Office of Student Life & Engagement

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Pharmacy

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Chapter of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) strives to build awareness on the various opportunities provided through Managed Care Pharmacy. In addition, we intend to advance the practice of Managed Care through building collaborative relationships with other student leadership organizations, faculty, and current practitioners in Managed Care.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Emily R. Hajjar, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCACP, BCGP | Program Director, Population Health, Jefferson College of Pharmacy

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The goal of the Aerospace Medicine Society is to increase knowledge about, and to provide exposure to, the field of aerospace medicine. The long-term goals are to enrich the field of aerospace medicine by facilitating student engagement with flight surgeons, other industry professionals, and aviation and space medicine research opportunities. The Aerospace Medicine Society plans to move toward these goals by meeting its short-term goals, establishing itself as a resource for Jefferson students who are interested in learning about or pursuing aerospace medicine, and building relationships with professionals in the field.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: John Hanifin, PhD | Assistant Professor, Neurology | 1025 Walnut Street, College Building, Room 509, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-9409

Membership Eligibility: All members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD) is a non-profit, membership organization of interdisciplinary health professionals and students - including those in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, and other specialties - committed to improving the quality of healthcare for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD) through advocacy, exchanging ideas, mentorship, and more. All members of the Jefferson community are welcome and encouraged to be involved and attend events. There is no associated membership fee.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]
Student Organization Advisor: Mary M Stephens, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FAADM | Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine; Co-Director, Jefferson Continuing Care Program, Navy Yard

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only  

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The mission of the SKMC Chapter of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is to provide a forum for students to organize professional, educational, and research activities within neurosurgery, promote mentorship with neurosurgery residents and faculty members on campus, and increase interest and awareness of neurosurgery at SKMC. The SKMC Chapter of the AANS runs several events each year including journal club meetings, fundraising events, Q/A panels, and lectures given by residents and faculty members on a variety of topics in neurosurgery.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Chengyuan Wu, MD | Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: With the retirement and aging of the baby boomer population, geriatric medicine has become a quickly expanding field in all healthcare professions. Many students are not exposed to geriatrics, which involves a set of considerations and concerns separate from those of children and adults, until late in their schooling. The student chapter of the American Geriatrics Society at Thomas Jefferson University advances the awareness of the great need for care of the older adult. The purpose of this organization is three-fold: To facilitate career interest in geriatric medicine through early exposure to different practice options and patient care settings; to educate students on health issues pertinent to the care of the older adult through sponsored didactics and supervised clinical experiences; and to foster interdisciplinary interactions through volunteering initiatives designed to promote collaborative geriatric care. Students of all schools at Jefferson interested in geriatric medicine are invited to participate in the development of our organization, and its didactic, forward-thinking, and innovative programing events. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Emily R. Hajjar, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCACP, BCGP | Program Director, Population Health Pharmacy, Jefferson College of Pharmacy

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Jefferson AMA is committed to educating students on how to become advocates for their patients and themselves within healthcare policy settings. We send students to biannual meetings to represent the student body of Jefferson on a national and state level. We provide opportunities to learn about and participate in the health policy making process. AMA is also committed to community outreach and helping medical students find the right career for them. We host lunch time talks, send students to conventions, and host workshops. Jeff AMA is open to medical students, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Theodore Christopher, MD, FACEP | The Green Family Foundation and John and Patricia Walsh Professor and Chair

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: AMWA is dedicated to promoting women’s health and advancing the careers of female medical students and physicians. AMWA’s goal is to provide both personal and professional support for its members through mentorships and special events with faculty members. Past activities include a faculty-student mentor program, lunch seminars, the annual women’s forum, and a lecture series promoting women in research. AMWA plans to continue these traditions while incorporating new ideas from current members. Future goals include the development of a lecture series addressing women’s initiatives in crafting individualized careers and to further empower women while enhancing knowledge of women’s health issues including female cancers, osteoporosis, violence against women, thyroid disorders, and preventive medicine. Members have the opportunity to network with medical students striving for equality in school, the workplace and in leadership positions. Members will also be working side-by-side with notable faculty and pioneers within the medical field.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Karen Novielli, MD | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Department of Family & Community Medicine

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The mission of this student organization is to bring research awareness to students who may not interact with it often or know how to do so. Along with the first year SKMC curriculum, we will hold events where an expert in a certain field (e.g. cardiology) will go over their research and explain to students how they went about this research and its significance. Research is often stressed as crucial to medical students, however how to interpret it is never explained and we hope to serve that purpose.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Ryan Tomlinson | Assistant Professor, Orthapedic Surgery

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Anatomy practical exams cover large amounts of material and are conducted in a timed station manner. Such exams are difficult to take, requiring both a solid foundation of the curriculum content and familiarity with the test format itself. As an organized student group, we intend to set-up practice anatomy practical exams in the human gift laboratory the weekend before regularly scheduled block exams to provide a space for students to improve their mastery of anatomy material and test-taking skills prior to the real scored exam. Following these practice anatomy practicals, we will provide review sessions in a classroom to cover the tested questions and other relevant anatomy. Our tutors will also be available in the anatomy laboratory to provide teaching to students of the tagged anatomy structures following the exams, as well. All practice questions will be reviewed and edited by our advisor prior to conducting the practice anatomy practicals to ensure accuracy and fairness of the practice exams.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alexander Macnow | Assistant Professor, Division of Anatomy Education Thread Director, Pathology

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Pharmacy Only  

Membership Dues or Fees: $60.00

Description: The APhA-ASP Jefferson College of Pharmacy Chapter was founded to empower and encourage student involvement in issues that impact the advancement of the profession and future patient care. APhA-ASP members are involved in a variety of activities that engage the community and promote the pharmacy profession; including screenings and information to raise awareness of the critical role pharmacists play in shaping the direction of health care. As a member of APhA-ASP, students gain access to a wide range of opportunities that will help inform and shape their future careers. The Jefferson Chapter was officially integrated as a recognized school chapter within the APhA organization in 2010. Membership dues provide the financial support necessary to conduct events and activities.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Emily Scopelliti, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor, Jefferson College of Pharmacy

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Cardiovascular Society's mission is to stimulate interest in the cardiovascular specialties, raise awareness about heart disease, and promote heart health in the community. In addition to hosting healthcare professionals to give students a glimpse into various cardiovascular specialties, the Cardiovascular Society hopes to provide an avenue for students to be able to advocate for heart health both at Jefferson and in the surrounding community through events such as heart screenings and CPR/AED training.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Nicholas Ruggiero, MD | Professor, Department of Cardiology, SKMC | 925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-3718

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Seeing that many are unaware of the field of child neurology, we seek to educate members on the possibilities in Child Neurology, connecting students with physicians in the field who can speak on their experiences as trainees and providers to children with acute and chronic neurological conditions.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Stephen Falchek, MD | Pediatric Neurologist, Division of Neurology

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Our organization will promote and arrange opportunities for Jefferson students to learn and practice skills related to teaching topics in science and medicine in Philadelphia schools. Our mission is to connect Jefferson students with classrooms in need of scientific education, to inspire an interest and passion for science in the Philly students, while also allowing Jefferson students to practice the skills of patient education, community engagement, and effective communication. We also hope to foster direct engagement between Philly students and Jefferson students, allowing Jefferson students to function as trustworthy role models and inspirational figures for the students they teach.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Wayne Bond Lau, MD | Assistant Dean, Office of Student Affairs, Emergency Medicine | 1025 Walnut Street, 116 College Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-505-1602

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the DePalma Orthopaedic Society is to encourage interest in the specialty of orthopaedic surgery by offering exposure to the field through various lectures, clinical encounters, and hands-on experiences. The Society also serves to help advise students applying for positions in orthopaedic surgery residency programs. The Society has several meetings throughout the year where faculty and residents lecture on interesting topics in orthopaedic surgery. Activities also include several clinical skills sessions on topics such as musculoskeletal physical exam and joint injections. In addition, the Society gives interested students the opportunity to observe orthopaedic surgeons in the clinic and in the operating room. Finally, a mentorship program provides a way to develop relationships with faculty members for guidance and involvement in research projects. Meetings are held several times throughout the year. The Society was previously known as the Jefferson Orthopaedic Association. There are no dues or fees.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alan Hilibrand, MD | Orthopaedics, Joseph and Marie Field Professor of Spinal Surgery | 925 Chestnut Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 267-339-3500  

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Diagnostic Radiology is a medical specialty that students often do not get exposure to until the later stages of their training. Medical imaging is becoming a larger part of medicine and affects nearly all disciplines in medicine. This group will help fill in the gap in radiology education that currently exists among all of the Jefferson colleges, in order to expose and encourage students to pursue a career in the radiologic sciences as well as educate students about the field who are not pursuing radiology.

