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STUDENT LIFE

STUDENT ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

As a Jesuit, Catholic University, the education of the whole person is valued at Loyola. To complement our commitment to the development of the intellect, Loyola provides students with the opportunity to participate in a variety of co-curricular experiences. These include volunteer service opportunities, registered student organizations, class activities and focused programs such as Hunger Week. Also students can participate on academic and non-academic committees such as the campus Committee on Student Life, New Student Orientation, Graduation, Financial Aid, and the Class Yearbook.

The Office of Campus Life, working with the student affairs offices within the Medical, Graduate and Nursing Schools at the Medical Center Campus is responsible for assisting and monitoring all non-academic student co-curricular activities. The goal of co-curricular activities is to provide efficient and rewarding experiences which mirror and augment the goals and objectives of Loyola University as well as the academic programs of the professional schools at the Medical Center Campus.

It is our belief that students are both able to contribute to and draw benefit from a campus environment which is rich in opportunities and experiences. Thus student participation in programs and activities, their use of the campus resources and services, and student interaction with members of the faculty and staff, all contribute toward our goal of enhancing student growth and development.

There are established University policies and procedures concerning the formation and operation of student organizations. Students and organization officers should refer to the printed version of the Student Organization Leadership Handbook (available in Campus Life) or to the on-line at www.meddean.luc.edu under Student Resources, and then under Leadership Handbook, for detailed information.

Loyola University reserves the right to register groups of Loyola students who wish to create formal organizations. Registration of a student organization by Loyola University is an acknowledgment that the organization has complied with registration procedures. Registration does not indicate or imply that the University endorses the views of the organization's membership or the views expressed at meetings. The individuals involved are solely responsible for any views held or expressed. Organized advocacy of a position violating the University's Catholic tradition is not endorsed or funded by the University. Any student wishing to form a new student organization must contact Campus Life.

REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER:

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, MEDICAL STUDENT SECTION (AMA)

The purpose of this organization shall be to provide medical student participation in the activities of the American Medical Association through adherence to the following principles: to have meaningful input into the decision and policy making processes of the association; to improve medical education and to further professional excellence; to involve medical students in addressing and solving the problems of health care and health care delivery and to provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information; to develop medical leadership; to initiate and effect necessary change; to promote high personal and professional ethics, and a humanistic approach to the delivery of quality patient care; to promote activity within organized medicine on the local, state, and national levels; and to work cooperatively with other student groups to meet these objectives.

AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION (AMSA)

The objectives of this organization include: to be committed to the improvement of health care and health care delivery to all people; to promote the active improvement of medical education; to involve its members in the social, moral and ethical obligations of the profession of medicine; and to assist in the improvement and understanding of world health problems.

AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (AMWA)

Our purpose is to bring together all medical students, physicians and workers in related research and allied health fields; to promote their education and training; to educate them and the public on issues related to health; to encourage the study of medicine; to cooperate with other organizations having comparable interests; and to address issues in the field of medicine as they especially relate to women.

CHRISTIAN MEDICAL DENTAL SOCIETY (CMDS)

The purpose of this organization is threefold: to aid Christian medical students, physicians, and others in the medical profession obtaining maturity in Christ through sharing together in the scripture and bearing each other's burdens in prayer. To present a positive witness of God our Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, to the medical profession and to the recipients of medical care. To emphasize the duty and privilege of every Christian to provide compassion and a commitment to active service for those in need.

COUNCIL ON INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH (CIMHH)

The CIMHH shall attempt to educate people about the philosophies and practices of integrative medicine and their application within the context of allopathic medicine. The Council actively seeks to understand what health is and how it can be achieved. We hope to accomplish this through workshops, conferences, guest speakers, and the partnerships with health care professionals.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE CLUB (a.k.a. THE ER CLUB)

The purpose of the Emergency Medicine Club is to expose pre-clinical students to Emergency medicine by providing informative programs to allow students to learn and practice basic clinical skills; to orient students to pre-hospital and Emergency Room care, as well as allow students to explore the specialty of Emergency Medicine, through Emergency Department and local ambulance practical time; and to allow students the opportunity to participate in community education on injury prevention and basic first aid.

FAMILY MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP (a.k.a. FAMILY PRACTICE CLUB)

The Family Practice Club serves to advance the specialty of Family Practice, to contribute to the experience of medical students, to familiarize its members with the purpose, ideals and practice of Family Physicians, and to expose members to pertinent issues in primary care in general.

