Student Organizations
Listing of Organizations
General Information
The WVSOM academic program provides students with the foundation of knowledge and skills needed by the osteopathic physician. However, the college also recognizes the importance of extracurricular involvement. Campus student organizations can enhance the medical school experience and better prepare the student physician for eventual practice in a community setting. All student organizations operate with the assistance of the Student Program Advisor.
Community service projects calling for student volunteers are often incorporated into the academic year schedule. In addition, organizations listed below offer students the opportunity to gear extracurricular activities to their special interests.
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Current Student Organizations
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association maintains communications among all members of the student body and acts as the sole official representative for the entire student body to the faculty, administration, fellow professionals and the public at large.
The elected officers include the president, vice-president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, and treasurer, Student Representative to WVSOM Board of Governors and WVSOM Representative to State Advisory Council of Students.
These officers comprise the Executive Committee. The president and one member-at-large from each class, representatives from recognized campus organizations and the Executive Committee comprise the Student Senate. The Student Senate conducts business relevant to the needs of the students.
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Student Osteopathic Medical Association
The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is an independent, national, student-governed organization claiming membership in the osteopathic colleges throughout the United States . The primary objective of the national organization is to promote the osteopathic profession and to obtain benefits for its student members regarding insurance, publications, scholarships and various study organizations.
At WVSOM, the SOMA chapter takes an active part in the public relations of the osteopathic profession within the state. The chapter conducts service projects which provide the student members with valuable medical experience.
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Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy
Organized under the auspices of the American Academy of Osteopathy, the UAAO's goal is to enhance the understanding of osteopathic principles and techniques, help members attain maximum efficiency in osteopathic structural diagnosis and manipulative therapy, and foster a clear concept of the clinical applications of osteopathic procedures.
Membership is open to all WVSOM students.
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Christian Medical Association
The Christian Medical Association is a national professional organization of physicians, dentists, medical and dental students, who have banded together to serve Christ through their professions.
CMA helps its members wrestle with the increasing ethical problems in the professions, enhance the quality of care given to the whole person, and interact with other members of the healing professions who face common problems.
CMA lives with the conviction that medicine is an avenue of ministry. For this reason, a local chapter was organized at WVSOM and hopes to be of such service to the school, students, and community.
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Undergraduate Academy of Sports Medicine
The Undergraduate Academy of Sports Medicine works to integrate the college community with the community at large. This is done by giving medical students the opportunity to involve themselves with sports-related activities in the surrounding communities.
Such activities include physical exams for athletic teams, serving as trainers for football and basketball teams, and anatomy seminars. Such activities serve to enhance medical training for the student while fostering positive community involvement.
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Atlas Club - Ethmoid Chapter
The Atlas Club is the oldest national osteopathic fraternal organization. The WVSOM Chapter was first organized in 1978 and was one of the first chapters to accept both men and women as members.
Atlas members are dedicated to improving osteopathic education and have initiated numerous programs, such as the Distinguished Lecturer Programs, Golden Key Award, and informal seminars for visiting lecturers. In addition, numerous social events are sponsored each year by the club.
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Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (SAACOP)
The WVSOM Student Chapter is an affiliate of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians. The purpose of the organization is to encourage and promote the training of osteopathic pediatricians, increase the awareness of pediatric issues in the WVSOM population, and expand the interactions of WVSOM students with pediatric professionals.
All interested students enrolled in WVSOM are eligible to be members.
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American College Of Osteopathic Family Physicians
The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Student Chapter is an affiliate of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, the largest college of the American Osteopathic Association.
The founders felt that progress and advancement of the general practitioner were basic and essential for the health care needs of a community and they were committed to the concept of excellence in education.
It is in accordance with these principles that the student chapter encourages participation by WVSOM students in programs designed to promote and encourage the training of general practitioners.
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PAX - Affiliate Of SNOMA
(Student National Osteopathic Medical Association)
PAX is an organization which promoted diversity and cultural sensitivity on campus and in the Lewisburg community through education and community service.
