Student Interest Groups - Clubs and Associations
Anesthesiology Interest Group
Leadership
President: Jacob Bassin
Vice President: Meghan McAdams
Director of Advocacy: Cameron Kavoosi
Director of Professional Development: Bailey Rohlfing
Director of Outreach: Newshaw Arvin
Director of Research: Kamran Khan
Attending
Dr. Brittany Bond
Contact
We are a professional group of medical students who share an interest in anesthesiology and a passion for improving patient care. We advocate for anesthesiology-related political initiatives, organized hands-on learning activities, and promote the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to our members.
Association of Women Surgeons Club
Leadership
President: Jordin Stanneart
Vice President: Prarthana Somaiah
Regional Rep: Paige Snow
Treasurer/Social Media: Min Kang
Attending
Dr. Jeffanne Millien
Contact
The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) is a not-for-profit educational and professional organization dedicated to promoting the growth and development of women surgeons. Founded in 1981, with approximately 3,000 members, AWS is one of the largest organizations dedicated to enhancing the interaction and exchange of information between women surgeons. As the UQ-Ochsner chapter of AWS, we strive to create an empowering and encouraging environment that enforces these values and connects medical students with women surgeons, resources, and opportunities for development in order to achieve both their personal and professional goals.
Dermatology Interest Group
Leadership
President: Daniel Ashley
Vice President: Christian Potter
Treasurer: Tarik Alfayyami
Attending
Dr. Alicia Cool
Contact
OMSA Dermatology is a new student run interest group designed to support its members and enrich their medical school experience through our mission to create diverse opportunities to inspire and develop well-rounded medical students by promoting dermatological health, advocacy, and health justice & equity across Ochsner Health, our local New Orleans community, and beyond. This organization is specifically designed to support UQ-Ochsner medical students interested in the study of the skin by providing a platform for students to engage in dermatology-related content and activities outside of the standard UQ-curirculum in an effort to build their knowledge, skills, and connections to become skin-savvy graduates and safe future doctors. Furthermore, this group aims to serve its wider community through its philanthropic endeavors, which are also intended to foster future leaders by providing numerous networking events and community outreach events. These opportunities connect our members with a community of like-minded medical students, dermatologists, skin surgeons, and other allied health professionals in the field. Overall, OMSA Dermatology aims to enrich the lives of all our medicals students through our core values by providing social outlets, community outreach events, leadership opportunities, and academic support for our students.
Emergency Medicine Interest Group
Leadership
President: Cheyenne Low
Vice President: Ryan Keane
Treasurer: Rebecca Bernheimer
Attending
Dr. Ravi Chauhan
Contact
The Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) purpose is to bring together students interested in Emergency Medicine and to help students be well prepared for EM residency. To fulfill this goal, EMIG provides mentorship, lectures, hands-on training with simulation and ultrasound workshops, monthly zoom meetings with Ochsner EM faculty and community service opportunities as well as guidance for away rotations and the Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLoE) process. Ochsner EMIG also hosts the annual AAEM/RSA Southeast Medical Student Symposium.
Family Medicine Interest Group
Leadership
President: Carlos Santaolaya
Vice President: Matthew Jung
Community Outreach Coordinator: Sarah Kelly
Secretary: Esther Wee
Treasurer: Laura Yuan
Attending
Dr. Jayesh Madrecha
Contact
The Family Medicine Interest Group's purpose is to create a culture of support and community for those interested in family medicine. We strive to promote the value of this specialty, organize opportunities to give back to the community and connect with others through local/national conferences. We hope to serve as a source of information for students in the match process and establish a network of past and future applicants.
Global Health Club
Leadership
President: Daniel Wo
Vice President: Samantha Beland
Outreach Chair: Sumukh Shetty
Journal Club Chair: Bailey Rohlfing
Treasurer: Jim Varghese
Attending
Dr. Yvens Laborde
The OCS Global Health Club (GHC) was founded in 2020 to help facilitate student collaboration for the sharing and discussion of global health topics.
