Student Organizations

Professional Organizations | Student Interest Groups | Medical Student Council | Policies and Procedures | Room Reservation Request

Professional Organizations

American Medical Association - Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS) and the North Carolina Medical Society
The ECU Student Chapter of the North Carolina Medical Society and the American Medical Association promotes student participation in the professional organizations. Since 1979 the School of Medicine has been represented at state and national meetings by student members. Students continue to be active in the Pitt County Medical Society, the North Carolina Medical Society, and at the national level of the American Medical Association.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Chuck Willson

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
The ECU Chapter of the American Medical Student Association provides students with current information on many issues concerning medicine. The organization sponsors local service projects and is also active on the national level.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Josepha Zanga

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
The ECU Chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association promotes the cause of women in medicine and provides a forum for discussion of issues of special interest to professional women. The chapter offers members opportunities to exchange ideas and concerns with women in medicine from the ECU and the Greenville community as well as nationally.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Lesly Mega

Christian Medical Association
In 1980 a group of medical students, physicians and nurses organized the Christian Medical Association to explore the application of the principles of Christianity to medicine and medical education, to provide fellowship in the health care field and to serve as an evangelistic tool within the medical center and community.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Dean Patton

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
The Student National Medical Association was founded in 1964 as a result of a need to produce an increasing number of physicians to serve minority and indigent communities. Organized in 1979, the ECU Chapter of SNMA emphasizes leadership development, social awareness, service to humanity and excellence as physicians. The chapters projects include an annual scholarship award to a deserving member of the organization.

Faculty Advisor - Virginia Hardy

Medical Interest Groups

Family Medicine Interest Group
The Family Medicine Interest Group is an affiliate organization of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, which aids its members in the understanding of the multidimensional health care system, especially at the primary care level. The ECU group emphasizes community service and participation in projects such as community health fairs. Students are active at the state and national level in family medicine.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Susan Schmidt

Generalist Physicians In Training (GPIT) Interest Group(NOT ACTIVE)
The GPIT Interest Group is committed to fostering student interest in medical generalism; developing a community-responsive physician workforce; and increasing the number of medical students entering primary care fields through information dissemination, advocacy, student outreach, innovative programming, research and peer support.

Faculty Advisor:

Emergency Medicine Interest Group
ECU-BSOM has much to offer within the field of emergency medicine. Advanced Trauma and Advance Cardiac Life Support certification is offered to all medical students. A nationally recognized residency program in emergency medicine is headed by department chairman, Dr. Nick Benson. Many faculty members are involved in emergency medicine research, and student involvement is encouraged. The Emergency Medicine Interest Group was formed to stimulate interest in the field of emergency medicine. Monthly meetings usually consist of lectures on current topics within the field.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Kori Brewer

GreenvilleCommunity Shelter Clinic
In January 1989, ECU medical students became involved with the Greenville Community Shelter, a non-profit organization, by offering free medical care to the homeless and indigent. All students are encouraged to volunteer their services each Monday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and alternate Wednesday and Thursday evenings, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for special clinics. First and second year students help by obtaining an extended history, taking vital signs, and learning the chief medical complaint. They may also observe and assist with the physical diagnosis and participate in constructing a medical plan for the final approval of the attending physician. This past year, a"Women's Clinic"opened to address the specific needs of female medical care. Most recently, a Pediatrics Clinic was added on Wednesday evenings to further extend the services offered by the Greenville Community Clinic. The Operations Committee of the clinic is exclusively run by students.