Currently, students have limited exposure to radiology during preclinical years. We would like to expose more students to radiology earlier in their careers so that they can make a more educated decision in regards to their future specialty. Furthermore, even for those who are not going into radiology, learning how to interpret basic imaging modalities will be very useful in many clinical endeavors. In the short term, we hope to start some preliminary educational programs to serve as longitudinal resources that students can benefit from even during the early stages of their schooling. After the group has been established for several years, we hope to expand to more advanced events, such as hands-on training and collaboration with other institutions in Philadelphia.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Robert Ford | Assistant Professor, Division of Interventional Radiology | 111 South 11th Street, Suite 5340, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6440

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: GHIG's goal is to introduce students to the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology early on in their careers medical careers. We aim to provide opportunities for mentorship and research within the fields of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and expose students to innovation and technology within the fields through shadowing and journal clubs.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dina Halegoua | Director, Fatty Liver Center

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Global Health Student Consortium (GHSC) aims to promote collaboration between student groups at Jefferson in an effort to address global health issues, promote global health education on and/or off campus, facilitate communication between student-led and institutional efforts to address global health issues, and expand opportunities for interprofessional global health education at Jefferson. GHSC activities include organizing member meetings, maintaining a calendar of global health events occurring at Jefferson, organizing an annual Global Health Conference (the JeffX Conference), and hosting a lecture series devoted to global health-related topics. All Jefferson students are eligible for membership.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Andres Fernandez | Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology | 901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-1891

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description:  Health Innovation Intrapreneurs is dedicated to helping students drive innovation within healthcare organizations. Our mission is to transform healthcare delivery by teaching intrapreneurship spotting opportunities, developing ideas, and implementing solutions. We offer sessions on problem-solving, effective communication, and project management, along with workshops, guest speakers, and networking opportunities. As Jefferson's first student organization focused on intrapreneurship, we provide a unique platform for hands-on experience and collaboration. Join us to gain valuable skills and connect with a community of future healthcare leaders

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Tejal Naik | Hospitalist at Department of Internal Medicine at SKMC Entrepreneur-in-Residence at College of Population Health

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: We are a learning community with the goal of helping students understand educational resources, including online video series and spaced-repetition software. We also answer questions about these resources and provide peer-to-peer assistance.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: James Dykesn, MA, MSEd | Director, Academic Support Services | Office of Student Affairs, Edison Building, 130 South 9th Street, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-2787

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: $15.00

Description: The Hobart Amory Honor (HAH) Society inducts Sidney Kimmel Medical College students that have achieved excellent academic marks on their preclinical exams or during their internal medicine clerkship. HAH has a major academic presence on campus, supporting medical student education through a variety of programs, including weekly tutoring sessions, exam reviews, and hosting journal clubs. Another objective of the organization is to provide opportunities to its members to assume leadership roles and support their peers academically.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Aaron Martin, MD | Attending Physician, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology | 132 South 10th Street, Suite 480, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-8900

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Infectious Disease Society aims to provide SKMC students interested in infectious diseases with opportunities to learn more about the specialty through physician speaker events, informational sessions, and resources for shadowing, research, volunteering, networking, and mentorship. The ID society hosts several events each year, including an introduction to a career in Infectious Disease and seminars that address relevant topics in the specialty.

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Joseph DeSimone, Jr., MD | Professor of Medicine | Department of Medicine, 1015 Chestnut Street, Suite 1020, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-7785

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Accelerator (IDEA) is a club that aims to incorporate innovation-based thinking as a part of every medical student’s toolkit, to challenge the traditional norms of clinical medicine. Our goal is to teach medical students how to identify and solve clinical practice pain points and system inefficiencies, to alleviate daily challenges faced by patients and providers. Our sessions will be supplemented with workshops at the Health Design Lab’s vault, covering topics such as 3D printing, the art of the pitch, and design thinking within the healthcare space. By accelerating innovation-based research, prototyping, and commercialization, our long-term goal is to inspire collaborative projects that lead to implementation within the Jefferson hospital system and beyond.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Robert Pugliese, PharmD | Director of Innovation Design, Thomas Jefferson University, Health Design Lab | 925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Integrative Medicine is a healing-oriented approach to patient care that focuses on the health of the whole person, including the impact of one’s lifestyle. Using an evidence-based approach, this field incorporates conventional medicine and alternative therapies when they are supported by science. Integrative Medicine considers the health of the mind, body, spirit, and community in its pursuit of wellness and disease prevention for patients. The Integrative Medicine Society (formerly Ars Medica) aims to explore this field to learn how we, as future physicians, can use a holistic and broad spectrum of care to more fully address the needs of our patients and work on the root causes of disease. Come learn about the future of medicine with our Lunchtime Talks, wellness workshops, and community engagement. Joining us will provide you with many hands-on learning opportunities as well as exposure to Integrative Medicine faculty who can provide career advice, mentorship, shadowing experience, and research opportunities. We can’t wait to meet you!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Daniel Monti | Department of Integrative Medicine & Nutritional Sciences CEO, Marcus Institute of Integrative Health

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The mission and purpose of the Interventional Radiology Interest Group is to promote the medical specialty of interventional radiology, increase awareness of minimally invasive treatment modalities, and facilitate student research and experience in the field. Lecture events include physician speakers discussing the field of IR in different settings, how to pursue the field and conduct research, and future directions of the specialty. Other activities include hands-on skill sessions practicing using different tools within IR, such as simulators, ultrasound, and biopsy tools. Members may be students from any Jefferson College.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Allison Tan, MD | Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology | 132 South 10th Street, Main Building, Suite 766, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-7976

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: ISPOR falls under the umbrella of Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR), which is a burgeoning field within pharmacy. Health economics appraises clinical treatments and interventions, whereas outcomes research evaluates the efficacy or outcomes of these medical interventions. HEOR amalgamates the two fields, thus providing evidence-based data for healthcare personnel and influencing global healthcare decisions. 

The Jefferson Chapter has been newly revived and is expected to promote the goals of the national organization. As members of ISPOR, students will be exposed to pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research. ISPOR members wills be involved in a number of activities such as journal clubs, webinars and lectures.

Contact Information

Organization Email: 

Student Organization Advisor: Ruth Jeminiwa | Assistant Professor, Jefferson College of Pharmacy

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Anesthesia Society  is Sidney Kimmel Medical College's student interest group for the specialty of anesthesiology. The Jefferson Anesthesia Society hosts lectures throughout the year by Jefferson anesthesiology residents and attendings, regarding the work and lifestyle of an anesthesiologist, as well as connects students to ongoing research opportunities. The Jefferson Anesthesia Society also organizes practical workshops in the Hamilton Simulation Center, where students can practice skills such as intubation on models. Near the end of the academic year, the Jefferson Anesthesia Society hosts a post-match Q&A panel where recently matched 4th-year students discuss the application and interview process to anesthesiology residency.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Natasha Sinai Hede, MD | Anesthesiologist

Membership Eligibility: All members of Jefferson community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Jefferson Association for Radiation Oncology is to help Jefferson students gain an understanding of what is involved in a career in Radiation Oncology, inform Jefferson students at all stages of training about the educational community service opportunities pertaining to radiation oncology, promote clinical skills related to radiation oncology raise awareness of gender differences in health issues strengthen interdisciplinary efforts related to radiation oncology increase cancer awareness within the Jefferson and Philadelphia communities promote student participation in the development of the Jefferson Association for Radiation Oncology offer ASTRO resources to Jefferson students interested in radiation oncology and careers in radiation oncology.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Nilanjan Haldar, MD | Resident, Radiation Oncology

Membership Eligibility: All members of Jefferson community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Athlete Health Organization aims to allow Jefferson students to gain exposure to the field of sports medicine, with the goal of helping students explore sports medicine prior to making career decisions. The organization provides members with various opportunities, including informational lunch presentations, sports medicine physician shadowing and research opportunities, clinical skills sessions, and local sports medicine events information. The organization also hosts the Annual Powderpuff Football Game, sponsors the Philly Health Cares 5K Run, and partners with the Athlete Health Organization (AHO) in Philadelphia to organize and run a city-wide athlete screening event.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Jeremy Close, MD, FAAFP | Director of Sports Medicine, Department of Family & Community Medicine | 834 Walnut Street, Suite 110, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-0638

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community  

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Founded in 2012, BizBio is a diverse group of Jeffersonians thinking and working outside the academic box. We are faculty looking to translate our research to patients. We are graduate students looking to use our degrees in unique and impactful ways. We are medical and nursing students looking to approach the healthcare system from a different angle. Regardless of background or position, we are united by a shared interest in the business of science. Sound interesting? Read on and join our email list to see what we’re about.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lisa Kozlowski, PhD | Associate Dean for Student & Post-Doctoral Affairs, Jefferson College of Life Sciences

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community  

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffDET will support patients across the country who are facing billions of dollars of medical debt. Charity care programs are hospital-created programs built to help reduce this debt in patients that are unable to afford it. There are gaps in awareness about charity care among both patients and providers. We believe that our organization will help to bridge these gaps and facilitate vital debt alleviation for Philadelphia communities.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Cynthia Cheng | Associate Professor