Global Surgery Student Alliance
Leadership
President: Alhasan Alani
Outreach Chair: Daniel Wo
Events Chair: Matthew Jung
Communications: Paige Snow
Attending
Dr. Jessica Gorham
Contact
GSSA is a dynamic and inclusive group committed to fostering a passion for global surgery among students. At the intersection of medicine, surgery, and global health, our alliance strives to create a platform where students can engage in meaningful discussions, collaborative projects, and educational initiatives that address the challenges and opportunities in global surgery.
The GSSA is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders by providing a space for students to explore the diverse facets of global surgery. Through workshops, seminars, and hands-on experiences, our group aims to broaden perspectives, raise awareness, and cultivate the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to the field of surgery on a global scale.
Gold Humanism Honor Society
Leadership
President: Kirsten Smith
Vice President: Adam Kelmenson
Outreach Officer: Kevin Tran
Secretary and Communications Officer: Kayla Baker
Grand Rounds Officer: An To
Attending
Dr. Tamika Webb-Detiege
Contact
The Gold Humanism Honor Society’s latest initiative is a call to reinforce our essential humanism and humanity. “Healing the Heart of Healthcare: Reimagining How We Listen, Connect, and Collaborate” is a multi-year initiative designed to continue creating the change that true humanistic healthcare requires.
Internal Medicine Interest Group
Leadership
President: Nathan Au-Yeung
Vice President: Rachel Ng
Social Officer: Drishti Chawla
Outreach and Media Officer: Matthew Jung
Academic Officer: John Lim
Research/Treasurer: Sumukh Shetty
Clinical Skills Chair: Rebecca Schiff
Attending
Dr. James Bragg
Contact
The Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) aims to foster engagement by students interested in internal medicine and IM-related subspecialties by providing resources to assist students in their rotations and the residency match process and organizing community outreach activities and networking opportunities. Members of IMIG are encouraged to become members of the American College of Physicians and to participate in local and national conferences.
Medicine in Motion
Leadership
Co-Presidents: Brian Gutierrez, Cheyenne Low
Secretary/Treasurer: Savanah Fowler
Marketing & Media: Fouad Rabah
Attending
Dr. Aaron Karlin
Contact
Medicine in Motion (MM) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing burnout and building community in the medical field by using fitness and philanthropy as a medium to connect and foster diverse communities of medical professionals. Medicine in Motion promotes healthy lifestyles and wellness, fundraises for medical research and charity, and builds community among healthcare providers. MM facilitates various athletic competitions and other events to support wellness and charitable initiatives for students and professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, and therapy.
OB/GYN Interest Group
Leadership
President: Victoria Badeaux
Vice President: Makenna Moore
MSFC Chair: Rebecca Bernheimer
Research Officer: Elena Karras
Communications Officer: Maria Turcanu
Liaison Officer: Jesse Stone
Treasurer: Rebecca Schiff
Attending
Dr. Kelley Morel
Contact
Our mission is to help medical students foster an interest in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health and build a foundation upon which to purse a career in this specialty. OBIG provides opportunities for students to get involved in the community, stay up-to-date on research in the field, socialize with like-minded students, and build relationships with local physicians.
Ochsner Tennis Club
Leadership
President: Jacob Bassin
Vice President: Navid Hasani
Treasurer: Daniel Wo (Heng Hu)
Secretary: Shardhat Daggumati
Membership Coordinator & Facilities Manager: Sumukh Shetty
Community Outreach Chair: Maxwell Meadows
Attending
Dr. Kelly Ural
Contact
To provide a dynamic and engaging environment to help Ochsner medical students socialize, exercise, and enjoy a classic sport amongst peers. Ochsner Tennis Club serves as outlet for stress relief and contributes to overall well-being of our student body. Through a common passion for this beautiful sport, we hope to promote cohesion between students and balance between our academic pursuits and outdoors enjoyment.
Oncology Interest Group
Leadership
President: An To
Vice President: Sumukh Shetty
Treasurer: Emily Prince
Attending
Dr. Marc Matrana
The Ochsner Student Oncology Interest group aims to develop and foster student interest in oncology through education, mentorship, research, and outreach. We aim to provide medical students with the opportunity to explore the complex and exciting fields of oncology.