Faculty Advisors - Dr. Levine, Dr. Fogarty and Dr. Savage

Internal Medicine Interest Group
The Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) is a group organized by students and faculty to provide information about the field of internal medicine, both the primary care aspects and the various subspecialties. IMIGis open to all students regardless of their chosen specialty. Monthly lunch meetings feature guest speaker clinicians. Students who want to learn more about all branches of internal medicine are invited.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Elizabeth McNeill-Byrd

Pediatric Interest Group
The Pediatrics Interest Group was formed so that students interested in the field could meet informally with pediatricians from the community. The group meets every month, either at lunch or in the evening at a physician's house in order to hear a speaker affiliated with Pediatric Medicine. Topics discussed in the past include the future of pediatrics, ADHD, child abuse detection and child advocacy, anticipatory guidance, and child development. The organization also works on a variety of community projects that include hands-on interactions at the Pediatric Clinic of the community shelter as well as volunteer work on the hospital pediatric units.

Faculty Advisor:

S.T.E.P. Program
S.T.E.P. stands for Students Teaching Early Prevention. The program consists of medical students who volunteer their time and creativity to teaching various health related issues to the children of Pitt County. Currently, S.T.E.P. functions primarily as a smoking cessation program, but also includes AIDS awareness. The S.T.E.P. program began as the M2 class project for the Class of 1996. The program is now under the auspices of MSC (Medical Student Council) and receives support from all ECU-SOM students. Currently, S.T.E.P. provides a 45 minute anti-smoking presentation for Pitt County elementary schools. The presentation includes a slide-show, pathology specimens, demonstrations, and a question/answer session with the children. The goal is to reach children at a young age to promote healthy life choices.

Faculty Advisor:

Association of Native American Medical Students Interest Group
East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine’s Medical Student Council recently approved the beginning of a new Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) organization. The organization is open to all students who are interested in Native American health care issues or in support of Native American medical students. A goal of ANAMS is to provide cultural and academic support and mentorship to students of Native American heritage.

Faculty Advisor - Dr. Richard Marks

Surgery Interest Group(Charles G. Robb Student Surgical Society)
The Surgery Interest Group is composed of students who are interested in the art and science of surgery. Meetings are held four to five times per year. Speakers from various departments of surgery are invited to discuss a variety of topics such as career opportunities, surgical residency programs, and surgical sub-specialties.

Faculty Advisor:

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interest Group
It was established to provide students with exposure to the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. With an aging population that continues to survive conditions that once would have been fatal, the field of Physical Medicine is moving to the forefront of the medical profession. Associated with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PMRIG welcomes interested students. Meetings are open to all.

Faculty Advisor:

Medical Student Council

The Medical Student Council (MSC) is an elected organization which serves as the medical student body government. Membership is comprised of the following from each class:

Three students and one alternate serving as MSC representative,
The class president,
and the Organization of Student Representative (OSR)

This organizations's purpose is to represent the entire medical student body and serve as a unified voice in the education, political, and social interests of BSOM medical students. The function of the MSC include:

to promote and support the medical school in the continued advancement of its standards
to provide medical student representation in the decision-making processes of the medical school
to provide a forum for the discussion of issues raised by the medical students and
to foster inter-class communications

Five standing committees are organized to update the student body on academic affairs, student affairs, student health, student information, and Diversity. Participation in these committees is open to the entire student body.

A variety of fundraising projects are organized by the MSC in order to host many of the various activities it sponsors. The activities include the

Spring Formal/Dinner Dance
The String of Pearls lecture series
the Hamstring Hustle (5k road race)
a campus wide talent show

The MSC meets monthly. The meetings are open to all medical students.

Scheduling Activities for Student Organizations:

In order to facilitate the scheduling of activities and reduce conflicting times for activities, please observe the following procedures if you are responsible for your organization’s activists. The fundamental principle to observe when scheduling an activity is to try NOT to schedule an activity that will conflict with those of another organization’s.

List all activities in the STUDENT ORGANIZATION CALENDAR, which is kept in the Office of Student Affairs, Brody 2S-20. When you are planning an activity, check this notebook FIRST to see if any other activities are planned at the same time. If there are not conflicts, pencil in the activity, time, place, the student organization sponsoring the activity in the calendar.