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Dermatology Society is an organization dedicated to helping students learn more about dermatology as a specialty. We hope to provide opportunities to make dermatology education, volunteering, shadowing, and research opportunities more accessible to interested students. Throughout the year, we host journal clubs, exam reviews, speaker panels, a post-match panel, a suture workshop, and many other events. We also host talks about dermatologic subspecialties, including cosmetics, dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology, cutaneous oncology, and more. Given that dermatology is a competitive specialty, we hope to provide information and guidance to interested students. We hope to inspire and encourage students to pursue dermatology and provide dermatologic knowledge to students interested in other specialties as well.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sherry Yang, MD | Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Biology | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 740, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6680

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Emergency Medicine Society (JEMS) is a student-run interest group dedicated to educating students about emergency medicine. JEMS seeks to provide students with opportunities to learn about topics relevant to emergency medicine, practice clinical skills, interact with Jefferson emergency medicine physicians and gain exposure to the Emergency Department throughout all stages of medical education.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Wayne Bond Lau, MD, FAAEM, FACEP | Professor, Emergency Medicine; Associate Dean, Student Affairs | College Building, 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 116, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-6988

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues: None

Description: The Jefferson Chapter of the IHI Open School meets to discuss topics such as healthcare quality, quality improvement, and patient safety. The goal of our organization is to raise awareness of the importance of quality improvement, develop patient safety competencies, and encourage the inclusion of these fields in the education of all health disciplines. In addition, we support the participation of students in quality improvement projects at Jefferson and seek to increase their involvement moving forward.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Mary Cooper, MD, JD | Associate Professor, Jefferson College of Population Health (JCPH) | 901 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-3888

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Pharmacy Only

Membership Dues or Fees: $10.00 for local membership; $100.00 for national membership

Description: The Jefferson Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) is the only organization at Jefferson dedicated to spreading awareness about industry pharmacy, the roles of pharmacists in industry, and how to obtain postgraduate training in the industry. Pharmacists are universally recognized within the pharmaceutical industry as being the most professionally equipped individuals to contribute to the development, promotion, and optimal use of medicines. Typical events will include Fellowship Night collaborative events with SBG and ISPOR, and engagement with colleagues about their firsthand experiences in many different pharmaceutical industry departments and specialties. Other events include presentations from guest speakers as well as presentations on how to obtain a fellowship in the industry. All fulltime Thomas Jefferson University student pharmacists are eligible to become chapter members. Voting rights are lost upon graduation or loss of academic standing in the Jefferson College of Pharmacy. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Roger Armen, PhD | Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 901 Walnut Street, Suite 918, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 619-876-1135 (cell)

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Internal Medicine Society (JIMS) serves to promote and foster a true interest in the specialty and subspecialties of internal medicine. The Society focuses on the many facets of internal medicine in primary care as well as in specialty practice. Activities and events include regular meetings and seminars where interested persons are encouraged to consider internal medicine as a career choice, collaborative panels on primary care, and volunteer opportunities. The Society frequently sponsors keynote speakers who discuss their work with students, to help them gain a better understanding of medical subspecialties in internal medicine. We have also created a mentorship database for students interested in shadowing or conducting research with faculty. Finally, we work closely with our local chapter of the American College of Physician (ACP) to provide additional educational opportunities and networking. JIMS has been in existence for 20 years, and there are no dues or fees.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sean Hurt, MD | Clinical Instructor, Department of Internal Medicine | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 701, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-2429

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students 

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Oncology Society (JOS) is an interdisciplinary student-run group that promotes education and involvement in all oncologic fields, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology, for aspiring healthcare professionals. We host careers-in-oncology lectures and journal clubs, to introduce students to career paths and research topics in oncology. In addition, we connect students to ongoing research, and volunteer and shadowing opportunities at Jefferson, as well as to community service projects that promote awareness and support of all disciplines related to patient care in oncologic medicine.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Joanne Filicko-O'Hara, MD | Program Director, Combined Fellowship in Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology | 925 Chestnut Street, Suite 320A, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-9504

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Jefferson Otolaryngology Society is to introduce students to the art of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery; to expose students to the basic principles of otolaryngology research and patient care; and to advise students interested in the pursuit of otolaryngology as a career choice. Educational events include an introductory meeting aimed at increasing awareness of and sparking interest in the profession; a HEENT skills session; advice sessions with residents; and a match meeting at the end of the year to discuss application and match strategies with recently matched seniors.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Richard A. Goldman MD | Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology | 925 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 919-264-9022

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The mission of JeffPEDS is to promote the field of pediatrics among medical students. We want to hold events throughout the year to show different aspects of the field of pediatrics as well as advocate for pediatric issues in our community. We hope to have speakers from different pediatric fields throughout the year, panels of parents and patients, and volunteer events. We hope to be a resource for all those interested in pediatrics who need shadowing, research, or volunteer opportunities. Lastly, we are responsible for holding the post-match panel held at the end of the year.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Amanda Micucio, DO | Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 904-477-9178 (cell)

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Society is to provide Thomas Jefferson University students with information about the medical specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and to organize lectures, clinical skills sessions, and student volunteer opportunities related to physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Contact Information

Organization Email: JeffersonPhysicalMedicine&[email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Pikai Oh, MD | Instructor of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medicine | 25 South 9th Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 904-477-9178

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students  

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Physician-Scientist Association seeks to represent the interest of MD and MD-PhD students. Specifically, the Association seeks the advancement of translational medicine on campus by promoting interactions between student organizations representing basic science, patient care, and advocacy; providing a resource for Jefferson students pursuing research outside of a formal training program; and facilitating an interdisciplinary network of mentorship, community building, and mutual support for student physician-scientists. Members regularly attend monthly translational seminars, the MD-PhD retreat, and biannual guest lecture series.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD | Professor, Department Chair, Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics | Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Room 368, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6086 (voice mail), 215-955-5681 (fax)

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Psychiatry Society (JPS) has been in existence for more than 20 years. The mission of JPS is to advocate for the importance of mental and behavioral health across all fields of healthcare, and to promote destigmatization of mental healthcare in societal and institutional attitudes. JPS provides behavioral health-related exploration to all students, and provides career and residency application guidance to medical students pursuing careers in psychiatry. JPS meets for organizational meetings several times per year, and offers a variety of events to promote our mission: lunchtime lectures from specialists, career discussions, mental health-related events, and activities dedicated to enhancing individual and community well-being. JPS hopes to create interdisciplinary connections and disseminate new and relevant findings within the field throughout the entire university and hospital community.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor:  David Beckmann, MD, MPH | Program Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Assistant Professor| 33 S. 9th Street Suite 210, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-9441

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Disparities and inequities linked to gender, race, and socioeconomic status impact the likelihood of having positive outcomes in musculoskeletal (MSK) and overall health. Traditional care models fail to identify and reduce these disparities, perpetuating barriers to care and mistrust in the care system and contributing to worsening health outcomes for individuals and communities. JeffJoints recognizes the need to flip the traditional care model and establish new coordinated care pathways that improve access and reduce disparities in MSK clinical outcomes. This method has been proven through some of our previous experiences and work at the Bone and Joint Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, seeing first-hand how much of an impact this work can make on both an individual and community level.

JeffJoints views care through the eyes of patients and families, reimagining and co-designing impactful solutions. Trust and transparency are key to developing meaningful patient-provider relationships. Such qualities are established through dialogue. By asking the patient, "What Matters To You", providers, patients and families unite as a team to co-design treatments that lead to improved clinical outcomes and care experiences. JeffJoints will keep this information in mind when teaching students and volunteers before they go to their respective sites.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]
Student Organization Advisor: Elizabeth Spudich

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffSAPHE (Jefferson Student Association for Public Health Education) promotes awareness of population health initiatives through local community service and campus activities. The goal of the organization is to provide information about activities and current events in public health, as well as provide opportunities for students to give back to the community and develop professional skills and knowledge.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Zoe Van Orsdol | Assistant Program Director, MPH Program

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Statistical Society (JSS) is a new student organization that seeks to aid students in developing foundational skills necessary to perform statistical analyses for the purpose of conducting biomedical research. Members will be able to leverage these skills when seeking scholarly projects and to enhance their research background, as we aim to empower students to excel in statistical analysis and research. JSS members will be granted acess to an interactive, self-paced, statistics curriculum. Organizational events will include workshops and networking sessions. The organization will also provide students with opportunities to form independent research interest groups and a network of faculty to serve as principal investigators. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alan Cherney, MD | Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Urology Society is a student-run organization that provides medical students with the opportunity to learn more about the exciting and dynamic field of urology. The goal of the society is to promote interaction among students, residents, and faculty via informational sessions, research, shadowing opportunities, and charitable events. The organization also works to provide interested students with faculty mentors who serve as role models and advisors for students interested in pursuing a career in urology. Any questions or comments can be directed to our email.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Costas Lallas, MD | Professor, Vice Chair Academic Affairs, Associate Director Urology, Department of Urology | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 703, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6961 (office), 215-778-2674 (cell)

