CHSu-COM
Student organizations
COM Student Government Association (COM SGA)
The CHSU-COM SGA and its committees shall be the official communicative and mediating voice for the students with the faculty and administration and all outside agencies. It is established to uphold CHSU-COM and its mission in all aspects. While it is committed, accessible, and responsible to the student body, it is not meant to usurp communication between administration and individual classes on intra-class matters, or between clubs and their national bodies.
2022-2023 OFFICERS
- President: Omar Popal (Class of 2025)
- Vice President: Vishal Gupta (Class of 2025)
- Secretary/Historian: Nguyen Dang (Class of 2025)
- Treasurer: Austin Dean (Class of 2025)
- OMS-III Class President: Erin Davis (Class of 2024)
- OMS-III Class Vice President: Varsha Swamy (Class of 2024)
- OMS-II Class President: Fahad Molla (Class of 2025)
- OMS-II Class Vice President: Shreya Atitkar (Class of 2025)
- OMS-I Class President:
- OMS-I Class Vice President:
CHSU-COM Student Organizations
Advanced Human Anatomy Club (AHAC)
The mission of the Advanced Human Anatomy Club is to provide opportunities and experiences allowing passionate medical students to further their knowledge of the human body. Our vision is to fortify our anatomical knowledge while simultaneously working alongside the future and current medical professionals of the Central Valley.
President: Dominic Giuliani (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Thu Dang (Class of 2025)
American Medical Association (AMA-MSS)
The AMA is a nationwide membership organization that empowers medical students, residents and physicians in patient care, advocacy, innovation and education. The AMA-MSS supports medical students at accredited MD and DO schools across the nation. Its goal is to connect students to resources, education and networking opportunities all along the cutting edge of medicine. Programming will be geared towards bringing in compelling speakers to address relevant topics in health care, organizing educational workshops, and generating networking opportunities with other students and physicians. Another aim of this group is to allow members to interact with fellow medical students for social and career networking. Policy-writing will also be incorporated; our goal will be to develop and write resolutions and review resolutions with other schools from around the country. Additionally, our goal will be to present at AMA conferences, which will allow students to interact with other AMA members by presenting research at national meetings.
Chair: Rajvarun Grewal (Class of 2025)
Vice Chair: Avery Kaplan (Class of 2025)
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) membership is comprised of physicians, residents, medical students, pre-medical students, health care professionals, and supporters. AMWA is the oldest multispecialty organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women’s health. Its vision is a healthier world where women physicians achieve equity in the medical profession and realize their full potential. The mission is to advance women in medicine, advocate for equity, and ensure excellence in health care.
President: Navdeep Kaur (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Sameera Malepati (Class of 2025)
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
President: William Kim (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Lucas Dohil (Class of 2024)
Association of Women Surgeons
The CHSU COM chapter of the Association of Women Surgeons exists to inspire, encourage, and enable aspiring women surgeons to realize their professional and personal goals through support, networking, and mentorships in order to achieve equity, effectiveness, and professional development for women entering surgical specialties.
President: Sare Killic (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Katherine An (Class of 2025)
Cardiovascular Interest Group
The goal of the Cardiovascular Interest Group (CVIG) is to expose future physicians at CHSU to the exciting, diverse field of cardiology at an early stage of their training. In order to achieve this, we aim to host guest speakers to discuss different cardiovascular specialties, a variety of workshops (i.e., EKG and ultrasound workshops), help facilitate shadowing opportunities, and host mixers for students, faculty, and cardiovascular physicians. We hope this group will spark an interest in pursuing a career path in one of the cardiology specialties to balance the growing need for cardiologists both in the clinical and research realms.
President: Dalonna Payton (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Darin Ngo (Class of 2025)
Christian Medical Dental Association
CMDA provides an avenue for medical students to engage with God and the Christian faith in the midst of medical school, including fostering a strong community among medical students and network with local Central Valley healthcare professionals. We hope that students will be able to see how faith intersects with and informs their practice of medicine. Throughout the years past, CMDA offers students opportunities to grow spiritually and professionally through guest speaker events, bible studies, and healthcare/missions conferences. Everyone is invited and welcome to join!