Palliative Medicine Interest Group
Leadership
President: Maxwell Meadow
Vice President: Gracy Juba
Treasurer: Sarah Kelly
Outreach/Social: Makenna Moore
Attending
Dr. Nick Cappadona
Contact
Welcome to the Palliative Care Interest Group! Our group is dedicated to fostering awareness, understanding, and advocacy for palliative care within our medical community. Palliative care is a specialized field that focuses on improving the quality of life for patients facing serious illness and their families. Our mission is to create a platform for medical students interested in palliative care to come together, share knowledge, and engage in activities that promote excellence in end-of-life treatment. Through educational events and community outreach, we aim to deepen our understanding of palliative medicine and develop the skills necessary to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Pathology Interest Group
Leadership
President: Katrina Jiang
Vice President: Joseph LaRosa
Treasurer: Eric Kravetz
Attending
Dr. Courtney Jackson
Contact
The Ochsner Pathology Interest Group is newly reinstated to connect students interested in learning more about the field of pathology and its many subspecialties. We aim to coordinate events that connect students with faculty mentors, research opportunities, and gain clinical exposure. We are excited to educate students both interested in pathology or not, as pathology is heavily intertwined with every field of medicine, from CBCs and CMPs to Pap smears and tumor resections.
Pediatric Interest Group
Leadership
President: Shardhat Daggumati
Vice President: Rayshma Sharoff
Academic Officer: Jale Manzo
Outreach: Raquel Gupta
Treasurer: Jesslyn Janssen
Attending
Dr. Michelle Puzdrakewicz
Contact
The Pediatric lnterest Group's goal is to provide opportunities to volunteer in the community, network with physicians, and keep updated on new research and policies in the field. We hope to educate students interested in pursuing pediatrics on the different career paths within the field and assist in residency planning.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interest Group
Leadership
Co-Presidents: Brian Gutierrez, Colleen Fleming
Secretary: Joshua Baguley
Outreach Chair: Eden Schoofs
Attending
Dr. Stephen Moran
Contact
Brian Gutierrez, Colleen Fleming
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a medical specialty that is focused on improving patient’s quality of life through maximizing their functional ability. PM&R physicians take a patient centered approach to helping those who have suffered debilitated injuries of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and help them to regain as much of their previous lifestyle as possible. The goal of our interest group is to bring together people who are interested in PM&R so that they can learn more about the specialty. This includes opportunities to meet residents and physicians in the field and build contacts. There will also be opportunities to volunteer and help improve the visibility of the profession as well as your resume. We also will plan to have some social events for networking and building camaraderie.
Pickleball Student Club
Leadership
President: Jordin Stanneart
Vice President: Kevin Tran
Secretary: Min Kang
Community Outreach Chair: An To
Attending
Dr. Dennis Sonnier
Contact
Our mission through this group is to foster a sense of community amongst medical colleagues while promoting a healthy lifestyle, overall wellness, and friendly competition through the game of pickleball. We hope to provide an opportunity for open play, skills workshops, and tournament competitions suitable to all ability levels all while building a supportive community of peers that prioritizes health and wellness.
Psychiatry Interest Group
Leadership
President: Jaskaran Singh Dhillon
Vice President: Laura Yuan
Social Chair: Esther Wee
3rd Year Rep: Karmveer Kaur
Attending
Dr. David Galarneau
Contact
We're dedicated to fostering passion and insight into the field of psychiatry, with training opportunities in relevant skills, discourse on exciting new topics, connection to research and volunteer opportunities in mental health, and recommendations on the rapidly changing nature of applying to psychiatry residency programs. Join us in promoting the wellness of our community!
Radiology Interest Group
Leadership
President: Alexander Troyer
Vice President: Alexandre Grahovac
Research: Navid Hasani
Outreach: Ariya Beitollahi
Treasurer: Matthew Jung
Attending
Dr. Paul Gulotta
Contact
The purpose of the Radiology Student Interest Group is to provide interested students with basic radiology skills to apply to rotations and allow them to become involved with Ochsner's staff. We strive to have everyone involved be a part of our team and assist with event planning and demonstrations.