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The John H. Gibbon, Jr. Surgical Society facilitates surgical interest, activity, and education at the medical student level via lecture series, clinical skills workshops, peer mentorship, and outreach. Members of the Jefferson faculty are invited to speak at meetings held periodically throughout the academic year. The John H. Gibbon, Jr. Surgical Society co-sponsors the Jefferson Organ Procurement Program and helps to organize the annual Department of Surgery Gibbon Grand Rounds Lecture. In addition, the society also co-sponsors the annual knot-tying and suture clinic for first-year through third-year students. The John H. Gibbon, Jr. Surgical Society has been in existence for 38 years. There are no dues or fees.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Renee M Tholey, MD | Assistant Professor, Director of Surgical Undergraduate Education, Department of Surgery | 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 602, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-0200

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Medical Ethics Society at Jeffersom aims to bring together students from diverse programs to learn about and discuss ethics in an open minded manner. Through varied media such as journal clubs, talks, publications, podcasts, conferences, and more, we aim to bring medical ethics to the student body in an attempt to be more mindful of the complexities of the healthcare world around us. Through our events, we also aim to foster more open discourse about current issues and the future directions of medicine.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: David Oxman| Associate Professor of Medicine | 834 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Med-Peds Society of Philadelphia promotes opportunities for education and support for those students interested in combined Medicine-Pediatrics residency training in the Philadelphia area. The Society also organizes an advising session and serves as a point of contact for interested medical students.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Allen Friedland, MD, FACP, FAAP | Associate Professor, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System | 4735 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Suite 1250, Newark, DE 19713 | 302-733-2313

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: $20.00

Description:

• To encourage study of communication sciences and disorders (CSD).
• To provide services and resources to students studying CSD.
• To be a source of information to prepare students and preprofessionals for practice in CSD.
• To provide leadership development opportunities and a vehicle for student representation in matters of professional concern (e.g., advocacy).
• To support the individual and collective interests of NSSLHA members.
• Spread awareness of SLP and the program at TJU.
• Collaborate with other professions at TJU.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor:  Michelle Swartz | Assistant Professor Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) Program

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Nutrition and Dietetics Student Association (NDSA) is an academic organization for nutrition and dietetics students that fosters and supports community volunteering opportunities, professional development opportunities, and events/traditions that increase connectivity between students as well as between students and faculty. Students will have opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities both on campus and within the community.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Natasha Ashley

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The OB/GYN Interest Society is a student-run organization at SKMC that facilitates events focused on obstetrics and gynecology. Some of our events include physician panels, speakers, hands-on workshops, community service, and film screenings.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Julia Switzer Program Director, Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Assistant Professor

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Pediatric Surgical Association at SKMC is a vibrant community dedicated to advancing knowledge, skills, and awareness in pediatric surgery among its members. Through a multifaceted approach, the society organizes engaging lectures, seminars, and workshops tailored for students aspiring to specialize in pediatric surgery. Members benefit from access to a rich repository of resources including journals, articles, and case studies, fostering a deeper understanding of the field. The society places a strong emphasis on practical learning, offering hands-on experiences through surgical skills workshops, simulation sessions, and shadowing opportunities in pediatric surgery departments. Furthermore, it encourages active participation in research projects and provides platforms for presenting findings through research presentations and poster sessions. Committed to community outreach, the society engages members in volunteer activities and advocates for policies aimed at enhancing pediatric surgical care. Regular networking events with professionals and alumni provide invaluable mentorship and career guidance, ensuring members are well-prepared for future endeavors in pediatric surgery.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Matthew Boelig, MD

Membership Eligibility: All members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Society (PHSS) is a student organization dedicated to providing exposure to upper extremity surgery and care. Hand and upper extremity surgery is a unique intersection of surgical specialties, utilizing advanced plastic, orthopaedic, and microsurgical techniques. PHSS partners with physicians of the renowned Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center to provide unique learning experiences and career development opportunities. Throughout the year, our organization will organize lectures, research opportunities, and other activities to cultivate interest and engage students. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Andrew Miler  | Assistant Professor |  Department of Orthapaedics

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Ultrasound is not just for radiologists anymore! It is a REQUIRED part of training in emergency medicine, OB/GYN, and Pulm/Critical Care. It is also rapidly growing in many other fields, including surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. As a low-cost, noninvasive imaging modality, Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has utility for everyday clinical practice, underserved populations, and international medicine. Our POCUS group will provide instruction to all clinical students of Thomas Jefferson University. Events will be open to members of the Thomas Jefferson community. Our goals are to introduce students and members of the Jefferson community to the applications and approach of the quickly growing field of point of care ultrasound through lectures, hands-on guided practice, conferences, and mentorship.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Kelly Goodsell, MD | Physician, Emergency Department at Jefferson | 1020 Sansom Street, Suite 239, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6844

Membership Eligibility: College of Rehabilitation Sciences Students Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Society is to provide an opportunity for physical therapy students to get involved in extracurricular activities both at Jefferson and in the community. The focus of the activities is on community service, health-related issues, and expanding knowledge of the physical therapy field. We have speakers come once a month to discuss their experience as a physical therapist or topics related to physical therapy. Participation is intended to enhance relations among the three classes of students and to further expose students to community health and physical therapy issues. Membership criteria include attending one organizational meeting, one educational event, and one community event per year.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Helen Miligan, PT, DPT, PCS  | Assistant Professor |  Department of Physical Therapy | 901 Walnut Street, Room 522, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-1996 

Membership Eligibility: All members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) at Jefferson was established to support the professional development of women in orthopaedics throughout all stages of their careers. With only 6% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons identifying as female as of 2020, the need for representation and support is paramount. RJOS aims to fill this gap by providing a community that fosters mentorship, leadership, and educational opportunities specifically for women pursuing orthopaedics. As the only organization at Jefferson dedicated to this mission, RJOS focuses on enhancing member's careers through resources for research, increasing diversity and inclusion, and building a strong mentoring network.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sommer Hammoud | Assistant Professor | Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine

Membership Eligibility: All members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Samuel D. Gross Pathology Society (SGPS) is a student-run interest group dedicated to educating students about pathology as a specialty and job opportunities within the field. SGPS seeks to provide students with opportunities to learn about topics relevant to the different subspecialties of pathology, shadowing experiences, hear from practicing Pathologists/Residents and gain exposure to the field of Pathology beyond what the pathology thread in the JeffMD curriculum provides.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alexander Macnow | Assistant Professor | Department of  Medical Education

Membership Eligibility: All members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Society for Sexuality and Sexual Health (SSSH) is a Thomas Jefferson University student organization committed to removing stigma and normalizing conversations about human sexuality and reproductive & sexual public health. Sexual and reproductive health is relevant to everyone regardless of gender, genitalia, race, sexual orientation, culture, age, ability, reproductive ability, or whether someone is sexually active. Nurturing skills in discussing and providing effective care surrounding sexual health and sexuality is vital towards delivering holistic patient care.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Katie Lackritz | Clinical Associate Professor, OB/GYN Clerkship Director | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of SIGN is to introduce and promote the field of neurology, covering both the clinical and research aspects, to students of the healthcare professions. Meetings and discussions are held, featuring faculty members, private practitioners, and residents. Information on residency programs and career opportunities is provided. Students may interact with faculty members through attendance at their patient clinics, Grand Rounds presentations, and laboratories. Members will be included in Department of Neurology functions, including conventions, seminars, and presentations of research. SIGN has been in existence for 20 years. There are no dues or fees.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lindsay Higdon, MD | Neurologist, Department of Neurology | 909 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-1222

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences Only

Membership Dues or Fees: $10.00 Annually

Description: The purpose of the Student Occupational Therapy Association is to promote the development of leadership, cooperation, and the profession of occupational therapy through public relations, education, and social events. Members are invited to participate in a variety of social and educational programs, such as community service events, faculty networking events, career development workshops, and guest speakers. Meetings are held monthly and events are held periodically, approximately five events per semester. The Student Occupational Therapy Association has been in existence for 28 years. Membership criteria include being a student of the Jefferson College of Health Professions and paying annual dues.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Malachy Clancy | Assistant Professor, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Center City Program

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Pharmacy Only

Membership Dues or Fees: $71.00

Description: The Jefferson College of Pharmacy Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (JCP-SSHP) will aim to educate students on the practice of health system pharmacy, pharmacy residencies, and practice advancement. JCP-SSHP members will aid in spreading awareness of pharmacy practice, provide information on careers & credentials needed within the field, and encourage members to participate in regional society events. The Jefferson Chapter members will have to submit proper enrollment form and pay dues. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Mary Hess, PharmD, FASHP, FCCM, BCCCP | Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Jefferson College of Pharmacy | 901 Walnut Street, 9th floor, Suite 901C, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-6448

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Students for Rare, a chapter of NORD, or the National Organization for Rare Disorders, seeks to spread awareness and recognition of rare disorders; learn about health education and advocacy efforts for rare diseases; establish professional relationships with members of the rare disease community, including patients, providers, researchers, and organizations; and promote career opportunities within the rare disease space. As a member of this organization, students will have the opportunity to explore rare disorders that can be seen across any specialty or discipline of medicine. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Ashley Anittila | Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Residency Program Director

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Thomas Duane Ophthalmology Society is dedicated to promoting interest in the medical specialty of ophthalmology through lectures, programming, and volunteer opportunities for the Jefferson community, with the support of Wills Eye Hospital.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Bruce Markovitz, MD | Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Department of Medical Education, Wills Eye Hospital | 840 Walnut Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-440-3172

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Health Professions Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Thomas Jefferson University Physician Assistant Student Society (TJUPASS) aligns with the AAPA mission, the Thomas Jefferson University mission, and the mission of the School of Health Professionals in that we strive to become leaders in our profession through exemplary level education, community service, and lifelong learning, ultimately to enhance the lives of our patients and promote growth within our future profession.