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY GOLF CLUB (LUGC)

The LUGC would like to bring together persons in the health professions that have an interest in golf. We hope to help those members who want to learn or improve their skills. The LUGC will serve its members by arranging instruction and practice, and to schedule outings, tournaments and other activities.

GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL (GSC)

The Graduate Student Council serves as the voice of the graduate student body in the academic, administrative, and non-academic affairs which affect or involve the graduate student body at the Medical Center.

GRADUATE STUDENT NURSE ASSOCIATION (GSNA)

The purpose of the GSNA is to create a cohesive group of graduate nursing students, provide a forum to address academic issues, provide a means of communication among faculty, administration and students, and provide a body where students can bring issues pertaining to nursing affairs for discussion and research.

HILLEL OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Hillel of LUMC is the organization of Jewish students, faculty and staff. Our goals are to sponsor cultural, religious, and social programs that help to provide a sense of community as well as to educate and to inform the campus at large about the traditions and culture of Judaism and the Jewish people.

INTERNAL MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP (IMIG)

IMIG's purposes shall be to foster interest in Primary Care Medicine, with emphasis placed on the field of Internal Medicine; to provide student-mentor ship opportunities and community service opportunities for medical students; sponsor workshops, forums, speakers and journal club activities for topics related to, but not limited to, the practice of Internal Medicine; and promote interest and involvement in the Student Membership Division of the American College of Physicians.

MEDICAL ETHICS INTEREST CLUB (MEIG)

MEIG is committed to helping students develop their ethical decision making abilities through the study and discussion of issues relating to medical ethics. The ultimate goal of this group is to help students become more conscientious physicians.

MEDICAL STUDENT UNION (MSU)

The purpose of MSU shall be the active representation of the medical student body in the areas of curriculum, promotions, social events, and other concerns as they relate to medical students.

OPHTHALMOLOGY CLUB

The club attempts to service the Loyola medical student community by establishing a forum for learning about Ophthalmology and providing exposure to ophthalmology for pre-clinical students considering a career in this field.

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY INTEREST GROUP (OSIG)

The purpose of our group is to expose students to the career opportunities in the field of Orthopaedic Surgery; to facilitate interaction between the students, faculty, Attendings and residents of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department; to provide students with the means to observe Orthopaedic surgeons in the operating room and in the clinic; and to provide students with contacts for summer research opportunities.

PEDIATRICS CLUB

Our purpose is to foster interest in Pediatric Medicine by providing student-mentorship opportunities, community service programs, workshops, forums, speakers and journal article discussions.

PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (PSR)

Our purpose is to raise awareness among the students, faculty and staff as well as the general public about today's pressing social issues. We focus on enabling students to become activists for a variety of social justice concerns, recognizing that many of these issues effect health care delivery and our work as future physicians.

RUNNING AND ATHLETIC CLUB

The purpose of our organization is to offer students interested in running and other forms of outdoor exercise the opportunity to do so by making them aware of events such as road races, and by subsidizing entry fees for such races. We also intend to bring together students with similar interests and encourage running and other outdoor activities ways of increasing personal health, and as a constructive way to relieve stresses associated with medical school.

STUDENT NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (SNMA)

The purpose of the SNMA is to promote the dissemination of information relating to problems faced by minorities seeking a medical education; to create an atmosphere of racial harmony wherein professional excellence and moral principles can find fullest expression; to take necessary and proper steps to eradicate practices in medical education that compromise the goal of providing a quality education to minorities and women; to develop and promote programs that will bring better health care to the indigent of the Maywood community; to promote increases in the levels of minority student recruitment, admissions, and retention at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine; to provide academic and social support to the minority students of this campus; and to function as leaders and model physicians in all areas of Loyola life.

SURGERY INTEREST GROUP

We provide an opportunity for first and second year medical students to obtain early exposure to the field of surgery through surgical shadowing as a focused complement to their mentor experiences and their basic science courses. We hope to give students interested in surgery the opportunities to gain experiences in the surgical profession and help them decide where they may want surgery to fall in their third year rotations. We also hope to provide an avenue to explore summer research opportunities in surgery.

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the year, students often attempt to form new student organizations. Most, but not all of these attempts are successful. Groups are attempting to form as of this writing include a Psychiatry Club, a Sailing Club and a Student Interest Group in Neurology. If their attempts are successful, please look for them as well.

VOLUNTEER and COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

• "Loyola University Chicago is a Jesuit Catholic University dedicated to knowledge in the service of humanity."

• "The University endeavors to develop in the lives of its students, faculty and staff the spirit of searching for truth and living for others ..."

