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Multicultural Association for Pre-health Students
An undergraduate pre-health organization that has
been very successful in sending minority students to
various health professional schools including:
nursing, medical, and pharmacy school, etc. The SNMA
at FSU COM strives to maintain a good relationship
with our MAPS members by serving as mentors for
them.
Mentorship:
The FSU Chapter of SNMA has initiated a mentoring
project with the local
undergraduate chapters of MAPS (Minority Association
of Pre-Medical Students) at Florida State University
and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University.
This mentoring project provides a critical link in
continuing the vision to strengthen the connection
between pre-medical and medical students in these
organizations. This year’s kickoff event consisted
of a Mixer, which was filled with eager SNMA medical
students willing to offer guidance and assistance to
the undergraduate students. The interaction ranged
from those playing board games and filled with
laughter to engaging in intellectual conversations
about the impact of the lack of minorities in the
medical field. The MAPS students also got a chance
to get firsthand information about the trials and
tribulations of applying and matriculating into
medical school.
By the end of the event, e-mail addresses and other
contact information were exchanged between the SNMA
and MAPS members in order to foster the
individualized progression of each MAPS member into
a career in medicine. The event was an overall
success and an indication of the devoted commitment
of the Florida State University chapter of SNMA to
uphold the national mission of increasing the
numbers of underrepresented minorities in medicine.
Community Service
- H.O.P.E. for the Homeless
 Annually we work with the Tallahassee Coalition for
the Homeless. Through their Housing Opportunity and
Personal Empowerment program we raise supplies for
the Tallahassee homeless community. This service
project has been a tremendous success and gets
better each year. During the Christmas season, SNMA
takes the initiative of having a drive for supplies
that are later donated to the HOPE Community. Some
of the donations we have received in the past
include: clothing for children and adults, shoes,
toiletries, school supplies, bicycles and other
toys. The goals of this program have been achieved
with the help of medical students, faculty, and the
FSU MAPS chapter, who provided canned goods and
other non-perishable food products.
- K.E.E.P.
SNMA participated in the Kidney Early Evaluation
Program hosted by the National Kidney Foundation of
Florida. Kidney Early Evaluation Program is a health
screening program designed to identify individuals
at increased risk for kidney disease and encourage
them to seek further evaluation and follow-up from a
physician. KEEP is a free program that focuses on
“high risk” individuals – those with known diabetes
and/or hypertension or who have first-degree
relatives with hypertension, diabetes or chronic
kidney failure. By implementing this program, we
hope to educate those individuals at increased risk
for developing kidney disease about early detection,
early intervention and the prevention of
complications of hypertension and diabetes, so that
the development of kidney disease and/or failure can
be identified at the earliest possible stages. The
project goals were accomplished with the help of the
Geriatric Interest Group at FSU COM.
- Fundraising for the National Kidney
Foundation
Minorities are disproportionately affected by
varying renal diseases. In addition to working with
the Kidney Early Evaluation Program, we have raised
and donated money to the National Kidney Foundation.
Our donations went toward research for finding cures
and to help patients and their families.
- Blow the Whistle on Asthma
We participated in this national event sponsored by
the American Lung Association, at a community level.
This 3K walk/run was held in the spring and our
organization (working with the MAPS chapter at FSU
COM) raised over $1000.
- Co-hosting Residency Workshop
The Medical College
Council and SNMA held workshops that provided
our medical students with the information necessary
to make informed decisions when choosing a residency
program. The FSU COM students were provided with
general information about the residency application
process as well as other pertinent information about
how they can be better applicants.
- Residency Fair
This year the Medical College Council hosted their
first annual residency fair. Programs from all over
the southeast United States participated in the
fair. Over 20 programs were present with over 100
medical students in attendance. SNMA and other
organizations in the FSU COM worked together to make
this program a success. Students surveyed expressed
how beneficial it was for them and how important it
was to network with the different residency programs
from varying specialties.
- Health Fair
Each year we participate in the Tallahassee
community health fair hosted by Florida State
University. We do blood pressure checks, check blood
glucose levels, and provide educational materials
about certain diseases affecting the community.
