SOMA Spring Convention 2019
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We welcomed over 150 SOMA leaders to Washington, DC this past week for our annual SOMA Spring Convention. The theme of this two-day conference was “Advocacy in Action.” We heard from many exciting speakers (including the Surgeon General of the United States) who gave attendees a better understanding of the inner workings of policy-making in healthcare and in government, connected with osteopathic medical student leaders from around the country, and debated a record number of student-written resolutions at the SOMA House of Delegates. Take a look at our conference highlights below.
Click
here
for conference photos taken by our PR Director! These will be available for you to access and download for 1 week.
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Speakers, Panel Discussions, and Workshops
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U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH spoke to the SOMA assembly about his personal path to public health leadership. He stated,
“never underestimate the impact that each of you will have as a physician and that you can have right now.”
The Surgeon General subsequently held a Q and A session giving SOMA the opportunity to discuss topics in healthcare most relevant to osteopathic medical student leaders.
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NBD Member of Doctors For America, Dr. Narasimhan, MD, spoke to SOMA about our ethical obligation as future physicians to speak out for our patients. He presented an "Advocacy Toolkit" composed of the different ways we can engage now as osteopathic medical students and in the future as osteopathic physicians. In his view, "advocacy is not just for some of us. It is a responsibility for all of us."
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Fourth year National SOMA leaders held a panel discussion with helpful hints for fourth year rotations, interviewing successfully, and matching to your specialty of choice!
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Narcan Administration Training
BCOM shared their Narcan Administration Training program at this conference in an effort to help reduce opioid overdose deaths. 67 students received Narcan administration training, 98 boxes of Naloxone were distributed, and all trainees were given the resources needed to start a similar program at their local COMs.
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Letter Writing Campaign for Veterans
SOMA delivered hand-written letters to veterans at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. Many veterans suffer from PTSD, suicide, and co-morbidities at higher rates than the civilian population. Our veterans serve as an example of dedication to serving others, which is central to our philosophy as future osteopathic physicians.
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From a resolution calling for greater DO representation on television to researching the gender pay gap in medicine, it’s clear that our students are passionate about a variety of topics that directly affect our future profession. During this conference we had the most resolutions ever to be submitted to any SOMA House of Delegates. We debated an impressive 40 resolutions and our House of Delegates passed the following:
S-19-02 SOMA OVERDOSE PREVENTION COMMITTEE AND OVERDOSE
PREVENTION PROJECT
S-19-08 ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
S-19-12 RECOGNITION OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL GRADUATES AS US MEDICAL
GRADUATES IN ERAS
S-19-13 SUNSETTING POLICIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
S-19-14 DECRIMINALIZATION OF SELF- INDUCED ABORTION
S-19-15 RECOGNIZING FOOD INSECURITY AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
S-19-16 ADVOCATING FOR MORE DO REPRESENTATION WITHIN MEDICAL TV
SHOWS AND MOVIES
S-19-17 DESTIGMATIZATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN PHYSICIANS
S-19-19 CREATION OF STANDING COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
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S-19-23 ADVOCATING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF ACCREDITATION STANDARDS ON DIVERSITY AT OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS
S-19-29 OPPOSING ZERO-TOLERANCE IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND THE
SEPARATION OF FAMILIES AT THE BORDER
S-19-30 FAIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITING MEDICAL STUDENTS
S-19-
31 ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN’S RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
ACCESS AND SUPPORT OF ROE V. WADE
S-19-34 ESTABLISH SOMA LGBTQ+ COMMITTEE AND CHAIR PERSON
S-19-38 SOMA SUPPORT FOR STUDENT MEMBER ON THE COCA
S-19-40 HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP FOR PRIYA GARG