Vision: The Thomas Jefferson University Physician Assistant Student Society recognizes the future of the PA profession rests on its current and future students. The society will act as a majority voice for the current class to bring forth potential areas of improvement within the program and the profession.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lauren Weaver | Director of Didactic Education

The purpose of this organization shall be to provide educational opportunities in the fields of vascular and endovascular surgery for Jefferson students. The organization shall provide didactic and hands-on learning opportunities, resource information, shadowing opportunities, and residency/fellowship training information in the field of vascular surgery.

Contact Information

Student Organization Advisor: Michael Nooromid Assistant Professor

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of this organization shall be to provide educational opportunities in the fields of disaster medicine and wilderness medicine for Jefferson students. The organization shall provide didactic and hands-on learning opportunities, resource information, medical school rotation, and residency/fellowship training information in the fields of disaster and wilderness medicine. Individuals must attend one WDMS meeting or sponsored event per semester to be considered a member for that academic year. Members will be encouraged, but not required, to attend 50% of all meetings.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lara Phillips, MD | Clinical Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine, Director of Wilderness Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine | 1020 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-5850

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Life Sciences Only  

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Graduate Student Association (GSA), formed in 1969, is a student-run organization committed to serving graduate students and improving student life at Jefferson. The GSA is open to all graduate students in the Jefferson College of Life Sciences (JCLS) and encourages participation from new students in our various year-round programs. There are countless ways to get involved with GSA, from attending and helping us plan events such as Welcome Month, to volunteering with GSA at the annual Philadelphia Science Festival.

Our goals are three-fold:

1. To engage graduate students beyond the classroom and lab in order to develop, broaden, and strengthen their professional skills and career goals.
2. To foster inclusive programming that celebrates diversity in the biomedical sciences and offers a safe space for graduate students to participate in student life as authentically as possible.
3. To be a voice for graduate students within JCLS, representing their unique needs and concerns by providing a link among graduate students, the Jefferson College of Life Sciences’ administration and faculty, and the surrounding Philadelphia community.

With these goals in mind, the Graduate Student Association plans programs in five areas:

• Academic Programming
• Professional Development
• Social Events
• Philanthropy and Community Service
• Science Communication and Outreach

In order to best serve JCLS graduate students, GSA holds monthly open meetings to deliver news and information and provide a forum for students. Our Facebook page, bimonthly newsletters, GSA website, and GSA calendar are all ways to stay up to date with the many programs GSA puts on.

We are always open to new ideas and feedback, and we can be reached through our GSA email, which is actively monitored. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lisa Kozlowski, PhD | Associate Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs | Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, M-46, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-5750

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Nursing Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Student Government Association in the Jefferson College of Nursing (NSGA) is an important source of extracurricular activities for all students. Its constitution and bylaws are available from its student officers or faculty advisor. All students in the Jefferson College of Nursing are encouraged to become active in this organization. The board of this organization is comprised of: a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and two SNAP representatives. We do not have any planned events thus far, because we became a class as of May and the board was just elected in August.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Anne Mitchell, PhD, ANP-BC, FGSA | Assistant Professor, Jefferson College of Nursing | Edison Building, 130 South 9th Street, Suite 744, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-7929

Membership Eligibility: College of Nursing Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the NSGA is:

• To facilitate communication between students, faculty, alumni, and the administration of Thomas Jefferson University nursing programs.
• To provide a forum for student input with a goal of continuous improvement of nursing education.
• To represent the nursing student body and serve as liaison in student interests.
• To facilitate the development of professionalism within the nursing student body.
• To promote co-curricular educational experiences and volunteer/community experiences.
• To facilitate the development of leadership and managerial skills for nursing students.
• To keep the nursing student body informed of practical, political, and educational issues relevant to the profession of nursing.

Our Mission: We improve lives through connection between the four components listed in the Thomas Jefferson College of Nursing philosophy statement: Person, Environment, Health, Nursing.

Our Goals: Our student government officers will promote campus activities, enhance morale, and foster the Thomas Jefferson learning experience. We plan to execute learning opportunities by collaborating with professionals in the field of nursing, as well as holding fundraising events for the needs of the campus and student activities. Lastly, we will develop volunteer opportunities and participate in community functions to promote the Thomas Jefferson College of Nursing.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisors:

Renee Bollenbach, MSN, RN | Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing | 2500 Maryland Avenue, Willow Grove, PA 19090 | 215-481-5419

Anita Fennessey, DrNP, RN, CNE | Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing | 2500 Maryland Road, Willlow Grove, PA 19090 l 215-481-5540

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Pharmacy Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Student Body Governance is to enhance the pharmacy student’s experience both professionally and socially, and to provide a channel of communication between the student body and the administration and faculty of JCP. All members of the Jefferson College of Pharmacy are encouraged to engage in the Student Body Governance and the variety of programming throughout the academic year. The active committees in the Student Body Governance include the Social Affairs Committee, the Philanthropy Committee, the Professional Development Committee, the Committee on Nominations, and the Fundraising Committee.

Contact Information

Organization Email: JeffersonSchoolofPharmacyStudentBodyGovernance.svc@students.jefferson.edu

Student Organization Advisor: Mary Hess, PharmD, FASHP, FCCM | Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Jefferson College of Pharmacy | 901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-6448

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: $5.00

Description: The Autism Advocacy Group is an interdisciplinary organization that promotes autism awareness on the Jefferson Campus to help students gain an understanding about Autism. This organization provides trainings to Jefferson students about individuals with ASD. Other purposes of the Autism Advocacy Group are to increase interdisciplinary collaboration through having students from multiple colleges involved in the organization and to collaborate with organizations in the community to bring opportunities to Jefferson students for interacting and volunteering with individuals with Autism and to learn from these individuals. The final very important goal of this organization is to promote neurodiversity.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Roseann Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA | Professor, Faculty, Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Occupational Therapy

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: DMSS is a community of Jefferson students who are from Delaware or are interested in Delaware health and medicine.

Contact Information

Organization Email: Coming Fall 2023

Student Organization Advisor: Ashley Antilla | Associate Program Director at Nemours duPont Hospital for Children

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Health Profession Students for Disability and Chronic Illness (HPSDCI) is an official chapter of Medical Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses National (MSDCI National). Our chapter was founded to unite and empower healthcare students with disability and/or chronic illness. The goals of our organization is: 

1) To provide a support system and platform for advocacy for students with a range of disabilities (including but not limited to physical disabilities, chronic illness, and/or neurodivergence) within the medical field.

2) Provide educational opportunities for SKMC students and faculty to understand ableism and continue to incorporate disability education into our curriculum.

3) Collaborate with community organizations to better advocate for this population.

Contact Information

Organization Email:

Student Organization Advisor: Amanda Mathson | Associate Professor | Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national organization that unites medical students interested in the health issues that affect Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. The Jefferson chapter strives to promote the well-being of Asian communities through direct service locally and nationally. Ongoing projects include APAMSA’s Hepatitis B Initiative at Jefferson, a lunchtime seminar series, and variety of health screening events for Philadelphia’s Asian population. Activities have also included notable invited speakers; dim sum; trips to the APAMSA National Conference in Las Vegas, NV, and the Hepatitis B/C Conference in Boston, MA; a Lunar Chinese New Year Celebration; participation in the “Expressions of Asia” program; and hosting the APAMSA Region III Conference here in Philadelphia, PA.

Contact Information

Organization Email: JeffersonAsianPacificAmericanMedicalStudent.Association@jefferson.edu

Student Organization Advisor: Monjur Ahmed | Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology | 1025 Walnut Street, Room 906, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 304-633-1354

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Christian Fellowship is a group that brings together all students who love Christ and are looking for a worship and fellowship environment. We meet weekly for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and group prayer. We also host events throughout the year in which we invite speakers who interrelate their faith with medicine throughout their careers.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Marshall Miller, MD | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6680

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Jefferson Muslim Student Association is to provide services for Muslim members of the Jefferson community and to invite the community at large to participate in Islamic activities and celebrations, and learn about Islam. This includes holding weekly Friday prayer services. The Jefferson Muslim Student Association is also actively involved in educating healthcare workers on culturally competent care of Muslim patients. The Jefferson Muslim Students Association welcomes all members of the Jefferson community to participate in its activities.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Hasan Arif | Professor of Nephrology

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffLGBTQ serves as an educational resource, support, and outreach group, and as a social/professional networking organization for sexual and gender minorities, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer students. JeffLGBTQ is a university-wide organization, open to all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. JeffLGBTQ coordinates educational events and hosts speakers to increase awareness within the Jefferson community regarding LGBTQ life and health disparities; organizes community outreach and professional development; and fosters a social and supportive community for LGBTQ-identifying individuals and their allies.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: William McNett, MD | Chief; Division of General Pediatrics/Special Babies Program, Pediatrics | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 215-861-8800

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffSAMOSA fosters interest in and increases awareness of the South Asian culture at Jefferson. In addition, JeffSAMOSA provides a peer support group for persons of South Asian descent. The Diwali Festival is held in the fall and includes a cultural show to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Educational events include a lecture series revolving around the influence of South Asian culture on medicine. Other events include National Gandhi Day of Service, Bollywood movie screenings, and South Asian mixers. JeffSAMOSA also participates in Holidays Around the World and Expressions of Asia. The organization has been in existence for more than 20 years.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Shruti Chandra MD, MEHP | Associate Professor, JeffMD Phase 3 Director, Department of Emergency Medicine | 1020 Sansom Street (1651 Thompson Building), Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6844

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Jewish Student Association (JSA) was founded with the intentions of:

1. Creating and sustaining a strong diverse community for Jewish students among all Jefferson schools while fostering a diverse and inclusive welcoming environment.
2. Sharing and explaining Jewish customs and beliefs to the entire Jefferson community.
3. Engaging students in meaningful community service programs involving Tikun Olam (healing the world).