• "Loyola values freedom of inquiry, the pursuit of truth, and care for others, especially the young, the poor, and the sick."

These statements are included in the mission statement of Loyola University and perhaps best exemplify why we maintain and support an active volunteer and community service program for students at the Medical Center. As a university we are committed to the ideal of helping our fellow man. To serve those less fortunate than ourselves is a gift of kindness and compassion. To give of ourselves, to live in the service of others, is the core of Loyola. We would hope that our students would feel the same.

Campus Life, University Ministry, the academic deans' offices, and student organizations, sponsor a number of these volunteer and community service opportunities for students at the Medical Center. If you are interested in helping to create new opportunities, please feel free to contact one of the previously mentioned departments or organizations. Following are just a few of the activities our students participate in:

Adopt-A-Grandparent

The purpose of the group is to visit with the residents of The Oaks Retirement Community in Oak Park.

Medical students get together to play Bingo, Trivial Pursuit, and other games. At the end of the year, their Recreation Room is turned into a mock casino and prizes are given to the winners.

American Medical Association

The AMA is a national physician organization designed to be one of the leading voices in the health care of America. The AMA provides education, advocacy, leadership opportunities, and community service opportunities to all of its members in a variety of ways. Your Loyola student AMA chapter strives to emulate this mission.

There is a variety of opportunities from national positions to local projects available to members. Some of these activities at Loyola’s level include our Specialty Speaker Series, Organ Donation Drive Week, Preparing for Residency Program, Voter Registration Drive and joint participation in Primary Care Day.

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

AMSA is the largest student run medical organization in the country and provides educational, political, professional, and community service opportunities for medical students created by medical students. The Loyola Chapter provides valuable services to students such as the instrument sale, used book sale, Ethics Grand Rounds speakers, and Primary Care Day participation, as well as, serving as the umbrella organization for the following community service groups: STATS and STEM (see more detailed information, below).

AMSA also organizes a sugar-free Halloween Party with carnival games and crafts for diabetic children. We don’t know who has more fun- the medical students or the kids! AMSA also organizes Horizons, bringing education games and "cool science" to inner city high schools in order to promote the value of staying in school.

American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)

The purpose of AMWA is to help the community and students to become more aware and knowledgeable on women's health issues. Activities include: Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Workshops; Anti-Violence Workshops; Anti-Smoking Workshops; Women and Good Nutrition Awareness. "We have a lot to do, but we have a lot of fun helping in our education process and learning."

AMWA's main goal is to help the community to become aware of women's health issues and, in particular, have focused on the above issues. They want to also begin a program with the Chicago Public Schools in the inner city especially to promote anti-smoking in the teenage female populations.

Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS)

The purpose of CMDS is to encourage one another and to grow in Christian faith through Bible Studies and social events. It is also a chance to learn how to integrate faith with a career in medicine, as well as, be

a visible example of Christian love on campus. The group's activities include Bible Studies-Interdenominational, Tuesdays @ 7:30 am.

CMDS is involved with sponsoring a child through Kids Alive, International. We raise monthly support for the child through bake sales. Contact Mandy Dornfeld for more information.

We also take part in a number of one-time service projects through the year, such as volunteering at Lawndale Christian Health Center, or putting together a Care package for an incoming refugee family. Contact Kim Bezdek or Peter Youssef for more information.

CommunityHealth

CommunityHealth is a clinic on Chicago's west side that provides free medical services to a diverse community. CommunityHealth serves almost 11,000 patient visits a year, with a large part of the population being Spanish-speaking. Volunteer opportunities at the clinic include interpreting (adequate Spanish ability required) and triage work (prior triage experience is preferred). Volunteers would work along with other volunteer medical students, residents and physicians from various hospitals in Chicago, as well as CommunityHealth's staff nurses and physicians. Shifts are generally weeknights, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please contact Amy Blair for more information, or e-mail Mary Rodriguez at mrodriguez@communityhealth.org.

Doctors Ought to Care (DOC)

The purpose of this volunteer group is to increase awareness for prevention and health promotion in the community by specifically targeting the major causes of preventable death and disease in the United States. Specifically, this group plans to target a school within the community by bringing a message of anti-smoking to counteract the multitude of pro-smoking messages from the media. DOC is a volunteer opportunity supported and organized by the Family Practice Club.

Erie Family Health Center

Erie Family Health Center is a community health center that offers preventive, international care primarily to the urban Hispanic population. Students can volunteer in various capacities such as OB/GYN clinic; basic health screening; Big Brother/Big Sister Program, etc. Prior command of the Spanish language is not required. Students work directly with doctors, nurses, nurses aids, and social workers.

