National & Regional Organizations
Events Luncheon
At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, national and regional organizations bring together medical students and faculty mentors to advocate for improved awareness, health access, and research for a myriad of causes and foundations. Please choose the organization you have interest in to learn more!
Active Organizations
American Medical Association (AMA)
American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
Christian Medical Student Association (formally CMDA)
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
Pride Alliance at DGSOM/CDU
South Asian Medically-oriented Student Association (SAMoSA)
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
American Medical Association (AMA)
California Medical Association (CMA)
Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA)
- Chairs: Christian Wooten, Frank Zhou
- DGSOM Delgate: Shivani Dayal
- DGSOM Delegate (Alternate): Katie Holland
- CDU Delegate: Jade Cook
- CDU Delegate (Alternate): Stephanie Bueno
- Vice Chair for Outreach and Communication: Jonathan Attalla
- Vice Chair for Policy: Akshayaa Chittibabu
- Student Advisor: Karthik Sarma
- Faculty Advisor: Clarence Braddock, MD
- Organization Website: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama
- Chapter Website: AMA CMA at UCLA/CDU
Mission Statement:
The American Medical Association (AMA) and California Medical Association (CMA) Chapter at UCLA DGSOM and CDU is the local chapter of the national AMA and state CMA. The AMA/CMA chapter is dedicated to informing our student body about leadership, health policy, and patient advocacy, as well as major contemporary medical issues at the regional, state, and national level. We pride ourselves on also transforming policy into action through important initiatives that improve access to high quality care in our local L.A. community, and resolutions for policy change at the state and national level. We have written and passed resolutions around preventing ICE from entering hospitals, anti-racism competencies in undergraduate medical education, and LGBTQI patient rights. As part of the AMA/CMA, we hope to cultivate a group of student leaders who can become effective advocates and public figures in the future. Students have the opportunity to attend the AMA National Meetings, CMA State Meetings, and network with prominent residents and physicians who are active policy makers and health services researchers.
Back to top
American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
- Presidents: on hiatus for 2022-2023
- Student Advisors: Isabel Eng, Stewart Fine
- Faculty Advisors: Rashmi Muller, MD, Christopher Scannell, MD, Isaac Yang, MD
- Organization Website: http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage.aspx
Mission Statement:
DGSOM AMSA aims to create a community of future physicians committed to advocacy and social responsibility. We fulfill our mission and the mission of UCLA medical student organizations by:
- Supporting student-led advocacy initiatives on and off campus
- Raising awareness for healthcare policy issues (such as drug pricing) through informational events and advocacy projects
- Collaborating with other clubs on these projects
- Organizing voter registration drives to promote civic responsibility among our peers and offer our members opportunities to develop leadership skills
- Promoting active collaboration with the AMSA national organization through annual convention attendance, correspondence with national leaders, and incorporation of national AMSA resources into our events and initiatives
Back to top
American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)
- Co-Coordinators:Shared Eliana Jokolvsky, Michaela Juels, Ayesha Ng, Olivia Scott
- Student Advisors: Bethlehem Michael, Precious Moman
- Faculty Advisor: Janet Pregler, MD
- Organization Website: http://www.amwa-doc.org/
Mission Statement:
The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) is local, national and international organization of over 10,000 students and physicians dedicated to empowering women to lead in the advancement of health for all through leadership, advocacy, education, expertise, community organization, mentoring and strategic alliances.
At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, AMWA brings together the perspectives of medical students and faculty mentors to advocate for improved health access, women's health research, women's health education, violence prevention, and increased opportunities for all medical education, regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation. Through cooperative community projects, and policy efforts, the men and women of AMWA break down barriers to health and health education in the greater Los Angeles community. Through our selectives, trainings, networking and mentoring events, AMWA empowers the next generation of physicians to advance women's rights and human rights in the local and national realm, and sensitizes them to the unique psychosocial experiences of women relative to their health, and the health of their families.
Our specific goals are to:
- Strengthen and expand the local network of advocates for women in medicine and medical school.
- Inform the student body of current research and policy in women's health.
- Raise funds and awareness for the most pressing women's health issues in the United States.
- Reaffirm our commitment to community service by increasing efforts to provide care for the underserved women of Los Angeles County.
Back to top
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
- Presidents: Ju Young (Sally) Lee, Kathleen Trinh
- Communications Commitee Co-Chairs: Haidee Chen, David Lee
- Community Health Committee Co-Chairs: Christina Lam, Yifan Mao
- Health Disparities Chairs: Clara D. Nguyen, Maggie Hui
- Minority Health Chairs: Ayesha Ng, Jenny Nguyen
- Mentorship Chairs: Alexis Aleman, Lexy Anderson
- Student Advisors: Bryan Vuong, Holly Huang, Connie Ho, Rohini Nott, Cindy Liu, Jasmine Deng, Emily Nguyen, Marie Luff, Andy Moon
- Faculty Advisors: Ka-Kat Hui, MD, Robert Oye, MD
- Organization Website: http://www.apamsa.org
- Chapter Website: APAMSA at DGSOM
- Contact: apamsa@ucla.edu
- Join the Listserv
Mission Statement:
The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities. APAMSA serves as a forum for student leaders to engage these health issues and develop initiatives and projects addressing those needs. The local, regional, and national activities of APAMSA aim to promote the health of the APIA community and help healthcare workers understand how to care for APIA patients in a culturally sensitive manner. Finally, APAMSA provides an important venue for medical students to meet, exchange experiences, and develop personally and professionally through leadership and service.
