Multicultural Association of Pre-Med Students

The Florida State University Multicultural Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS), sponsored by the College of Medicine’s undergraduate outreach program, is an organization consist over 250 students from various cultural backgrounds.  There is currently a critical need for physicians from underrepresented and rural communities to work within under-served areas.  For example, the Tallahassee Bond community has been designated as an area of critical need due to lack of physicians to provide service to low income and indigent patients. It is the mission of MAPS to encourage students who are entering the health care profession to focus their energies on those areas who have least amount of resources but the greatest needs. MAPS is also an affiliate program of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). SNMA, initially established in 1964 by Howard University College students, is the nation’s oldest and largest student organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of color. SNMA Membership includes about 5,000 medical students, pre-medical students, residents and licensed physicians. The Florida State University MAPS chapter was established in 2000 by Thesla B. Anderson.