Organizations and Clubs
Organizations and clubs
UMHS has a vibrant body of student-run clubs and organizations that reflect the diversity of our student population. Below represents the current sample of clubs and organizations on campus, but this list changes from semester to semester.
Club day on the basic science campus, St. Kitts
Mission statement: The African and Caribbean Student Association (ACSA) is committed to bridging the gap with our community and building stronger bonds as we move forward together.
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the biggest and oldest student-governed, national organization representing aspiring physicians. AMSA has a strong history for its commitment to improving medical training and global health while offering its members networking opportunities and a variety of resources for a successful medical education and career. How is AMSA different from other organizations? When you join AMSA, you become part of a vital force of future physicians who believe that patients and health professionals are partners in the management of health, and that access to high-quality health care is a right and not a privilege. At AMSA, activism and academic excellence are a way of life. Student idealism is transformed into meaningful public service and passion for medicine is turned into AMSA’s cornerstone. Moreover, AMSA is one of the only national student organizations which embraces international medical students and offers them the opportunity to develop and improve leadership and research skills through the plethora of national committees and leadership positions.
At the UMHS Chapter, members will benefit from hands-on advanced clinical workshops like pan-ophthalmoscopy, intubation, catheterization, vascular doppler, as well as learn and improve clinical, academic, and professional skills through guest talks, webinars, competitions, symposiums. Most importantly, AMSA at UMHS has a pivotal role in contributing to the wellness of the local community through free health clinics, breast cancer screenings, food & clothe drives, and a variety of community outreach & awareness activities on topics such as breast cancer, AIDS & HIV, mental health, substance abuse, diabetes etc. For more information email: amsa@umhs-sk.net.
Mission statement: The American Medical Women's Association is an organization that functions at the local, national, and international level to advance women in medicine and improve women's health. We achieve this by providing and developing leadership, education, expertise, mentoring, strategic alliances, and advocating for gender equity in the medical community. Past and present events include Blood Typing Lab, Women's Health Seminar by Dr. Jane Harrington, SKI Academy Sexual Health Seminar, St. Christopher Children's Home Sexual Health Seminar, Fundraising Holiday Bake Sale, and UMHS vs. RUSVM Soccer Classic. For more information, please contact the organization at amwa.umhssk@gmail.com, visit the UMHS AMWA Facebook page, or visit the national AMWA website.
Cardio will strive:
- To provide an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle for UMHS students.
- To serve as a forum for discussions on healthy diets, exercise, and cardiovascular health issues for the UMHS community.
- To affect change in the UMHS community and promote health activities that contribute to their well-being.
- To continue to develop cardiovascular healthcare leadership and volunteerism at UMHS.
- To increase knowledge of cardiovascular health information among UMHS Students and Faculty.
- To educate the UMHS community by way of workshops in cardiovascular topics and studies.
The Diagnostics and lnterventional Radiology. Interest Group of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences will strive to:
- Provide a community for all those interested in a Radiology specialty or are not knowledgeable but are interested to learn.
- Offer workshops and conferences for current case studies and innovative Radiological techniques.
- Advocate against the current stigma that revolves around the specialty.
- Supply information on the MATCH process and what entails to become a Radiology resident.
- Serve as a forum for discussion.
- Provide concepts that build up the current knowledge of what imaging is.
- Fraternize with fellow students by organizing activities .
The purpose of EMIG is to promote interest in the field of emergency medicine. This interest will be realized through providing and promoting educational experiences that will include hands-on participation in skill labs, guest speakers both in-person and through Skype, community engagement involving health fairs and sponsoring fundraisers, and opportunities to participate on ride-a-longs with St. Kitts & Nevis EMS.
EMIG at UMHS would seek to obtain recognition from EMRA (Emergency Medicine Residents Association), who provide the structure for EMIG clubs across all medical schools. EMRA's mission statement is "The Emergency Medicine Residents' Association is the voice of emergency medicine physicians-in training and the future of our specialty." EMIG at UMHS would serve to actively and positively contribute to the community while using EMRA resources to foster interest in the field of emergency medicine.
The main goal of Fellowship of Christian Medical Students is to help provide opportunities for Christian medical students to fellowship with one another and grow closer to God and for those students who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to always be welcome.
Saint Kitts faces difficulties and disadvantages when it comes to its healthcare. Despite this trend continuing to increase, we, as medical students, have the power to change this issue and make a change in the community we live in. The Heroes in Scrubs club is here to do it with your help. It is time for us to make the difference that we want to see.
Heroes in Scrubs has the mission to bring medical student-run health clinics to
improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged communities in Saint Kitts. We aim to educate the community, promote health care prevention, and also promote
volunteering among the UMHS students and faculty. By being part of Heroes in Scrubs and by participating in our events, you will have the opportunity to enhance your skills as future physicians. We want to lead the community and humanitarian service on the island.
If you have any questions, you can email us at: heroesinscrubs.umhs@gmail.com
Instagram: @heroesinscrubs.umhs
Mission statement: To learn and promote knowledge about health care systems and their diversity worldwide, assist disadvantaged communities and advocate for health care access as a human right. UMHS Me4You was started in 2016 by UMHS student Ariana Hernandez, and also became a student organization. Med4You has organized medical mission trips to Guatemala, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica and is planning to go on many more trips. In the future, the university is planning mission trips to Africa and India. Med4You brought relief and badly needed health care to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. They were able to raise over $50,000 in aid and organized students to return to Puerto Rico to assist in the recovery efforts.