To achieve these goals, the JSA connects students with the local Jewish community in Philadelphia, holds several Shabbat dinners during the school year, hosts lunch lectures pertaining to Jewish customs and/or holidays, organizes volunteering opportunities, and works closely with Jewish organizations throughout Philadelphia to connect with Jewish students at other schools across the city. JSA seeks to cultivate a warm pluralistic community and welcomes all students interested in Jewish life and culture, regardless of religious affiliation or observance, to participate in events.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: David Abraham, PhD | Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Department of Microbiology & Immunology | Blueme Life Sciences Building, 233 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-8917

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Louis Pasteur Roman Catholic Society is to bring those of the Catholic faith at Jefferson together to celebrate, study, and share their faith. The organization serves as a means for organizing people to attend mass together; hosts talks on the history of Catholicism, contemporary faith issues, and faith in medicine; encourages participation in faith events across the city of Philadelphia; and provides opportunities to serve the less fortunate in our community. There are no dues or fees; anyone in the Jefferson community of any faith or background is welcome to join and participate.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Joseph Majdan, MD, FACP | Jefferson University Physician, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine | 1001 Locust Street, 409B, Philadelphia, PA 19107 │ 215-503-4226

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians. SNMA programs are designed to serve the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color. In addition, SNMA is dedicated both to ensuring that medical education and services are culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations and to increasing the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical school.

The goals of SNMA are:

• To serve as a credible and accurate source of information relevant to minority issues in the field of medical education.
• To encourage and foster the development of minority faculty in order to increase the presence of minority mentors and biomedical researchers in academic health centers.
• To evaluate and cultivate the necessary measures to eradicate practices in the field of health profession education that compromise the goal of providing quality education to minorities and women.

– From National Website

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Traci Trice, MD | Assistant Dean for Diversity & Student Diversity Programs Instructor, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University | 1025 Walnut Street, College Building, Room 119, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-4094

Membership Eligibility: Sidney Kimmel Medical College Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Black Men White Coats at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (BMWC-SKMC) was founded to empower and encourage the pursuit of careers in medicine by underrepresented minorities. BMWC-SKMC members are involved in several activities that involve interaction with the Jefferson and Philadelphia communities; including community screening events and mentorship opportunities with local middle and high school students. As a member of BMWC-SKMC, students combat health inequity and inspire the next generation of health professionals. The Jefferson Chapter of BMWC was officially integrated as a recognized school chapter in 2024. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Ronald Hall | Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Diversity & Student Diversity Programs, RCSSC

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Community Action Coalition is an educational organization with the primary mission of helping to educate the Jefferson student body on the practice of mutual aid, grassroots advocacy in healthcare, and the existing oppressive social structures that exist in our communities. We seek to understand healthcare through the lens of its intersecting discriminatory power structures (racism, classism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia) and to come up with solutions alongside community members in a way that promotes solidarity, not charity. Throughout the year our events will consist of both peer teaching among the Jefferson student body, panels of experts and speakers in various fields, as well as mutual aid events in the community. Just as important as our educational focus, we would like to facilitate a social space to share stories, build relationships, and foster a feeling of solidarity among our members and the broader Jefferson community. Our organization is open to all Thomas Jefferson University students.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Bon Ku, MD | Professor of Emergency Medicine and Assistant Dean for Health & Design, Department of Medicine | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 3002, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Digital Outreach Taskforce (DOT) was founded to engage and educate students at Thomas Jefferson University about digital resources in healthcare spaces. DOT members provides service opportunities in the digital health literacy space, such as educating and enrolling patients in digital resources like MyChart. DOT members attempt to support at-risk communities by identifying problems and designing interventions to increase the accessibility of online resources for our patient population. As a member of DOT, students gain access to research opportunities in the center for connected care, as well. Our organization also holds informational sessions about the field, journal clubs about new research, and designing resources for all members of the student body to implement in their clinical fields.  

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alexzandra Gentsch | Research Project Manager, Jefferson Center for Connected Care

Membership Eligibility: Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences Only

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Hands of Hope is the student-run, pro bono physical therapy clinic that operates out of Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia. Students work under supervision of licensed physical therapists, to provide healthcare to the Philadelphia community members who do not have health insurance. This organization is open to all DPT program students who wish to give back to their community and take part in a hands-on learning opportunity.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Stephanie Muth | Professor, Phyiscal Therapy Department | 901 Walnut Street, Suite 508, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-5360

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffEARTH promotes sustainability on Jefferson's campus through outreach and education. Our team hosts educational events, service opportunities, workshops, and research opportunities. Our goal is to promote sustainable practices in healthcare, reduce environmental impact, and foster a culture of sustainability within healthcare institutions. In the short term, we hope to inspire students to live a more sustainable professional and personal life, as well as understand the connection between a healthy earth and healthy patients. Ultimately, we hope to create a community of students and staff who care about the environment and embrace a cost-friendly, sustainable, creative outlet.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Scott Dale | Clinical Assistant Professor | Deoartment of Emergency Medicine

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Jeff Cares for Kids aims to engage members of the Jefferson community with children with disabilities, both through direct interaction and shadowing experts in the field. Our mission also includes educating the Jefferson community about children with special needs. Activities include volunteering with the Young Athletes Program alongside Jefferson PT/OT students, shadowing at Nemours Children's Health, and educational patient and family panels.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Eileen Shieh, MD | Clinical Instructor, Division of Pediatrics & Rehabilitation Medicine | 25 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 302-651-5600

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffMentors pairs students from Jefferson's health professions schools with identified at-risk youth from the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs located in North Philadelphia. Striving to influence these children positively, JeffMentors seeks to provide leadership, guidance, and support through mentoring. We lead afterschool workshops at the Honickman Learning Center, supervise field trips to the Franklin Institute, and hold Career Days here at Jefferson to educate the youth on a potential path in medicine

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Leonard Levine | Associate Dean, Student Affairs & Career Counseling, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics | 1025 Walnut Street, College Building, Suite 116, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-6988

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: JeffSOAR (Students Organized Against Rape) works to increase awareness and advocacy around issues of sexual violence through trainings, forums, guest speakers, and outreach to the campus and greater community. Areas of discussion include caring for patients following sexual assault, immediate and follow-up treatment, short- and long-term consequences of sexual and intimate partner violence, and techniques to reduce risk and identify violence. JeffSOAR commits itself to empowering people and recognizes that women and members of the LGBT community experience a disproportionate share of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. In support of Eve Ensler’s V-Day Campaign to end violence against girls and women, JeffSOAR holds a production of "The Vagina Monologues" and donates all proceeds to WOAR (Women Organized Against Rape), a rape crisis center in Philadelphia.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Abigail Wolf, MD | Associate Professor, Clerkship Director, Residency Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology | 833 Chestnut Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-1085

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: J-Jams seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of Philadelphia community members by sharing its music with those around us. Hospital volunteering, visits to the Philadelphia Senior Center, and regular concerts performed in conjunction with other musical organizations make up the bulk of our activity. Any instrument or voice at any level of proficiency is more than welcome to participate – audience members are always more than happy to listen!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Bruce Fenderson, PhD | Professor, Pathology/Biology | 1020 Locust Street, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Suite 217, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: We’re Move4Health (M4H), a student-run health education and exercise class program. Move4Health conducts classes for older members of our community. Each class consists of 30 minutes of lifestyle education and 30 minutes of physical activity; both components are taught by students. Participation is low-stress and lots of fun! These classes run weekly except for holidays. Move4Health has been in existence for more than eight years.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Christopher Haines, MD | Family & Community Medicine | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 215-870-1486

