Contact our team
The Program for Access and Engagement provides support to all students within the CCOM through professional development programming and education. Please contact us with your professional development or speaking engagement requests.
Daniela Sanchez
Academic Program Management & Services Associate
Summer Health Professionals Education Program (SHPEP)
News, Events, and Recognitions
Join clinicians from the Medical Student Counseling Center and Program for Access and Engagement for Support Spaces. A new support group for students.
Fall dates will be announced soon.
Student Organizations
The Program for Access & Engagement is proud to support the following student/trainee organizations:
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
The Asian Pacific American Medical Students 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.
Association of Multicultural Scientists (AMS)
The Association of Multicultural Scientists is a graduate student/Postdoctoral Scholar run organization seeking to promote diversity within the biomedical sciences through support, recruitment and retention of students/trainees from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. AMS is founded on the premise that in order to establish and maintain diversity within the biomedical community, it is imperative that members belonging to historically underserved groups be present, active, and supported. Our primary role is to assist members in the successful completion of the Ph.D. by offering programs and support which will meet academic, social, and professional needs in an atmosphere of cultural context and comfort.
EQUAL Meds
EQUAL Meds is an organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer people and allies. We are dedicated to helping make the Carver College of Medicine a comfortable and supportive place for all. Our mission is to serve as a bridge between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and straight communities by raising awareness of issues concerning LGBTQ patients and students, educating about healthcare issues specific to LGBTQ individuals, providing a social support network for LGBTQ and straight people in the College of Medicine, and providing a forum where students may express themselves without binding claim to sexual or affectional orientation.
First-Generation and Low-Income in Medicine Association (FGLIMed)
Organization for first-generation and low-income students in medicine.
House Staff Diversity Collaborative
The Office of GME established the House Staff Diversity Collaborative in 2020, which is composed of an interdepartmental group of resident and fellow physicians focused on providing support to underrepresented in medicine house staff members and creating a more inclusive learning environment. The goals of the collaborative are to foster house staff professional and leadership development, provide mentorship and networking opportunities, and support outreach pipeline programming and recruitment.
Please contact gmeoffice@uiowa.edu if you are interested in getting involved.
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
The purpose of the Latino Medical Student Association –University of Iowa Carver College Of Medicine is to address the health needs of the Latino community, as well as to create an environment for recruitment and academic support of individuals in the health care professions who will strive to improve the access and delivery of healthcare to Latinos and medically underserved populations.
Latino Medical Student Association Plus (LMSA-Plus)
Latino Medical Student Association Plus (LMSA+) supports undergraduate students who are interested in perusing health professional careers. Through mentoring, programming, and community service, LMSA+ supports students of color to pursue and enter into health professional fields. By increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of health care professionals, LMSA+ strive to help eliminate ethnic health disparities.
Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI@Iowa)
Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness at Iowa (MSDCI @ Iowa), a chapter of MSDCI National, is dedicated to raising awareness of the realities faced by disabled and chronically ill students in medical education. Our mission is to support and advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals who can leverage their backgrounds as patients with disabilities/chronic illnesses to become excellent clinicians. We welcome disabled and non-disabled students of all healthcare professions.
Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) supports undergraduate students who are interested in perusing health professional careers. Through mentoring, programming, and community service, MAPS supports students of color to pursue and enter into health professional fields. By increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of health care professionals, MAPS strive to help eliminate ethnic health disparities.
Mixed-Race in Medicine
Mixed-Race in Medicine is an organization comprised of students and faculty interested in learning more about mixed-race topics and how being from a mixed background has shaped their lives in medicine and beyond. Our mission is to increase awareness on these types of experiences and provide a network among our club members and community. Our events include guest speakers, discussion panels, and fundraisers that support the health of mixed-race individuals.
Physical Therapy Student Organization
Mission: Student Organization that represents the profession of physical therapy and the University of Iowa's DPT program before other student organizations and the public; to educate others about physical therapy; to interact with PT groups on other campuses; and to foster a sense of commitment to the profession.
Student National Medical Association
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is the oldest and largest medical student organization dedicated to people of color and underserved communities. Committed to increasing the number of culturally capable and sensitive physicians, the SNMA is also dedicated to the academic and clinical success of medical students and pre-medical students. Community service is the heart and soul of the SNMA and eliminating disparities in health care delivery, disease morbidity, and disease mortality are among our highest priorities. SNMA invites all students to participate in its programming which is designed to promote healthy living and stress the preventative nature of health care delivery.
White Coats for Black Lives
White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL) is a national organization led by medical students that are called to action by the Black Lives Matter movement. Medicine represents another system affected by racism, and as such, it is important that we, as students of the system, acknowledge and address this issue as a public health crisis. Though White Coats for Black Lives originated with the National White Coat Die-In Demonstrations that occurred on December 10, 2014, there has since been a shift away from performative demonstrations, with a focus instead on actions promoting real change in our communities. Here at Iowa, we are committed to fighting for racial justice within medical education, medical care, and in the community around us, and hope to be a space where people of all backgrounds feel empowered to understand and improve the systems we live in.
Have a funding request?
Please reach out regarding support for your program, initiative, activity or event geared towards advancing a culture of belonging at UI Health Care. All submissions will be reviewed within 2 weeks of submission, and you'll receive a response once the review process is complete. Students are encouraged to apply.