Main Center: Approximately 30 minutes from Loyola Medical Center
1701 W. Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60622

Family Medicine Interest Group

We are currently setting up the DOCS program (see above) which attempts to educate and prevent school age children from smoking. We need a lot of help to get this program off the ground but it should be very rewarding once it is!

Another program we are involved in is called Tar Wars, a fun, interactive program educating fifth grade students on the effects of smoking. Students will go in pairs to local fifth grade classes and spend one class period talking about the immediate effects of smoking in an effort to prevent the children from ever starting smoking. The presentation is structured to be very interactive and allows the children many chances to participate. Medical student pairs will schedule their own sessions. Contact Kerry Hynes.

Habitat for Humanity

The goal of this group is to provide students with the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity in providing better housing for families in Chicago. They try to provide a volunteer opportunity each month in which about ten students spend a few hours on a Saturday morning painting, building walls and floors, and doing anything else that needs to be done on the project.

Loyola Lends A Hand (a.k.a. All School Volunteer Day)

Loyola Lends a Hand is the all school volunteer day held the first Saturday after St. Luke's Day, this year tentatively scheduled for October 14^th (watch for more details). Medical and graduate students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will be sent out in small groups to volunteer for the day at a number of different agencies and organizations. Examples from last year include working at a women's shelter, tearing down a wall at a mental health center, river clean-up, and bingo and games at a nursing home. There's a project for every interest! This year's coordinator is Amanda Dornfeld, M2.

P.A.D.S. (overseen by Physicians for Social Responsibility)

P.A.D.S. is a "moving" homeless shelter in the community run by volunteers. Medical students have the opportunity to participate in two ways:

• At the Medical Clinic held every Monday, students are able to see patients with the doctors at the shelter.
• At the Shelter, they can also volunteer in a more general manner where they are able to meet and get to know the guests.

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)

PSR is aimed at increasing awareness about social issues which impact health care - domestic violence, gun violence, mental health, poverty - and providing opportunities to get involved in the community to educate about these risks. This group's activities include the P.A.D.S. Homeless Shelter (see above) which encourages health care improvement; and "Sarah's Inn" which helps encourage and provide an opportunity for training in domestic violence counseling; and slide show presentations to community organizations to inform on gun violence.

Special Friends

Campus Life has jointly developed with the Departments of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Social Work and the American Cancer Society, a service project, called "SPECIAL FRIENDS."This is a pilot program based on the concept of a big-buddy medical student, or "Big Special Friend," paired with a pediatric hematology/oncology patient (or their sibling), the "Little Special Friend." Campus Life is always accepting applications from students (especially M1's) who would like to be considered for this program.

Student National Association (SNMA)

The SNMA is the nation's oldest and largest student organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of color. Established in 1964 by medical students from Howard and Meharry medical schools, SNMA boasts nearly 30 years of committed service to communities. It continues still to advocate for improved culturally sensitive health care services and education for neglected or under-served populations. Although the membership primarily consists of African-Americans, SNMA’s array of members includes Native Americans, Africans, West Indians, Latin Americans, Asians, Middle Easterners, and Caucasians.

Students Teaching AIDS to Students (STATS)

The purpose of this group (overseen by AMSA) is to educate local junior high and high school students on HIV/AIDS mechanism, transmission, and protection. Medical students have the opportunity to visit local junior high and high schools to give slide presentations and answer questions.

Support Team Effort by Medical Students (STEM)

One Friday evening a month, medical students help the Child Life Coordinator who oversees the program at the Pediatric Oncology Support Group. The students assist the patients and their siblings with their craft projects and actively participate in the children’s discussions about their lives and how cancer has changed them.

Students Teaching Pediatric Students (STEPS)

STEPS is a volunteer opportunity for medical students to offer scholastic assistance to our pediatric patients at Loyola. Students may participate in group activities as well as one-to-one at bedside. The required time commitment approximates a two hour time slot, 1-2 times each month.

University Ministry

Sponsors programs involving world hunger issues, working in homeless shelters and soup kitchens, and an International Service Immersion program, which sends selected students to South and Central America "to learn about medicine, service and ourselves."

Other opportunities to get involved:

• Loyola Hospice
• The Ronald McDonald House at Loyola Medical Center
• The Ronald McDonald Mobile Pediatric Clinic
• Volunteer Services Department within the hospital

For information on any of these programs, or if you wish to help develop new programs, please contact Campus Life, the student organization sponsoring the program, or University Ministry.

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