Donations can be made for the annual Southeastern Interventional Radiology Medical Student Symposium (SEIRMSS) via this link (www.ochsner.org/seirmss).
Sports Medicine Interest Group
Leadership
President: Colleen Fleming
Vice President: Cheyenne Low
Treasurer: Eden Schoofs
Attending
Dr. Olabode Agaja
Contact
Our mission is to encourage help students explore the many avenues available to pursue a career in Sports Medicine. SMIG hosts lectures about career opportunities in the specialty and connects students to learning opportunities about essential and emerging topics and techniques in Sports Medicine.
Student Interest Group in Neurology
Leadership
President: Kian Fahimdanesh
Vice President: Rami Muhtaseb
Treasurer: Joy Yeh
Research Coordinator: Nate Untch
Communications: Shardhat Daggumati
3rd Yr Rep: Karmveer Kaur
Attending
Dr. Sarah Breaux
Contact
The purpose of the Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) is to learn about neurology and its clinical, research, and service activities, as well as provide opportunities for students to get involved in these activities. We aim to increase medical students’ neurologic knowledge and to help connect students to a growing number of chapters around the world.
Surgery Interest Group
Leadership
President: Alhasan Alani
Vice Presidents: Prarthana Somaiah, Jordin Stanneart
Treasurer: Nick Menzel
Social Media: Colton Paterson
Suture Workshop Coordinator: Nate Untch
Attending
Dr. Dennis Sonnier
Contact
The surgery interest group is committed to providing students with the resources to succeed in their surgical clerkships, sub-internships, and the residency application process. We support our third year students in suture workshops, tips to success in the OR, and surgery Shelf exam reviews. Every year we host a post match panel with recent graduates, journal clubs, and residency application prep meetings with key surgery faculty.
SWAMP Wilderness Medicine
Leadership
President: Colton Paterson
Community Clean up Chair: Joshua Bagley
Journal Club Chair: Nick Menzel
Attending
Dr. William Carter
Contact
ochsnerwildernessmed@gmail.com
- Provide an environment where students can explore non-traditional medical fields/professions
- Introduce options linked to the outdoors including but not limited to wilderness, dive, climb, hyperbaric and survival medicine
- Encourage careers in rural and remote locations focusing on the healing and long-term care of underserved populations
- Set up volunteer and service activities with an outdoor or wilderness focus
- Develop a bond between club members via social activities and outings
- Aid in the teaching of minimalist medical skills including point of care treatment
- Promote the innovation of knowledge in the field
- Serve as a resource to first year students of possible rural and wilderness elective options ie Royal Flying Doctor Service, remote hospital locations, Indigenous clinics
- Encourage students and physicians to consider the environmental consequences of their actions and future endeavors both inside and out of the hospital
- Raise awareness and coordinate Wilderness Medicine conferences both locally and nationally
Team for Medical Innovation (TMI) Club
Leadership
Co-Presidents: Venkata Paruchuri & Dhaval Patel
Treasurer: Alex Fang
Attending
Dr. Kathy Jo Carstarphen
Contact
Venkata Paruchuri & Dhaval Patel
To provide an environment for students to learn about and collaborate on medical design and research projects. We aim to expose students to the principles used in engineering to aid them in understanding how to come up with ideas and apply them to medical problems. Our goal is to create a team-based environment that works on innovative ideas and brings them to life.
Vascular Surgery Interest Group
Leadership
President: Adam Kelmenson
Co-Vice President: Dhara Patel
Co-Vice President: Eric Kravetz
Treasurer: Meghan McAdams
3rd Year Rep: Michael Mullen
Attending
Dr. Charles Leithead
Contact
O-VSIG aims to increase vascular surgery education and provide opportunities for growth in the field. These are our “C.O.R.E” goals.
- Career to promote vascular surgery mentorship and extracurricular experiences.
- Outreach: to improve vascular health in the New Orleans community through organized events.
- Research: to enable access to vascular related research and research meetings
- Education: to host workshops, simulations, and didactic sessions