President: Alvin Wong (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Joel Varughese (Class of 2025)
Dermatology Aspiring Doctors Club
Dermatology Aspiring Doctors (DADs) is an interest group at CHSU-COM that is open to any and all students interested in pursuing or simply learning more about Dermatology. We aim to provide resources and experiences to help others explore the field of Dermatology and provide a competitive edge in residency applications. Members will have exclusive access to physician interviews, research opportunities, skills workshops, and more. DADs also aim to connect with the local community to raise awareness about the importance of skin care and regular skin cancer screenings.
President: Skye Penny (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Edward Hu (Class of 2024)
Dermatology Interest Group
Dermatology Interest Group at CHSU-COM is open to all students interested in pursuing or simply learning more about Dermatology. We aim to provide resources and experiences to help others explore the field of Dermatology and provide a competitive edge in residency applications. Members will have exclusive access to physician interviews, research opportunities, skills workshops, and more. DIG also aim to connect with the local community to raise awareness about the importance of skin care and regular skin cancer screenings.
President: Milena Dragovic (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Megan Holm (Class of 2025)
DO Care Club
DOCARE is an international medical outreach organization committed to empowering under-resourced communities around the world with sustainable health care and education. As a club, we strive to learn about the unique aspects of global outreach, cultural and social determinants of health, and ways to contribute as medical students and future physicians. We offer opportunities to participate in short-term service trips as well as global rotation sites.
President: Katherine An (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Megan Holm (Class of 2025)
Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG)
CHSU Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) is an organization dedicated to exposing medical students to the exciting field of Emergency Medicine by having students engage with the field through clinical, research, and simulation settings. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate interest in this specialty by hosting various events (including hands-on activities), networking members with EM physicians, and to provide experiences that will ultimately fortify confidence in our student members.
President: Aaron Huntington (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Manpreet Narwal (Class of 2025)
Intramurals Club
Stressed out? Gluteus going numb from sitting all day? Feel like you don’t have any time to be active or see family in friends? Want a quick fix to all the above? Well, the solution is easy my friends. Join Intramurals at CHSU today! We are a student, friend, and family-oriented club, dedicated to having a good time through good ole fashioned play. Our goal is to create a stress-free and active environment through various sporting activities throughout the year. No prior experience needed, and all are welcome to play.
President: David Brown (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Hayley Vietti (Class of 2024)
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
The Latino Medical Student Association exists to unite and empower current and future physicians through service, mentorship, and education to advocate for the improved health of the Hispanic & Latina/o/x community in the United States.
President: Ashley Saavedra (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Christian Velazco (Class of 2025)
Lavender Alliance (LA)
The Lavender Alliance (LA) is a social and educational organization dedicated to raising familiarity of the unique health issues that LGBTQ+ individuals face and how we as physicians may deal with them supportively and helpfully. The LA also serves as a safe, accepting, and inclusive social environment for CHSU medical students and staff who are LGBTQ+ or otherwise interested in queer health issues.
President: Cori DeLisi (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Tyler Laws-Mahe (Class of 2025)
OB/GYN Interest Group
The OB/GYN Interest Group provides education and resources for those interested in learning more about women’s health. We strive to expand each person’s knowledge of women’s health regardless of their future residency program through simulation days, workshops, and presentations from OB/GYNs and other birth workers. Additionally, we provide unique opportunities for those looking to pursue a career in OB/GYN as we function under the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
President: Christina Su (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Maya Hall (Class of 2025)
Oncology Interest Group
OSIG at CHSU will provide students at CHSU-COM with the opportunity to experience the field of oncology. This organization hopes to not only introduce students to oncology but provide them with firsthand experience in the field through shadowing opportunities. OSIG hopes to explore clinical, surgical, and radiation oncology.