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2019-2020 National Leaders
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Board of Trustees
President:
Tyler King, NYITCOM-Arkansas
Vice President/Speaker of the House:
Harris Ahmed, BCOM
National Board of Directors Chair:
John Rajala, BCOM
Parliamentarian:
Wessley Square, PCOM
Treasurer:
Christian von Gizycki, LECOM-Bradenton
Secretary:
Valeriya Korchina DMUCOM
Region I Trustee:
Samantha Culver, UNECOM
Region II Trustee:
Mayen Gonzalez, ACOM
Region III Trustee:
Matthew Mayeda, MSUCOM
Region IV Trustee:
Clara Hofman, MWU-CCOM
Region V Trustee:
Taylor Farish, TUNCOM
AOA Board of Trustees Student Representative:
Adam Coridan, OU-HCOM Dublin
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Board of Directors
Convention Director:
Justine Lazatin, UNECOM
Public Relations Director:
Sara Abdelhalim, TCOM-Middletown
Health Disparities Director:
Mayra Valdivia Carlisle, OSUCOM
Research Director:
Carlos Garcia Galindo, ACOM
Community Outreach Director:
Edie Waskel, WUCOMP
Professional Development Director:
Emily Chin, VCOM-Auburn
Junior Pre-SOMA Director:
Gage Spears, OU-HCOM Dublin
Senior Pre-SOMA Director:
Corinna Bayuk, VCOM-Virginia
Membership and Alumni Affairs Director:
Bailey Dunn, CUSOM
Strategic Partnerships Director:
Angela Pluguez, NYITCOM-Arkansas
Political Affairs Director:
Alison Markley, VCOM-Carolinas
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SOMA Foundation
Foundation Liaison:
Renee Wakulski, MWU-CCOM
Chairperson:
Hector Zelaya, TouroCOM-Harlem
Director of Scholarships & Grants:
Sarah Bechay, RowanSOM
Director of Membership:
Jessica Frazelle, VCOM-Carolinas
Director of Financial Affairs:
Shikha Patel, RowanSOM
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Thank You, Kate de Klerk, OMS IV!
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SOMA would like to issue one final thank you to our immediate past president and fearless leader, Kate de Klerk! The growth that SOMA has experienced this past year is a testament to your leadership. We are grateful for your tireless and incomparable dedication to this organization, and for the foundation you've set for us to build upon. We can't wait to see what you DO next!
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Nearly 1,000 osteopathic medical students from around the country made it to D.C. for DO Day on Capitol Hill. The focus of this year's trip to The Hill was:
- Re-authorization of Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program
- Support for Direct Primary Care
- Osteopathic Medicine Awareness
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Opportunities to Get Involved with SOMA!
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Social Media and Public Relations Committee:
The goal of the public relations committee is to utilize SOMA’s various social media platforms to improve the professional growth and development of osteopathic medical students, connect to one another and share relevant resources (scholarships, articles, residency information, study material, and more), and improve the image and visibility of D.O. physicians.
This is a year long commitment that will not take up a significant amount of your time. This is a great way to get involved with National SOMA. Tasks throughout the year include creating posts for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Topics that are shared range from health disparities to student reflections to study resources and whatever you feel is relevant. This is a great opportunity to help shape SOMA’s social media presence!
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SOMA Overdose Prevention Task Force:
We are excited to announce the creation of the new SOMA Overdose Prevention Task Force. Shaun Antonio of BCOM was appointed chair of the task force this week. Please reach out to him at shaun.antonio@mybcom.org if you are interested in serving on the task force. The goals of the project will be:
1. Research state laws and policies to reduce overdose deaths, with a focus on, but not limited to, increasing Naloxone distribution into communities and improving Good Samaritan Laws.
2. Create a plan of action for participating COM’s to combat overdose deaths based on this research.
3. Coordinate with participating COM’s so that the COM can fulfill the action plans.
4. Regularly assesses progress of action plan progress and create new plans as needed.
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We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore, MD for the SOMA sponsored student track at OMED October 25 - 27, 2019!
Learn more about OMED on our
website!
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Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
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Website
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