Back to top
Christian Medical Student Association (formally CMDA)
- Student Coordinators: on hiatus for 2022-23
- Student Advisor: Desiree Acosta, Logan Gunderson, Sarah Park, Ashley Washington
- Faculty Advisor: Connie H. Lin, MD, Janet Ma, MD
- Organization Website: http://www.cmda.org/
- Chapter Website: CMSA at DGSOM
Mission Statement:
The goals of the CMSA are:
- Create a welcoming environment for medical students to grow in community and build lasting relationships with each other
- Offer networking opportunities among healthcare professionals and students and invite speakers in the healthcare profession to share how Christianity has shaped their medical careers (explore careers in medicine)
- Provide a safe, welcoming space for medical students to reflect and engage in discussions surrounding what it might mean to be a Christian healthcare professional and an advocate for patients (stimulate interest in medical issues; develop leadership and medical advocacy skills)
Back to top
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
- UCLA Chair: Irvin Garcia Real
- CDU Chair: Matthew Rios
- Treasurer: Darwin Gutierrez
- Social Media Chair: Alejandra Lopez Macha
- Well-Being Coordinator: Jennifer Gutierrez
- Diversity Representative: Citlali Perez
- Community Representative: Joshua Simpson
- UCLA Medical Student Representative: Elizza Villarruel, Jennifer Diaz
- CDU Medical Student Representatives: Brandon Brizuela, Marilyn Bravo
- Mentorship Coordinators: Michelle Gallardo, Ariana Gonzales, Stephanie Hernandez
- Lenox Coordinators: Aura Elias, Erica Escalera, Denise Guzman Naranjo, Alberto Juarez, Anael Rizzo
- Student Advisors: Aileen Arrevalo, Veronica Gonzalez
- Staff Advisor: Emma Ledesma
- Faculty Advisor: Erica Lubliner, MD
- Organization Website: https://lmsa.site-ym.com/
- Chapter Website: LMSA at DGSOM
Mission Statement:
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a network of students, alumni, and health professionals whose mission is to promote the development of Latino students through educational, volunteer, professional and networking opportunities to foster diversity, higher education, and the improvement of the Latino community.
Back to top
Pride Alliance at DGSOM/CDU
- President: Jordan Peyer
- Advocacy/Mentorship Chair: Frank Zhou
- Social/Communications Chair: Jennifer Gutierrez
- Student Advisors: Dustin Dillon, Athreya Steiger, Alexis Cheney
- Faculty Advisor: Allison Diamant, MD
- Campus Resource Center: http://www.lgbt.ucla.edu/
- Chapter Website: Pride Alliance at DGSOM/CDU
Mission Statement:
The Pride Alliance at David Geffen School of Medicine is a social and support network for UCLA medical students, residents, and faculty who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrums and allies of equality in medicine. All who are interested in learning more are welcome!
- NETWORKING Lifting Each Other Up As a student and faculty organization, we strive to provide networking and educational opportunities to connect with health professionals and students. We will facilitate mentoring and both personal and professional growth opportunities for students, faculty, and staff members.
- ADVOCACY Creating Change As a student organization, we strive to hold the School of Medicine and university communities accountable and educate them about health issues facing LGBTQ+ patient. We will advocate on their behalf for competent and compassionate care. We believe that all physicians, future physicians, and medical personnel should know the health inequities faced by LGBTQ+ communities.
- SERVICE Helping the Community The LGBTQIA+ community is vulnerable to experiencing health disparities due to societal stigma and discrimination. It is up to us as future health care professionals to address them. We will work closely with the LGBTQ+ community in Los Angeles and at UCLA to address these disparities
Back to top
- Student Coordinators: Akshayaa Chittibabu, Amulya Vadlakonda
- Student Advisor: Juhee Agrawal, Durga Ganesh, Nuha Khalfay, Rohini Nott
- Faculty Advisor: Tara Vijayan, MD
- National Organization Email: nationalsamsa@gmail.com
Mission Statement:
South Asian Medically-oriented Student Association (SAMoSA) is an organization that aims to unify South Asian medical students across the United States. As a chapter of the national South Asian Medical Student Association, we hope to increase interest in and raise awareness of healthcare issues affecting South Asian communities locally and globally and to share the rich South Asian Culture with our peers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. We also aim to provide support and guidance to medical students of South Asian descent as they enter the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. SAMoSA strives to establish relationships with physicians to gain valuable mentorship, collaborate with other student affinity groups to hold various community-building events, and organize various social and academic events throughout the year, such that students can learn about South Asian culture and health concerns. All students who are interested in learning about South Asian culture through a medical lens are welcome to join.
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
- Presidents: Ashley Appleton, Shami Mitchell
- Vice President: Daem Celestin
- Treasurer: Cyndi Baker
- Secretary: Abena Adobah
- MAPS Liaisons: Limi Ahmed, Raimel Brooks
- Student Advisors: Dominique Taylor, Jared Taitt
- Faculty Advisors: Omai Garner, PhD, Gail Wyatt, PhD
- Organization Website: http://www.snma.org/
- Chapter Website: SNMA at DGSOM
Mission Statement:
Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.
SNMA chapters based at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools throughout the nation, and some colleges, implement our programs and activities locally. SNMA programs are designed to serve the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color. In addition, SNMA is dedicated both to ensuring that medical education and services are culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations and to increasing the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical school.
Back to top