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: No One Dies Alone (NODA) is an interprofessional volunteering organization. Our mission is to provide compassionate companionship for patients at Jefferson hospitals who would otherwise be alone during their final moments of life. Moreover, our service provides benefits to the nurses, friends, and family members who find comfort in knowing that their patient or loved one is not alone during this time. After nurses have determined a need for our services, volunteers, if available, can sign up in shifts of self-assigned length to be at the bedside of the patient. During our time at the bedside, we offer our supportive presence by reading books or poetry, playing music, and/or simply sitting with the patient. Volunteers receive training and are welcome to our regular seminars covering end-of-life care and related topics. We hold group meetings to discuss experiences and support each other. We welcome anyone in the Jefferson community to join our organization. There are no dues or fees required.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Kathleen Metchler | Assistant Professor, Attending Inpatient Palliative Care Service, Clerkship Director, Inpatient Palliative Care Rotation, Department of Family & Community Medicine | 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-2764

Membership Eligibility: All Jefferson Students (SKMC only for the asylum clinic)

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Physicians for Human Rights at SKMC is a student-run organization dedicated to protecting the rights of survivors of human rights abuse and ending violations at the domestic and international level. Students can get involved with education and advocacy pertaining to human rights-related issues via our formal PHR chapter and/or assist in documentation of physical and psychiatric evaluations of asylum seekers through our multi-school collaborative asylum clinic (Philadelphia Human Rights Clinic). Our mission is to produce human rights-conscious providers who will be advocates for their patients and committed to eliminating social injustice.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: James Plumb, MD | Professor, Director, Center for Urban Studies

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Project Care Society is to:

• Help Jefferson students gain an understanding of the challenges individuals experiencing homelessness may face and what their pertinent needs are.
• Inform Jefferson students of the driving factors towards homelessness and the stigmas against these individuals.
• Actively discuss ways to curb these stereotypes and promote awareness of the lens against homeless individuals.
• Fundraise to create care packages to address needs for homeless individuals during the winter and summer months.
• Distribute care packages in groups of student volunteers to individuals across Philadelphia.
• Create connections with current organizations to donate packages in areas that may pose a safety risk for in-person distribution.
• Raise awareness of code-blue and code-red emergencies and the facilities in Philadelphia that individuals experiencing homelessness can access.

Goals: The short-term goals of this organization would be to facilitate an understanding of driving factors toward homelessness and the existing stigmas against this population through monthly discussions. Additionally, a short-term goal would be to inform Jefferson students about the details surrounding code-blue and code-red events in the city and existing locations where unsheltered individuals can go during these events. In order to prepare for these events, another goal includes fundraising biannually to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter and summer. Through fundraisers, care packages will be created to address these extremes in temperatures and will be distributed through groups of student volunteers. A long-term goal would be to create connections with existing charities to donate care packages in areas that would otherwise be less safe to distribute in person.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Harish Lavu, MD | Professor, General Surgery | 1025 Walnut Street, College Building, Suite 605, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-4902

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Refugee Health Partners (RHP) aims to be a model organization at Jefferson and a trusted health partner in Philadelphia. We achieve this by:

1. Training allied health professionals to practice competent and conscious refugee care.
2. Empowering refugees to be active participants in their own community and healthcare.
3. Fostering a culture of belonging, mentorship, and cultural humility with the Jefferson community.

Ultimately, our purpose is to empower refugees to have a greater role in their own healthcare by helping them navigate the US healthcare system and improve their access to care. To that end, we help refugees with many of their needs beyond acute medical issues, including assistance with insurance, bills, specialty care, employment, transportation, follow-up appointments, and more. Any Jefferson student is eligible to be a member of RHP, and can engage with the organization through a variety of yearly community outreach programs, including flu clinics, health fairs, English as a second language and health education classes, picnics with refugee communities, and partnering with refugee families to assist them with their healthcare needs. We also host educational talks for the Jefferson community throughout the year.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Marc Altshuler, MD | Associate Professor & Associate Residency Program Director, Family & Community Medicine | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-5561

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: RISE Philly (Remote Interpersonal Student Education) is a volunteer organization providing free virtual tutoring and mentoring to middle and high school students from under-resourced communities in Philadelphia. In particular, our goal is to provide longitudinal academic support for students identified by their teachers as at-risk of dropping out of school, as well as to offer all Jefferson students the opportunity to support our local communities through meaningful mentorship experiences. Our long-term goal is to decrease the high school dropout rate in Philadelphia. Volunteer tutor/mentors commit to weekly tutoring for at least six months so that students will receive longitudinal guidance during the academic school year. The recent transition to virtual learning in the School District of Philadelphia has only exacerbated the already deep inequalities in educational access and opportunities, and therefore we believe our mission is vital for students’ success now more than ever.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: James Plumb, MD, MPH | Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Street Medicine Outreach Team (SMOT) is a student-run multi-disciplinary volunteer group that strives to identify and serve the healthcare needs of the unsheltered homeless population living within the immediate Philadelphia area through street outreach engagement.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Ivel Morales | Associate Director, Family Medicine Residency

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Student Nutrition Awareness Council (SNAC) is a student-led organization committed to promoting awareness and understanding of the vital role nutrition plays in patient health. Our mission is to educate and empower students at Sidney Kimmel Medical College by organizing educational events that explore the impact of nutrition on overall well-being and disease prevention. As an organization, we are committed to promoting a weight-neutral approach to nutrition, educating others on the harmful effects of diet culture, promoting evidence-based nutrition, and raising awareness of the social issues that create barriers to proper nutrition for patients.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Steven Herrine | Vice Dean, Academic Affairs & Undergraduate Medical Education

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Members of the Story Initiative write and illustrate personalized books for children in underprivileged areas. We hope to promote literacy and foster creativity in young minds. By reading stories featuring themselves as protagonists, children can build self-confidence, grasp valuable life lessons, and learn to dream big. Our group is open to all members of the Jefferson community.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Alisa LoSasso, MD | Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatrics | 33 South 9th Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-861-8830

Membership Eligibility: All Members of Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Student Opioid Response Team (SORT) aims to educate the Jefferson community on the opioid epidemic, the stigma revolving around substance use disorder, and the usage of harm-reduction strategies. We organize volunteer events, talks featuring distinguished faculty and community speakers, and narcan trainings. Through these events, we aim to foster increased awareness, meaningful discussions, and active engagement with the shared goal of addressing the challenges posed by opioid use and supporting those affected in the Philadelphia community. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Jillian Zavodnick | Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine Clerkship Director

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Arrhythmias is a student organization dedicated to providing opportunities for women in the Jefferson community to sing and perform a capella music. The group performs regularly on and off campus, in events like SKMC Second Look or caroling through the hospital. We also participate in the Philadelphia Med School Charity A Capella Concert, and have hosted the event for the past several years. The Arrhythmias meet once a week for an hour and a half to rehearse and prepare for our concerts throughout the year. The Arrhythmias have been in existence for more than 20 years. We do not collect dues or fees from our members.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Marion Siegman, PhD | Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics | 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-3975

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of Board Games & Beyond is to provide an outlet of wellness for Jefferson students to congregate and compete in a healthy fashion through a variety of board games. We aim to foster a sense of community among members with similar interests. Members are free to attend any and all of our board game nights throughout the year!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Wayne Bond Lau, MD | Professor, Assistant Dean, Department of Emergency Medicine/Office of Student Affairs | 1020 Sansom Street, Suite 239, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-6988

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Culinary Arts Society is to provide a community for Jefferson students built on passion for food, health, and cooking; allow students a platform to share recipes and meet other students with similar interests; provide an opportunity for students to come together for holiday celebrations; and educate students on healthy and inexpensive food options within the city of Philadelphia.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Steve Herrine | Professor, Vice Dean, Sidney Kimmel Medical College | 132 South 10th Street, Suite 450, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-0704

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: A student organization with a focus on fiber arts is necessary for the Center City student body at TJU. Fibrin Arts can help students take a break from their regular academic routine and explore new avenues for their imagination and creativity. Many fiber arts techniques involve working with your hands and develops fine motor skills – which are skills that continue to be vital for many medical fields. Developing skills in fiber arts can be seen as indirect professional development, while also being relaxing and fun.

Contact Information

Organization Email: Coming Fall 2023

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Abigail Kay | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Academic Affairs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The mission of the Good Vibes Only Climbing Club is to:

• Introduce the sport of climbing to the Thomas Jefferson community.
• Teach the basics of climbing through peer teaching and collaboration.
• To make climbing more accessible to Thomas Jefferson students.
• To foster a sense of community among climbing enthusiasts at Jefferson and the city of Philadelphia.

What can Good Vibes do for you?

• Consistent climbing sessions with the opportunity for discounted guest passes.
• Weekend climbing excursions to local crags.
• Exclusive access to a discounted membership at Cliffs at Callowhill gym.
• And much more!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lara Phillips | Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine | 1020 Sansom Street, Suite 239, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-955-6844

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Graduate education in the health sciences can be, at times, both absurd and extremely stress-inducing. Satire, in both its production and consumption, provides a uniquely strong and safe outlet to redirect stress, anxiety, and angst into a positive force that brings joy and laughter to a community.

We aim in the short term to poke lighthearted fun at the absurdities inherent in the student experience in graduate health science education and in the greater TJU and Philadelphia communities in an attempt to give the TJU community something to laugh about. Over the long term, we aim to enable the organization to become self-sustaining through the maintenance of a regular publication schedule and the implementation of an internal educational curriculum in journalistic satire so as to empower the organization and its members to become a powerful force for positivity within the community.