President: Katayun Fethat (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Meredith Nastruz (Class of 2025)
Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Interest Group
The Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Interest Group will host informational sessions in which physicians from these fields will share their academic journey, current roles and responsibilities, and the physician-athlete/patient relationship. The interest group will also host athlete/patient guest speakers who are willing to share their sports-related injuries, journey to recovery, and the relationship they have with their medical staff. The organization is also working on creating off-campus activities to help its members gain valuable experience in the workplace to better prepare them for rotation and residency.
President: Rajvarun Grewal (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Khushmanjit Jawandha (Class of 2025)
Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California – CHSU Chapter (OPSC at CHSU)
Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC) focuses on advancing and supporting osteopathic physicians in California by engaging, educating, and advocating for the osteopathic profession. Students have a voice in the future of the osteopathic profession through representation on the OPSC Board of Directors. OPSC provides students with opportunities to connect with physicians across California through Continuing Medical Education (CME) seminars, clinical preceptorships, and guidance from physician mentors. OPSC is a chartered divisional society of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
President: Nguyen Dang (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Vishal Gupta (Class of 2025)
Pediatric Interest Group
The Pediatrics Interest Group strives to introduce students to the world of pediatrics, as well as provide opportunities within the community for service, learning, and clinical experiences. Through collaboration with other student organizations and community health organizations, we plan to make this group an outlet for those who are interested in learning more about pediatric medicine while making a beneficial impact in our community.
President: Darin Ngo (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Vishal Gupta (Class of 2025)
Psychiatric Interest Group
The Psychiatry Interest Group at CHSU-COM aims to help students discover the field of psychiatry, explore their interests within the field, and create connections with psychiatrists and residency programs. We further aim to introduce the community of Fresno County to the field of psychiatry by creating opportunities for outreach within the community.
President: Katayun Fethat (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Meredith Nastruz (Class of 2025)
Radiology Club
The Radiology Interest Club is a student-run organization at CHSU-COM. Our mission is to provide medical students with an opportunity to explore the exciting field of radiology and gain hands-on experience in various imaging modalities. The club hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year, including guest lectures by radiologists, tours of radiology departments, and workshops on image interpretation. Radiology is a rapidly evolving field with exciting developments in areas such as artificial intelligence and personalized medicine. Joining the Radiology Interest Club is a great way to stay informed and prepare for a career in this dynamic and important specialty.
Our club welcomes students of all levels and backgrounds, and we encourage anyone with an interest in radiology to join us. Membership is open to all students enrolled in the CHSU-COM community and it offers a great opportunity to network with peers and learn more about the specialty.
President: Jake Dertinger (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Seaver Stoll (Class of 2024)
Sigma Sigma Phi
Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) is an honor society for osteopathic medical students at CHSU-COM. The society was founded in 1921 in Kirksville, MO, to recognize and promote academic excellence and leadership among students and foster community among its members. SSP is dedicated to promoting the principles and ideals of the osteopathic medical profession. The focus of SSP is on service to the community and the osteopathic profession at large. All members have a service requirement or risk expulsion from the honor society. Society members regularly participate in volunteer activities such as health screenings, tutoring, mentoring programs, and service projects that benefit the community at large.
SSP provides its members with professional development and networking opportunities. The society hosts guest speakers and panel discussions on various topics related to the osteopathic medical profession, as well as workshops and other events to help members develop the skills, they will need to be successful in their future careers. When inducted into SSP, students gain a sense of belonging in the community of leadership and academic excellence within their profession, honing their skills and developing valuable professional connections that will last a lifetime.
President: Jake Dertinger (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Colin Carpenter (Class of 2024)
Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO)
The SAAO is a national organization dedicated to improving student understanding of osteopathic principles, theories, and practice. Become a founding member of the CHSU chapter and join our growing community of students interested in practicing and learning more about osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Members will have priority access to club hosted community engagement/networking events and OMT workshops, as well as access to discounted osteopathic and biomedical education resources (Boards and Beyond, Kaplan, Picmonic, etc.). Students with exceptional interest and/or proficiency in osteopathic medicine will have leadership and teaching opportunities as officers, event coordinators, and mock practical proctors.