Additionally, PAX is a support group for any WVSOM student who considers him/herself a minority or a member of a group which is under represented in the medical profession. PAX is affiliated with the Student National Osteopathic Medical Association.
Membership in PAX is open to all WVSOM students.
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Student Associate Auxiliary
The Student Associate Auxiliary (SAA) exists to create support and a spirit of unity and loyalty among the student body and their families, provides support to WVSOM and the WVSOM SGA , and helps prepare members as spouses of future osteopathic physicians and members of the National Auxiliary to the American Osteopathic Association.
Full membership is open to spouses of students and associate membership is available to interested members of the WVSOM family.
Associate membership is limited to four years.
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Student Chapter of the American College Of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians
The goals of SCACOEP include education, establishing lines of communication and providing information about clinical opportunities in the field of emergency medicine.
Proposed plans include a stroke awareness campaign, a helmet drive, several clinics on emergency medicine, and speakers from emergency physicians in West Virginia .
Undergraduate American Osteopathic Academy Of Addiction Medicine
The Undergraduate American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (UAOAAM) exists to educate students, faculty and staff members on the disease concept of addiction, to apprise the public of medical, psychological and societal opportunities available to addicts for recovery, and to inform its members of rotational, residency and career opportunities in addiction medicine.
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Student Osteopathic Surgery Association
The Student Osteopathic Surgery Association (SOSA) is a student member section of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. The purpose of he organization is to stress the understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery, help promote the education in the field of surgery, and expand the interactions of WVSOM students with surgical professionals.
All interested students enrolled in WVSOM are eligible to be members.
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President's Council
Once a month all organization presidents (including the student government association and class presidents) meet to discuss problems and plans associated with the organizations.
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Student Representation - AOA Related Committees
There is student representation by appointment on AOA committees. Students who wish to become involved in AOA related activities should become members of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA). This group serves as a conduit for student interaction with the AOA.
Additionally, students who are active in the WVSOM Student Government Association may be selected by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government presidents to participate in functions related to the AOA.
To explore the information about the various committees of the AO, students are encouraged to visit the AOA web site.
Meetings of the West Virginia Society of Osteopathic Medicine, Inc. are held twice yearly, and students are invited to attend.
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Student Representation on Committees
Students are represented on committees which deal directly with the educational program and operation of the school. Examples of these are the Curriculum Committee and the Financial Aid Committee.
A student member is elected by the student body to serve on the WVSOM Institutional Board of Governors.
Students are also invited to serve on the Social Justice and Ethnic Diversity Committee and the Student Affairs Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Committee.
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Establishing New Organizations
Guidelines for establishing new student organizations which are officially recognized by the institution and by which student organizations function within the institution may be obtained in the Student Activities Office.
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Honoraries
Nu Chapter Of Sigma Sigma Phi
Sigma Simga Phi is a national honorary osteopathic service fraternity. Objectives of the WVSOM Nu Chapter are to promote good fellowship and unity among various chapters of the national organization, continue betterment of WVSOM and the fraternity as a whole, advance a higher scholastic standing at WVSOM, promote community service as an important part of osteopathy, and perpetuate and advance osteopathic medicine.
The fraternity is a non-profit organization which provides many community services through various fund-raising events. Membership is open to all students and is based upon academic standing and service.
Psi Sigma Alpha
Psi Sigma Alpha is a National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society. Membership is based solely upon scholastic achievement and members comprise the top 15% of each class.
Members are selected at the conclusion of their didactic training (Phase II) and full membership is awarded during senior week by the presentation of honorary cords which may be worn during graduation ceremonies.
Delta Omega
Delta Omega is a national organization established in 1904 by female students at The American School of Osteopathy. Its objective is the further study of osteopathy as a philosophy, a science and an art. WVSOM's Kappa Chapter of Delta Omega endeavors to uphold this tradition through the organizational them of Women in Medicine.
Delta Omega is the avenue through which all WVSOM students, faculty and staff are invited to listen to speakers lecturing on various aspects of women's health care and problems faced by female physicians. With membership open to all students, Delta Omega wishes to make everyone at WVSOM more aware of the issues faced by women in medicine.
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