The aim of this student organization is to guide medical students through a broad tour of CAM modalities that is both cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary, to ensure a basic awareness of these approaches that can be valuable to clinical practice. Generating a safe space for patients to reveal their use of these modalities leads to shared decision-making and collaborative treatment plans that combine physician knowledge of the medical evidence with the patient's preferences for methods that reflect their values. Students will thus gain exposure to the field of integrative medicine, which weaves CAM therapies into traditional Western practice and is now a board-recognized specialty.

Jessica McConahey Jessica.McConahey@utsouthwestern.edu
Heather Lanier Heather.Lanier@utsouthwestern.edu

Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology Student Interest Group

Founded in spring 2021, the Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology Student Interest Group aims to provide an early look into two advanced cardiology fellowships. The organization allows for interaction with the field through potential research projects, shadowing, and hands-on simulated activities. It also provides contact with faculty, staff, and residents interested in the field. The organization has a unique mentorship program aimed at connecting students and those with a foothold in the specialties throughout the academic year.

Karim Saldahar Karim.Saldahar@utsouthwestern.edu

Med-Peds Student Interest Group

Luke Coffman Luke.Coffman@utsouthwestern.edu
Holli Brown Holli.Brown@utsouthwestern.edu

Medical Humanities Interest Group/Scope

The Medical Humanities Interest Group (MHIG) was founded in 2000 to promote student enjoyment of the humanities and to stimulate meaningful exploration of the humanities' contribution to medicine. The humanities encompass a broad variety of disciplines, including philosophy, literature, the visual and performing arts, ethics, history, and religion. MHIG is by no means just for experts: it is for all students who, in addition to their interest in becoming competent physicians, enjoy discussing the broader questions of the human condition.

MHIG also manages the yearly publication of Scope, UT Southwestern's Arts and Humanities Journal. Scope is an online literary magazine featuring writing and art created by the students, faculty, and staff of UT Southwestern. We hope the magazine serves as a vehicle for the sharing and communication of experiences in medicine, from patient care to medical research, through an artistic lens. We seek quality works and wish to encourage creativity and an atmosphere of openness.

Anna Chung Anna.Chung@utsouthwestern.edu
Alexa Vielledent Alexa.Vielledent@utsouthwestern.edu

Medical Science Liaison Peeps (MSL)

The mission of MSL peeps is to support every UTSW member to obtain an MSL position by educating each member about what the MSL job entails, improving resume/LinkedIn/social media platforms, and providing each member with a platform to speak. The goal of this MSL Peeps is to have a small community of students/post-docs that are interested in MSL to meet and discuss MSL topics and what the job entails with a synergetic, encouraging, and collaborative environment to improve on necessary skills needed for MSL, such as networking, resume building, and presenting clinical papers without the high stakes of trying to impress KOLs, bosses, etc. The topics we will discuss will be MSL related, but the skills gained (networking, presenting, science communications) from this group can be applied to other careers.

MiKayla Stokes MiKayla.Stokes@utsouthwestern.edu

Medical Students for Choice (MSFC)

Medical Students for Choice is dedicated to ensuring that people receive the full range of reproductive health care choices, including abortion. MSFC recognizes that one of the greatest obstacles to safe and legal abortion is the absence of trained providers, and as such we work to educate and increase access to training opportunities for the next generation of abortion providers. We also work to encourage open-minded discussion about reproductive health issues and to encourage activism in government.

Ashlyn Lafferty Ashlyn.Lafferty@utsouthwestern.edu
Rachel Williams Rachel.Williams@utsouthwestern.edu

Mental Health and Wellness Committee

Founded in summer 2018 the Mental Health and Wellness Committee is dedicated to promoting wellness, destigmatizing mental health, and increasing the accessibility of the Student Wellness and CounselingOffice. This organization is comprised of two subcommittees that each work on different aspects of mental health and wellness.

Isabella Alexander Isabella.Alexander@utsouthwestern.edu
Amy Mu Amy.Mu@utsouthwestern.edu

Mindfulness Student Association (MSA)

Founded in fall 2019, to provide opportunities for graduate students to learn about mindfulness, practice mindfulness together, and share information about the benefits of mindfulness with the larger school community.

Karie Meltzer Karen.Meltzer@utsouthwestern.edu
Monica Garza Saenz Monica.Garzasaenz@utsouthwestern.edu

Neonatology Student Interest Group

Neonatology Student Interest Group (NSIG) strives to fulfill student interest in neonatology through enriching educational experiences, networking opportunities, and volunteer programs. Founded in summer 2015, the goal of our established volunteer program Helping Augment Neonatal Development (HANDs) is to offer our time and attention to babies in the Parkland NICU so that they can receive human touch and interaction to foster their growth and development.

