Founded in 1964, Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is one of the largest student-run organizations. It is comprised of more than 6000 members including pre-medical students, medical students, residents and physicians. Its primacy is to support and recruit students of various background and ethnicities to the field of medicine. Over the past forty years, SNMA has committed to address the needs of these students and continued advocating for a greater diverse student body at each medical institution. To accomplish its goal, SNMA chapters within each medical school, including the SNMA chapter at Creighton University, has provided mentoring opportunities, enrichment programs, and various other academic preparation programs to elementary, junior high school, high school, and college students who express an interest in the career of medicine and health-care related.
In addition to advocating and supporting students of various background and ethnicities, SNMA is also committed to improving the quality of life of the underserved communities. In fact, the soul of its existence is to serve, educate, advocate, and empower the underserved; giving individuals with limited access to healthcare the opportunity to make better choices regarding their health.
Throughout the 2006 – 2007 academic year, Creighton University’s SNMA chapter has not only strengthened its existing programs, but found additional opportunities to serve the community in areas which had not been served in the preceding years. Several programs are listed below (*new activities):
· STD awareness presentations to Omaha middle and high schools
o Monroe Middle School
· Habitat for Humanity
· *Body basics” presentations, which include an interactive, hands-on anatomy presentation including bones, sheep eyes, and sheep hearts.
o King Science Technology and Magnet School
o North and South Boys and Girls Club of Omaha
o Sacred Hearts Elementary and Middle School
· *Bone Marrow drive held at Creighton University (in collaboration with the American Red Cross)
· Mentoring by first and second year medical students to students in the post-baccalaureatte and underserved undergraduate students at Creighton University.
· Saturday Academy
o Tutoring underserved high school students every Saturday
o In conjunction with the Health Sciences, Multicultural and Community Affairs (HS-MACA))
· *“Career sharing” as part of a monthly program at the North Omaha Boys and Girls Club with Alegent Health
Creighton University’s SNMA chapter will continue striving to fulfill its mission in serving its surrounding communities and contribute to a greater purpose the national SNMA is addressing. At each of our activities, all of our members, who are students at the Creighton University School of Medicine, express not only dedication but also excitement in serving the underprivileged populations in spite of hours and days of hard studying. Here, we would like to take the opportunity to express our gratitude and commend their dedication, enthusiasm, and undeterred support for SNMA’s missions.
Creighton University’s SNMA chapter is humble of its services, as we believe there are always further opportunities to serve our community. Feel free to contact our chapter to learn more about SNMA or even to share an opportunity that would allow us to better serve the community we live in. We look forward to meeting you. And, once again, thank you to our members for working so hard and making SNMA another successful year!
Sincerely,
Danielle Ku`ulei Potter Nhi Huynh
SNMA Co-President SNMA Co-President
daniellepotter@creighton.edu nhihuynh@creighton.edu
Creighton University School of Medicine
P.S. Our chapter is part of the National Region II sector and was proud to host the 2005 SNMA National Board of Director's Conference! This was the first time the event has been held in Omaha and BOTH Creighton University Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Medical Center were honored to host the conference. Over 150 Regional Directors, pre-medical students, and medical students were in attendance.