Once the activity is marked on the calendar, complete a on-line ROOM RESERVATION FORM. If you wish to complete a paper form, please click HERE to download a PDF version. Please read and follow the directions in completing this form. Questions or concerns should be address to the Office of Student Affairs at 744-2278 or via email tayloran@ecu.edu. This applies to all rooms (including the large and small classrooms, auditorium and dining areas), at all times, (including lunchtime and evening activities). To see if a room is available, you may contact the Office of Student.

The monitors on the 1st and 2nd floors will only list medical organization student activities that have gone through proper procedures and are written in the Student Organization Calendar.

Funding for Student Organizations:

Student organizations may be eligible to receive support from the Office of Student Affairs if:

a copy of By-Laws or Constitution or Goals/Objectives is on file in the Office of Student Affairs and with the Medical Student Council (MSC),

an updated officer list and advisors name should be provided each year to the Office of Student Affairs, and
a budget of requested funding is submitted to the Office of Student Affairs in April of each academic year.
Student organization budget requests are considered on an individual basis, and decisions related to support are based on available funds each year. Funding can be used for travel to regional or national meetings. Specific travel guidelines are available from the Office of Student Affairs.

Student organizations' annual printing budget are set by the Office of Student Affairs and until reaching that limit, organization may utilize.

Medical Student Organization Travel Policy

ALL TRAVEL MUST BE PRE-APPROVED BY STUDENT AFFAIRS. Students must be in good academic standing in order to participate in university-funded travel*. Student Affairs will provide funding for a maximum of four students to travel provided the organization’s funds are sufficient to cover the projected overall cost. Student should turn in a Student Travel Request form (available in Student Affairs Office) along with the Conference Itinerary at least four weeks prior to the conference date. Excused absence forms should be submitted at this time. Remember: Exams cannot be rescheduled to accommodate student travel.

Travel Advances - Advances can be issued only for airline tickets and registration. Student will need to have the completed registration form in Student Affairs office no later than four weeks prior to registration deadline. After that time, the student will be responsible for their registration and can be reimbursed from a receipt after the trip. Additional charges for late registration will not be reimbursed.
Airline Ticket Authorization - Students will be responsible for making flight arrangements. For advanced payment on airline purchases, the student will need to contact Quixote Travel Agency (757-0234), as they know what is required by the State. Itineraries can be faxed to Student Affairs at (252) 744-3250.
Travel Reimbursements - Travel reimbursements are available three to four weeks after all required receipts are turned into the Office of Student Affairs. Original receipts must be turned in to the Office of Student Affairs by ten working days after the completion of the trip. If deadlines are not met, expenditures will not be processed.

Travel Reimbursement Checklist

1. Departure date and time and return date and time
2. Airline itinerary, receipt and boarding passes (can not be reimbursed without boarding passes)
3. Original hotel bill including itemized statement, showing payment in full (-0- balance) Reminder: Only $66 per night per student (out of state) and $55 per night per student (in state) will be reimbursed
4. Meeting itinerary with dates, times and places.
5. All original receipts for expenses claimed (taxis, parking, registration, etc.) Reminder: There is no reimbursement for food)
Transportation - You will be reimbursed at the rate of thirty-one cents per mile when using your car to drive to and from your destination. If flying from an airport other than Greenville, two students will be reimbursed for personal car use and reimbursed for the airport parking fee (must have receipt for parking fee). Rental Car fees cannot be reimbursed.
Taxis and Shuttles - The actual cost of taxi fares is reimbursable when required for travel to and from the conference site. You must have the name, address and phone number of the Cab Company as well as the driver’s signature on each receipt, along with the student’s name. Shuttle service can be reimbursed with a receipt showing the Shuttle Company’s name.

(*) A student in good standing: 1) must have a passing average in all currently enrolled courses, 2) must have no unremediated “F’s” in coursework, 3) must be current with enrollment requirements, e.g. health insurance, immunizations, fees, and 4) must have a passing score on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 where applicable.