Student Groups

Latino Medical Student Association Event

Get Involved in Diverse Student Interest Groups

To ensure that OHSU recruits and retains diverse students, faculty and staff, efforts must be intentional and focused. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion works with OHSU schools, academic programs and units to provide support for all departments to strengthen retention of diverse faculty, residents and research fellows. Another key contributor to strengthening retention is institutional support for Employee Resource Groups and diverse student interest groups. OHSU is home to local chapters of distinguished national student organizations. Here's a quick list of diverse student groups, and how to connect.

Asian and Pacific Islander American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)

The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is an organization of Asian and Pacific Islander medical students committed to raising awareness of health challenges in Asian and Pacific Islander communities through education, outreach, advocacy, and service. We are interested in both directly promoting the health and well-being of our communities as well as helping current and future health care workers who work with these populations to understand how to care for patients in a culturally-sensitive manner.

2018-19 APAMSA Officers:

Hispanic Student Dental Association

Promote improvement of Spanish speaking skills to current dental students in order to best provide treatment & understanding to our Hispanic population at OHSU SOD. Provide opportunities for community outreach in local predominantly Spanish-speaking schools.

2017-18 HSDA Officers:

Jewish Student Association

The Jewish Student Association is an organization dedicated to celebrating Jewish culture and spreading awareness of Jewish tradition throughout OHSU's student population. Their mission is to create a space for students of Jewish background and interested OHSU community members to gather and observe traditions together.

2018-2019 Jewish Student Association Officers:

Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)'s mission is to recruit and support future healthcare professionals who strive to improve the access and delivery of healthcare to Latinos and medically under-served populations, by forming sustainable relationships with our local community and increasing diversity within the healthcare education system.

2018-19 LMSA Officers:

Middle Eastern South Asian Association (MESAA)

The Middle Eastern and South Asian Association (MESAA) allows students across all OHSU healthcare programs and ethnic backgrounds to gain exposure to the cultures of the Middle East and South Asia. MESAA is committed to promoting cultural competency and networking as a platform for career development in healthcare. Opportunities to spread awareness of diversity include social, educational, and community service events.

2018-19 MESAA Officers:

OHSU Student Diversity Committee

The Student Diversity Committee aims to serve as an umbrella organization among all of the schools to help promote diversity in student and academic life. We are students who are interested in broadening our understanding of diversity in order to become better health care professionals and researchers. We aim to serve and foster a more inclusive environment and a tighter knit community within OHSU. Contact: cdi@ohsu.edu

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is a national student-led organization that was founded in 1964 as a subdivision of the National Medical Association. For the past 50 years, SNMA has been dedicated to "ensuring medical education services are culturally sensitive as well as increasing the number of minority students entering and completing medical school." SNMA continues to accomplish its missions and goals by focusing on three core areas: community outreach, pipe-line programs, and medical education.

2018-19 SNMA Officers:

Students for LGBTQ Health

Our purpose is to provide safe, validating and inclusive health care and working environments at Oregon Health and Science through education and advocacy among current and future health care professionals, gender and sexual minorities and allies. We implement educational trainings, participate in community volunteer events, hold social gatherings, and visibility campaigns.

2017-18 Officers:

Alliance for Visible Diversity in Science (AVDS)

The Alliance for Visible Diversity in Science (AVDS) focuses on one central mission - to increase visible diversity within graduate programs at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) by recruiting, retaining, and most importantly, supporting graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and faculty members from underrepresented backgrounds.

2017-2018 AVDS Officers:

Learn more about other active student interest groups and how you can become involved.