Other stations at the health fair provided vision
screening, hearing exam, and more.
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 Sickle Cell
Health Symposium
This event was hosted by the Sickle Cell Foundation
and the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. The mission
of the Sickle Cell Foundation is "To Promote Finding
a Universal Cure for Sickle Cell Disease while
Improving the Quality of Life for Individuals and
Families where Sickle Cell Related Conditions
Exists." SNMA members at FSU COM in support of this
mission have volunteered our time and services to
educating ourselves and others about the disease. We
attended a sickle cell community forum with guest
speaker Kenneth Bridges, MD-Harvard Professor and
Sickle Cell Disease Researcher. Some members also
assisted in other aspects of the health fair which
included sickle cell, respiratory, nutritional, and
blood sugar screenings.
- Undergraduate AMCAS workshops
Conduct workshops with FSU and FAMU MAPS
undergraduate students to inform on getting into
respective pre-health programs. We discuss ways to
strengthen ones application and ways to become a
better applicant to these professional schools.
Through sequential steps we cover information about
the application process, recommendation letters,
interviews, etc. One way we are trying to improve
this program is by meeting with accepted rising
first year medical students and provide tips on how
to be successful in medical school.
- Gadsden County Migrant Health Fair
In addition to the two organizations representing
FSU COM, SNMA and FSUCares, there
were representatives from the Gadsden County Health
department and from Florida A & M University present
to render their services to the migrant worker
community. At the fair, SNMA members conducted blood
glucose screenings in Spanish, and conducted blood
glucose and blood pressure testing as well as
provided educational materials about hypertension
and diabetes in Spanish. Those with elevated blood
pressure and blood glucose were referred to the
local health department where they can follow up and
receive proper care. Dolly Penn, one of our first
year medical students wrote in the November issue of
our newsletter, “I learned the value of knowing more
than one language when presented with a situation in
which language may be a barrier. The day was truly a
learning experience for all of us. Some people
perfected their blood pressure taking skills and
others learned how to do blood glucose testing.
Overall, the day was a success. Experiences such as
this make us appreciate the skills and knowledge we
have and the opportunity to utilize these assets to
help others.”
- FAMU Career Day/Graduate Fair
This graduate fair, hosted by the FAMU Department of
Biology, was set up for students to learn more about
graduate school and careers after graduation. SNMA
members and our advisors were able to speak with
many eager premedical students about the process of
applying to medical school, and what to expect
during medical school. The students had many
questions, and SNMA was very happy to help with this
outreach opportunity.
Conferences
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student
Association National Conference
This conference aims to address those issues
important to Asian-American medical students. One
part of the mission is “to bring together Asians and
others interested in the health issues that affect
Asians so that they may have a strong, collective,
public and political voice.” They are interested in
both directly promoting the health and well-being of
the Asian community as well as in helping all health
care workers who work with these communities
understand how to care for the Asian patient in a
culturally sensitive manner.
- National Hispanic Medical Association
 The NHMA Annual Conference highlights key
information to share with medical students,
physicians, government and private sector
representatives on how to improve the health of
Hispanics. In the past some of our members have
attended this conference and found it very
beneficial. They learned about health disparities
among various Hispanic populations and how to use
the ideas presented and implement them in their
community.
- SNMA Regional and National Conference
Each year our dedicated members attend these
conferences to learn about important health issues
facing minorities. In addition, we learn about how
we can take the information we learn and implement
the ideas in our own community and future practice.
Workshops are provided about financing medical
education, getting into residency, and current
research.
Fundraising Activities
- Valentine’s Day Rose Sale
On every Valentine’s Day, as a fundraising activity,
SNMA host a rose sale. Students, faculty and staff
participate in this school wide event. Roses are
pre-ordered and can be picked up by the purchaser on
Valentine’s Day. We sold beautiful bouquets, vases,
and other arrangements.
- International Food Fest
Each semester as a funding raising activity, we have
been able to showcase the diversity of our members
by hosting an International Food Fest. While faculty
and student sample the foods from different culture
and mingle in an informal setting, a slideshow
presentation is played in the background
highlighting minority physicians.
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