The purposes of this organization are:
- To offer an atmosphere where UMHS/IUON students with any specialty of interest in the field of medicine can learn about conducting medical research
- To encourage research in the St. Kitts Community and create relationships with UMHS/IUON students in every activity and conference offered
- To serve as a forum of discussion of medical research and interesting developments that may provide solutions, affecting the St. Kitts community.
- To impact the research community in St. Kitts.
- To develop and sustain programs that emphasize the quality of health care through investigation in the St. Kitts community.
- To be financially independent and maintain a solid financial fundament.
- To preserve health-care leadership and medical research in St. Kitts.
- To increment knowledge of health research among UMHS/IUON students and the public.
- To periodically re-evaluate the above objectives and guarantee that they are carried out in the proper fashion.
This club is student led and advocates for survivors of sexual violence and those close to them. Monarch serves as a hub for educational posts, shedding light on the complexities of sexual violence and fostering a culture of awareness and advocacy. Whether seeking information, solace, or solidarity, members will find a safe space to share their stories and seek support.
The Muslim Student Association at UMHS aims to:
- Build unity on campus through diversity and education.
- Provide a space where Muslims can establish prayer and practice their religion.
- Organize events and address student concerns.
- Help provide students and faculty with educational information about Islam, dispelling misconceptions held about Islam within the community.
- Encourage volunteerism in the St. Kitts Community
The purposes of this organization are:
- To provide an environment that supports women's health.
- To encourage students to participate in volunteer work, serving the St. Kitts community.
- To serve as a forum to discuss health issues and develop solutions, affecting the St. Kitts community.
- To promote and maintain programs that enhance the quality of health care in the St. Kitts community.
- To increase knowledge of health information among UMHS students and the St. Kitts community
The OAMSA club wants to encourage students with an interest in the field of Oncology by providing:
- More specialized learning about the different types of cancer, keeping students up to date and actively learning about the latest discoveries and how to approach different mechanisms of treatment.
- Events and activities about cancer innovations.
- Opportunities to learn about delicate patient-physician interactions and how to handle family members of patients in difficult scenarios like those seen in oncology.
The aim of this group is to help students gain a representative perspective of the orthopaedic field early in their medical education. Students will be exposed to the field of orthopedics and the various orthopedic subspecialties to help them determine whether the orthopedic field is for them. The overall objective is to lead students to make more informed decisions regarding their future careers in medicine.
Some planned events are:
- Ultrasound workshop
- Splinting workshop
- Cast workshop
- Musculoskeletal exam workshop
- X-ray workshop
- Rehabilitation workshop
- Physical diagnosis
- Gust surgeon speakers
The Pediatrics Medical Student Association is the first official group at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences to be focused primarily on children’s health and development. On the island of St. Kitts many children could benefit from education on hygiene, sexual health, and worldwide known diseases. PMSA strives to motivate medical students to commit to helping others. Aside from helping children in need, PMSA also presents fun activities inclusive to the entire UMHS student population.
The mission of PMSA is to:
- Focus on one big event per semester - which may include bringing gifts and care products to local schools, and visiting the local hospital.
- Present various seminars at UMHS so that students have the opportunity to learn about various interesting topics such as Oncology and the most common prenatal/child diseases.
- Host an event where local children get free checkups and learn about preventive worldwide care.
- Warm your heart!
The purpose of this organization is:
- To provide a positive and competitive learning environment for UMHS students of all levels.
- To encourage campus activity participation.
- To reduce stress and anxiety of UMHS students through activity.
- To maintain cooperation between UMHS students through different semesters.
- To allow mentoring for students through a team-based community.
- To increase the unity of the community that is UMHS students.
- To promote well-organized events and activities on campus for UMHS students.
- To continue to ensure that the above purposes are maintained in a proper fashion.
The purpose of the UMHS Sports Club shall be to foster athletics and competition through the coordination of leagues, events, and outings.
Towards this end, this organization shall:
- Organize and provide sporting opportunities in the form of leagues, tournaments, and free-for-all games
- Organize outings around the country and waters of St. Kitts and Nevis.
- Educate the student population on athletic events occurring on the island and community of St. Kitts.
- Foster a healthy relationship with other athletic bodies in St. Kitts for the benefit of the students of UMHS.
The Student Government Association is a student-elected organization that acts as the liaison between the school administration and the student body. The electoral board consists of ten class representatives and five executive board members. Each semester the SGA organizes celebratory student events such as the Welcome Back Party, mid-semester Sunfest Beach Party and the Student Clinician Ceremony. Visit the UMHS SGA Facebook page for more information.
Mission statement: The purpose of the Surgery Interest Group (SIG) is to provide opportunities for students to supplement their educational experience through hands-on practical laboratories and clinics. Exposure to the clinical side of medicine while in Basic Sciences enhances the students’ skill sets and permits better integration of medical concepts. In addition, these activities give students the opportunity to enhance personal and professional relationships, develop leadership skills, and serve the school and local community.
Events include:
- Introduction to Suturing Clinic
- Advanced Suturing Clinic
- Casting Clinic
- Trauma Clinic
- CSI Experience
- Embryology Review Seminar
- Interactive Radiology Seminar
- Anatomy Practical & Review
- “All About Autism” Seminar & Health Fair
- Community Health Fairs
- Fundraisers for The Spectrum Services Autism Centre
- Fundraisers for PALS (Pediatrics Assistance League of St. Kitts)
The purpose of Synapse is to promote and foster interest in neurology and psychiatry among the members of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Synapse aims to provide educational, networking, and professional development opportunities for students interested in neurology and psychiatry. It will facilitate collaboration and support among students pursuing careers in neurology and psychiatry.
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