Selected Student Organizations and Activities

Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine students participate in a wide variety of campus organizations and activities; some are described below. A list of our current student organizations appears on Feinberg's student web pages.

Northwestern University Alliance for International Development (NU-AID)

NU-AID was founded in 1999 by two Feinberg 2nd year medical students to offer medical care to Nicaraguan victims of Hurricane Mitch.  After the first trip, which offered acute care and vaccinations to over 1200 people, this entirely student-run organization continues to provide care on a bi-annual basis to impoverished communities in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, and other Central American and Caribbean locations.  While free and compassionate basic medical care is the prime objective of NU-AID missions, students endeavor to make a lasting impact by educating patients and local community leaders in preventive medicine measures.  First through 4th year Feinberg students participate in NU-Aid missions. 

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

Our Feinberg AMSA chapter is a large and very active student organization.  Their programs include Coaching Adolescents Toward Careers in Health (CATCH), Generalist Physicians in Training (GPIT), and the Clothesline Project, among others.  AMSA Members save money on class materials during the book and instrument sales. In addition, AMSA organizes a residency fair, National Primary Care Week,  and a discussion panel of residency directors. Members also have the opportunity to attend both the Midwest regional and national (Washington) conferences.  AMSA is dedicated to improving access to health care, enhancing medical education, and creating opportunities for medical students to take an active role in their future profession, community, and school environment.

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)

The Northwestern student branch of AMWA is affiliated with the national organization, comprising female physicians in all areas of practice. The national organization provides scholarships and awards for women in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes, a bed-and-breakfast program for members visiting other cities, as well as other student-oriented activities.  AMWA's recent activities have included: the matching of medical students with physician mentors at a mentor/mentee dinner, a production of the Vagina Monologues, a Take Back the Night rally, volunteer work at the Chicago Campus Health Fair and the Take Your Daughters to Work day, a series of lunches with speakers from various medical fields, and attendance at national and regional AMWA conventions. 

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

SNMA is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support for medical students from groups underrepresented in medicine. The Feinberg chapter of SNMA is also committed to ensuring that the education medical students receive is culturally sensitive to the needs of a diverse population.  Through its various programs, SNMA seeks to raise and expand awareness of the medical and preventive medicine needs of underserved communities as well as the health disparities that exist in those communities.  The membership of SNMA represents the diversity of the Feinberg School and the community at large. 

Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)

APAMSA is a service group as well as a social organization. Members participate in blood pressure screening programs held in various Asian communities in the Chicago area. Through firsthand experience, members learn about health care delivery problems in these communities and develop skills vital to routine patient care. Members have participated in a community health education center's mentoring to immigrant and refugee high school students as well as taken dinner trips to Chicago’s Chinatown.

Camp Wildcat

Camp Wildcat is a student-initiated service organization that runs cost-free day and weekend activities and camping trips for Chicago children from underserved neighborhoods Founded in 1998 by a Northwestern University medical student, Camp Wildcat was created to operate in conjunction with the Chicago Schweitzer Urban Fellows Program. Camp Wildcat has more than 75 volunteer members, including Northwestern law, medical, physical therapy, and graduate school students. In less than ten years, members have provided more than 8,000 hours of direct service, raised support funds, collected food and supplies, and had an article published in AMSA's New Physician magazine.

Q&A strives to improve the quality and accessibility of health care to the LGBT community and provide support for Northwestern medical students, residents, and attending physicians. The organization sponsors educational, outreach, and social programs throughout the school year.

GlobeMed 

GlobeMed (the Global Medical Relief Program) is a student group dedicated to providing medical supplies and promoting quality health care to developing countries and regions suffering from natural disasters.  As a national organization, the Global Medical Relief Program has provided supplies and care to over 15 developing countries around the world.  At Feinberg, GlobeMed has primarily worked to support the Ghana-Outlook AIDS Clinic in Ho, Ghana. In 2005, members raised money to send supplies and aid to Tsunami victims in southeast Asia.  GlobeMed members organize supply drives, fundraising activities, Global AIDS Awareness Week events, and other outreach initiatives related to global health.  Please visit:  www.globemed.org

 Feinberg Medical Student Senate

The Student Senate acts as a liaison between the students and administration. Senate members include five representatives from each class and representatives from other student organizations in the medical school. Major issues involving the student body are addressed at monthly meetings, which all students are encouraged to attend. The senate also nominates students for numerous student-faculty committees, including the Curriculum Committee, and coordinates activities with other Chicago medical schools. Senate officers meet informally with the dean once a month.

Phi Rho Sigma is an international coed society for medical students founded at Northwestern in 1890. The society is a philanthropic and social organization. Past activities have included blood drives, the Student-Faculty-Alumni Ball, dinners or brunches at Chicago restaurants, attendance at sporting and entertainment events as well as community outreach activities.

South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA)

SAMSA addresses the professional, social, and cultural concerns of South Asian medical students as well as the unique medical concerns of those in the South Asian community. SAMSA works with the Devon Clinic, a free medical clinic on the Northwest side of Chicago that serves a largely South Asian population.

Creative Outlets

In Vivo

The 2007 show was the 28th annual production of "In Vivo," the medical school’s own musical comedy review that is written, directed, and performed by medical students. Considered one of the year’s big events, In Vivo is more than just a chance for medical students to get away from school; it is an opportunity to be creative, work together, and make merry!  Participants are needed for all stages of production, including writing, musical accompaniment, acting and dance performance, lighting, sound, publicity, and ushering. In Vivo productions raise money for a variety of Chicago area charities that, for example, have included Interfaith House, a residential center on Chicago's west side that provides interim housing and care to homeless men and women who are discharged from area hospitals with no place to recuperate.

Personae

Personae, the literary journal for the Northwestern medical community, is published biannually and reflects a broad range of talents and ideas. Edited and designed by medical students, Personae welcomes contributions (poems, short stories, art, and photography) from students, residents, and faculty and staff members of both the medical school and McGaw hospitals. 

The Jugulars

The Jugulars are the official juggling club of the Feinberg School.  Founded 9 years ago, the Jugulars welcome all skill levels.  They practice 4-6 times a month to perform at In Vivo, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and local elementary schools, among other venues.