Ally Sun Ally.Sun@utsouthwestern.edu
Hannah Sheard Hannah.Sheard@utsouthwestern.edu

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)

oSTEM at UTSW seeks to promote and serve the LGBTQ+ graduate students and postdoctoral scholars of UT Southwestern by providing a welcoming and safe environment. oSTEM enhances awareness of the issues and situations the LGBTQ+ UTSW community encounters in the workplace. Furthermore, we serve the broader Dallas community as representatives of UTSW and its mission by participating in scientific outreach events and highlighting research performed at UTSW. We also participate in community outreach activities to promote the UTSW support of the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome all UTSW students and trainees to participate in our events.

Anthony Hernandez Vasquez Anthony.HernandezVasquez@utsouthwestern.edu
Wesley Burford Wesley.Burford@utsouthwestern.edu

Palliative Care Interest Group

Founded in spring 2011, the Palliative Care Interest Group is a student-run organization that aims to increase awareness of the issues related to end-of-life care and the practice of palliative medicine. Our mission is to provide direct experience, exposure, and participation in this field as a medical student, as well as to provide academic exposure through faculty contact.

Nathaniel Wu Nathaniel.wu@utsouthwestern.edu
Anusha Naeem Anusha.Naeem@utsouthwestern.edu

Pediatric Surgery Interest Group

Founded in summer 2023, our mission is to provide medical students with opportunities to learn about and explore the field of pediatric surgery and surgical specialties that treat pediatric patients. Through educational events, faculty and expert panels, hands-on experiences, and mentorship from pediatric surgeons, we aim to inspire and support future pediatric surgeons. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community that fosters collaboration, networking, and personal growth.

Daniel Villarreal Archa daniel.villarrealarcha@utsouthwestern.edu
Phillp Taboada Phillp.Taboada@utsouthwestern.edu

Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity

Founded in fall 2023, Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity creates physicians of integrity with a lifelong commitment to our guiding principles: Philanthropy, Deity, Education and Equity.

Alexander Palma Alexander.Palma@utsouthwestern.edu
Ryan Dominguez Ryan.Dominguez@utsouthwestern.edu

Preventative and Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (PLMIG)

Founded in spring 2018, our student interest group is open to all health professions, medical, and graduate students who seek to learn more about how lifestyle modifications can prevent, improve, or reverse our most common illnesses and causes of death. We will work to educate ourselves, understand relevant evidence-based research, and encourage a healthy lifestyle in areas of nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other areas so that we may help make progress toward a healthier society, more sustainable medical system, and world with less suffering.

Mohit Gupta Mohit.Gupta@utsouthwestern.edu
Celine Nguyen Celine.Nguyen@utsouthwestern.edu

PRIDE

PRIDE at UT Southwestern is an activist and social organization committed to empowering sexual and gender minority medical students and allies, increasing the number of physicians trained in LGBTQ-inclusive health care, and addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ communities through research, advocacy, and service.

Megan Ungerman Megan.Ungerman@utsouthwestern.edu
Varsha Mullangi Varsha.Mullangi@utsouthwestern.edu

Rare Disease Student Interest Group

Founded in fall 2022, RDSIG aims to promote the awareness of rare diseases throughout our community. We aim to provide lecture, volunteer, and research opportunities in cooperation with the Rare Disease Center of Excellence at UT Southwestern.

Ahmet Toprak Ahmet.Toprak@utsouthwestern.edu

Refugee Women's Health Student Interest Group

Founded in spring 2022, the mission is to provide students with the opportunity to navigate the unique intersection of refugee health and women's health, which largely remains an uncharted territory. Recent news of the mass exodus of Afghan refugees exemplifies the need for refugee-centered women's health care, as the physicians of tomorrow will one day be tasked with taking care of this vulnerable population.

Saron Gilazgi Saron.Gilazgi@utsouthwestern.edu
limi Jamma limi.Jamma@utsouthwestern.edu

RescueRX: Healthcare Students Against Human Trafficking

Founded in 2023, RescueRx is a student organization at UT Southwestern dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of human trafficking. Composed of passionate students, the organization strives to create widespread awareness about the realities of human trafficking and its devastating impact on individuals and communities. Through engement campaigns, educational initiatives, and collaborative partnerships, RescueRx actively promotes a culture of empathy, compassion, and action to combat this grave human rights violation. By empowering students and the broader campus community, RescueRx aims to make a tangible difference in the fight against human trafficking and contribute to the protection and support of survivors.

Daniel Trautmann Daniel.Trautmann@utsouthwestern.edu

Society of First Generation Students – SHP

Founded in summer 2021, the School of Health Professions Society of First Generation Students will establish a support community, provide special interest resources, and develop a safe space for discussion of experiences common to first generation students in graduate-level health professions programs.

Shelby Fraser Shelby.Fraser@utsouthwestern.edu

Southwestern Student Connection (SSC)

Southwestern Student Connection aims to advise and mentor pre-medical students navigating the complexities of applying to medical school and exploring their medical aspirations by using our personal experience with this daunting process. Our programs include the Southwestern Student Advising program: an advising platform for one-on-one advising sessions, a long-term mentor-mentee matching program, and online medical student panels. We are future doctors helping future doctors: we've been in your shoes, so let us help you! southwesternstudentconnectionofficers@utsouthwestern.edu

Peter Leung Peter.Leung@utsouthwestern.edu
Beth Childs Beth.Childs@utsouthwestern.edu

Southwestern Writes

Founded in spring 2023, Southwestern Writes aims to foster a productive, accountable, and collaborative environment for writers of all backgrounds and interests. Our organization welcomes all students, residents, faculty, and staff.