Contact Information

Organization Email: Coming Fall 2023

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Ashley Anttila, MD | Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics | Associate Residency Program Director, Pediatrics Department

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Jefferson Badminton Club (JBC) is to provide a friendly atmosphere for badminton players and anyone interested in learning the game, to meet and play with others in the Jefferson community. Everyone in the Jefferson community is welcome and eligible to join the club! The club has open play once a week (usually Saturdays) for experienced and nonexperienced players alike to enjoy competitive badminton and participate in tournaments for charity. Open play is also arranged for those without previous playing experience, looking to learn the game if there is enough interest. We will have a tournament once a semester! There are no dues or fees, and we provide all equipment. Sometimes we participate in community service projects as a team or team outings to build camaraderie. We look forward to seeing you on the courts!

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sandra Ludewig | Assistant Director, Campus Recreation, Operations, & Programs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: We are a dance group dedicated to improving health and wellness through teaching and performing dance. We have many dance rehearsals/practices, shows, and dance classes for the community.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Chamber Orchestra enables all members of the Jefferson community to play chamber music for both public and private audiences. The Chamber Orchestra has performed for weddings, cocktail parties, receptions, and private parties, including the SKMC White Coat Ceremony and Alumni Weekend. The group performs together at least four times each year at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and as part of the Dean's Concert Series. The Orchestra has been in existence for more than 10 years. There are no dues, fees, or auditions, and rehearsals occur every two weeks on Monday evenings.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Bruce Fenderson, PhD | Professor of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology | Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Suite 217, Philadlephia, PA 19107 | 215-955-2361

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Joggers Running Club strives to create a fun and welcoming environment for runners of all paces and experience levels. We aim to encourage an active lifestyle in all of our members as well as bring together like-minded individuals to share in the joy of running. Members are able to participate in weekly runs, training programs for local races in the Philadelphia area, and social events. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sandra Ludewig | Assistant Director, Campus Recreation, Operations, & Programs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Jefferson Soccer Club (JSC) is the official Thomas Jefferson University organization for those within the Jefferson community interested in playing soccer. JSC promotes weekly pickup games, runs an intramural league, and participates in the Philadelphia Professional Schools Soccer League (PPSSL) in the fall. The Jefferson Soccer Club also hosts social fundraising events in order to address team equipment needs and create a sense of unity among its members. All of the Jefferson community are welcome. Our mission is to provide a competitive yet fun, safe, stress-free, healthy, and positive environment, while helping all players (no matter the skill level, background, or age) to develop a lifelong passion for the game we all love, and build friendships on and off the pitch. In accordance with Thomas Jefferson University, the Jefferson Soccer Club strives to build meaningful interdisciplinary connections and teamwork across the many health education programs that Jefferson offers. Our goal is to learn to collaborate and cooperate outside of the classroom and work environments. On the soccer field, we learn to depend on each other, develop our communication skills, and work toward a common objective. We always walk on the pitch with the intent to win. The purpose of the Jefferson Soccer Club is to bring together those who are interested in playing soccer and competing in the fall outdoor Philadelphia Professional Schools Soccer League and indoor pickup games. Practices are open to all members of the Jefferson community. Indoor practice is held two nights a week during the academic year and one night a week in the summer. The intramural league is staffed and refereed by members of the executive board, providing a low-cost, safe, and competitive environment for both experienced and inexperienced players to enjoy playing the sport. The outdoor league consists of competition against other city medical and professional schools. Fall outdoor league games are held Saturday and Sunday mornings for 10 weeks. We believe that the JSC is an extension of the Health Mentors program. It continues the mission, goals, and values of the Jefferson community. We focus on interdisciplinary teamwork, and we believe that this club adds to that value. The Jefferson Soccer Club has been in existence for more than 15 years.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Christopher Haines, MD | Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine | 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-870-1486

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Jefferson Volleyball Club (JVC) is to provide a friendly atmosphere for volleyball players and anyone interested in learning the game to meet and play with others in the Jefferson community. The JVC has open play once a week for experienced players to enjoy competitive volleyball, and participates in tournaments for charity. Open play is also arranged for those without previous playing experience, looking to learn the game if there is enough interest. The JVC has been in existence for 14 years, and there are no dues or fees.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Guiyun Zhang, MD, PhD | Professor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology | Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Room 263G, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-7019

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of the Lumbar Disc Club is to foster relationships between students from different colleges at Jefferson and increase appreciation for ultimate frisbee and frisbee golf. Events include frisbee golf outings (usually 18 holes) and ultimate frisbee games. All skill levels are welcome. To become and remain a member of the club, you must attend at least one event per semester. Anyone currently attending Thomas Jefferson University can become an officer of the club.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Elizabeth, Spudich, PhD | Assistant Professor, Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology | 1020 Locust Street, Room 263D, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-4967

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Lymph Notes are an organization at Thomas Jefferson University because we recognize there is a need for a gender-inclusive a capella group. Currently, there are two gender-exclusive a capella groups on campus. Singing is not tied to gender, sexual orientation, or race. Thus, the inclusivity of our group is the foundation of our mission. The Lymph Notes are centered around music and the joys it brings to a diverse community. We hope to arrange, practice, and perform a capella music at Thomas Jefferson University events and the greater Philadelphia area. We hope to create a safe and fun environment in order to alleviate stress and create camaraderie among Thomas Jefferson students across all schools.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Don Friedman, MD | Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College l 215-284-9718

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, support and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need. Healthcare professionals face many challenges in navigating the mental health needs of their patients while also having to cope with the mental health challenges they may encounter in their own lives, as evidenced by the prevalence of mood disorders and suicide found in healthcare professions. Individuals who carry stigma against those struggling with mental illness make it difficult for those struggling to get proper support and  further exacerbate the consequences of dealing with mental illness for both their patients and colleagues. The goal of the Jefferson chapter of NAMI on Campus is to incorporate the principles of NAMI into events that educate and engage healthcare professionals by exploring the various ways that mental health challenges, and the stigma surrounding them, affect their lives as well as their patient's lives. Additionally, the organization will work to provide a space to share personal challenges amongst colleagues and create a space for support and for developing initiatives for change

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Abigail Kay | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Academic Affairs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: As an internationally known 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a successful track record for change, Medical Students for Choice® (MSFC) stands up in the face of violent opposition. We work to destigmatize abortion provision among medical students and residents, and to persuade medical schools and residency programs to include abortion as a part of the reproductive health services curriculum. Today, one of the greatest obstacles to safe and legal abortion around the world is the absence of trained providers. Medical schools are simply not addressing the topic; most physicians graduate with little more than circumstantial knowledge of abortion. As medical students and residents, we work to make reproductive healthcare, including abortion, a part of standard medical education and residency training.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Lisa Perriera, MD | Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology | 833 Chestnut Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 215-313-9874

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Team Recreation & Expedition Club (TREC) is a new organization dedicated to serving outdoor enthusiasts. Our first aim is to create more opportunities to get outdoors, where we will streamline logistics for unofficial events and plan official events. Our second aim is to create a community for outdoor enthusiasts. Enjoy frequent social events that enable you to meet other Jefferson students with shared interests, such as hiking, skiing, and fishing. Through these aims, we hope to provide a means to improve physical and mental well-being. Any student is welcome to join, regardless of experience.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Ben Rodgers | Resident Physician

Membership Eligibility: All students are eligible to participate

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The Funny Bones is a club dedicated to appreciating the art of improvisational comedy. Members are involved in a variety of activities including in-person comedy show watch parties and video game nights where people participate in improv comedy-focused computer games. This club was officially recognized on Jefferson campus in 2022.

Contact Information

Organization Email: 

Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Abigail Kay | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Academic Affairs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The purpose of The Testostertones is to provide all members of the Jefferson community with the opportunity to sing and appreciate all-male a cappella music, while giving members the opportunity to share their musical talents with one another and the community. The organization will serve to broaden the musical knowledge and talents of its members, while encouraging participation and creativity. The Testostertones have been in existence for many years. There are no dues or fees. An audition is required for membership.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Richard Schmidt, PhD | Professor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology | 1020 Locust Street, Suite 520, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-503-7838

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. With that being said, having a place for students to learn the rules of pickleball, and work on developing their technique and skills is important. Jefferson Pickleball Club will provide designated court time at the Jefferson Recreation & Fitness Center weekly, for students to play pickleball in a welcoming environment. Our goals are to have a consistent group of students play pickleball every week. Our long term goal is to host bi-yearly tournaments to encourage camaraderie and competition between players. 

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Sandra Ludewig | Associate Director for Campus Recreation, Operations & Programs

Membership Eligibility: All Members of the Jefferson Community

Membership Dues or Fees: None

Description: The JTC (Jefferson Tennis Club) was founded to provide a community and opportunities to play tennis in Philadelphia with other Jefferson Students.

Contact Information

Organization Email: [email protected]

Student Organization Advisor: Fed Perrin | Head Tennis Coach