William Kariampuzha William.Kariampuzha@utsouthwestern.edu
Munevver Duran Munevver.Duran@utsouthwestern.edu

Spanish Interpreter Apprenticeship Program (SIAP)

Throughout hospitals and clinics in the United States, Spanish has become an essential tool for communicating with patients. In order to prepare students for effective communication with limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, SIAP aims to teach students about the profession of medical interpreting, including the skills, ethics, and cultural competencies needed to provide adequate interpreting services. Also, SIAP provides practical exercises to develop the vocabulary and interpreting skills (e.g., interpreting procedure, listening comprehension, note-taking, and accuracy) needed to break down linguistic barriers between physicians and patients. Lastly, we strive to cultivate cultural sensitivity among medical students.

Julia Wool Julia.Wool@utsouthwestern.edu
Niyenth Iyengar Niyenth.Iyengar@utsouthwestern.edu

Sports Medicine Interest Group (SMIG)

Founded in 2018, the Sports Medicine Interest Group provides medical students with an outlet to gain exposure to the field of sports medicine, connect with local sports medicine physicians, and increase awareness of sports medicine as a subspecialty. Our group provides opportunities for students to shadow sports medicine doctors on the sidelines, conduct sports physicals for high school and college athletes, and learn valuable hands-on skills.

Neloy Shome Neloy.Shome@utsouthwestern.edu
Emily Pepperl Emily.Pepperl@utsouthwestern.edu

Student Patient Advocates for the Rights of our Communities (SPARC)

Founded in spring 2017, SPARC (now affiliated with Doctors for Change) is focused to educate and to advocate. We are a nonpartisan organization focused on evidence-based health advocacy. More specifically, we help local medical students understand the implications of health care policies and proposals and connect students with actions they can take to make a difference.

Arushii Nadar arushii.nadar@utsouthwestern.edu
Ankur Bhagwath ankur.bhagwath@utsouthwestern.edu

Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP)

Students for a National Health Program is a coalition of students who support universal, single-payer healthcare. Through educational sessions, political advocacy initiatives, and community outreach, we seek to be a presence within the medical student body to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid and related services to strive towards the guarantee of healthcare as a human right.

Bilal Rehman Bilal.Rehman@utsouthwestern.edu
Sophie Jerwick Sophie.Jerwick@utsouthwestern.edu

Surgical Oncology Student Interest Group (SOSIG)

Founded in the Spring of 2023, the SOSIG is a student-run organization aimed at providing information and guidance for students interested in pursuing one of the many careers in surgical oncology. Oncology, as a field, provides opportunities to engage with a variety of patient populations using numerous methods of practice, both surgical and medicine-based. We aim to help students make informed and confident decisions about their future by providing shadowing and research opportunities, academic and practical workshops, and student panels, displaying the diversity of the field.

Michael Pitonak Michael.Pitonak@utsouthwestern.edu
Phillip Taboada Phillip.Taboada@utsouthwestern.edu

Trauma-Informed Care Initiative

Formed fall 2020, the Trauma-Informed Care Initiative works to empower survivors and prevent sexual violence, particularly in health care settings, through education, service, and advocacy. Education, through events such as workshops, lectures, and social media campaigns, aim to develop skills to provide safer care to survivors as well as skills to support our peers who have experienced sexual violence. We engage in service both through organizing our own events, such as donation drives, and connecting students to relevant volunteer opportunities, such as becoming an advocate at the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center.

Mehvish Khan Mehvish.Khan@utsouthwestern.edu
Sophia Cosmich Sophia.Cosmich@utsouthwestern.edu

Vascular Surgery Interest Group

Amber Ataf Amber.Ataf@utsouthwestern.edu
JeWon Sohn JeWon.Sohn@utsouthwestern.edu

Wilderness Medicine Society (WMS)

WMIG’s purpose is to expose people to the wilderness, discuss medicine in low-resource and wilderness contexts, and provide an opportunity for students and faculty to interact outside the school environment. We are devoted to camping, hiking, and all things outdoors. We are open to all members of the UT Southwestern community regardless of academic program or career plans.

Samantha Avoian Samantha.Avoian@utsouthwestern.edu
Shravya Kakulamarri Shravya.Kakulamarri@utsouthwestern.edu

Women's Health Enrichment Elective (WHEE)

The Women's Health Enrichment Organization, founded in 2014, was established to provide an elective to prepare physicians in training to make informed decisions regarding patients that experience health issues linked to any women's health related topics. This means we seek to fill any gaps in the established curriculum that are not discussed in detail. We further aim to emphasize patient informed consent, autonomy and safety in topics pertaining to women's health, as well as physician information.

Ally Sun Ally.Sun@utsouthwestern.edu
Riya Albert Riya.Albert@utsouthwestern.edu