President: Vishal Gupta (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Sumeet Dhillon (Class of 2025)
Student Art Club (Art-ery)
Artery’s mission is to provide CHSU medical students a creative outlet and safe environment to express themselves and explore the visual arts with the greater aim of fostering a welcoming community and creative, empathetic physicians. Students will have the opportunity to create artistic works during art sessions and club events, allowing them the ability to develop their artistic skills, integrate creativity with their medical studies, and support their mental well-being.
President: Khachik Hmayakyan (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Sonali Koduri (Class of 2025)
Student Association of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP)
The Student Association of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP) is a family medicine interest group that strives to promote excellence among CHSU-COM students, educate students on the family medicine specialty, support students who are interested in pursuing the specialty, and promoting preventive medicine in the Central Valley. The club is free to join and open to all students! Come be a part of the SAACOFP family!
President: Mandy Helle (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Brooke Crosswhite (Class of 2024)
Student Chapter of the Military Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS)
The CHSU-COM SAMOPS student organization will provide members with information on military medicine in general, HPSP (and other military/government scholarships), and how one can get involved without being military. Members can participate in and facilitate fundraisers for veteran support societies as well as military-oriented events on campus! Physicians from various military branches are brought in as guest speakers for members to learn more about military medicine.
President: Twee Pham (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Michelle Tan (Class of 2024)
Student Interest Group in Neurology
The Students Interest Group in Neurology provides students with research experiences in the field of neurology. The club aims to expose students to the various subspecialties within neurology, such as neurosurgery, neuropsychology, and neuromuscular disorders, and to provide them with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Additionally, the club will provide students with information and guidance on how to become an ideal candidate for a neurology residency, including academic and research requirements, networking opportunities, and other relevant information. Joining this club will give students a strong foundation in neurology, as well as the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the field.
President: Saumya Shah (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Ton Nguyen (Class of 2024)
Student Journal Club
Our mission is to strengthen academic insight and improve scientific discussion in the CHSU student community.
President: Yusur Alsalihi (Class of 2024)
Vice President: Victoria Parrilli (Class of 2025)
Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is the nation’s largest network of osteopathic medical students. We are an American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-affiliated, student-led and student-driven organization with direct representation to the AOA.
SOMA shall:
- Educate and prepare osteopathic leaders and advocates.
- Maintain open and transparent lines of communication to our student members as we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our members and organization.
- Advance collaborative relationships that promote osteopathic medicine in the greater healthcare community.
- Utilize our direct affiliation with the American Osteopathic Association to advance the interests and viewpoints of osteopathic medical students.
President: Sabrina Jones (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Manpreet Narwal (Class of 2025)
Surgery Interest Group
The Surgery Interest Group at CHSU-COM is a student-led organization seeking to foster an interest in surgery and its related sub-specialties. Through providing guest speaker events, networking, and interactive workshops, we aim to expose students to the field of surgery and foster mentorship with local surgeons in the area.
President: Kassandra Carrillo (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Joshua Karron (Class of 2025)
The Vocal Chords
The Vocal Chords at CHSU is an a cappella group composed of students and staff. Its goal is to provide the CHSU community with a vocal music outlet to improve mental health, establish a community for developing friendships, portray the school as a well-rounded organization, and promote the school’s reputation throughout the Central Valley.
President: Matthew Wen (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Ronald Llenado (Class of 2024)
Urology Interest Group
The Urology Interest Group is a student organization created to engage students in the profession of urological surgery and medicine. Our goal is to create interest and expose students to a field they may have not discovered yet. We hope to share our enthusiasm for this specialty and all that it has to offer. For more information, please reach out to anyone on our board!
President: Cade Fountain (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Omar Popal (Class of 2025)
Valley Mentors
Valley Mentors at CHSU aims to conduct educational and health-based outreach to Central Valley K-12 students through two avenues: mentorship and events. Targeted mentorship programs pair local K-12 students with CHSU medical student mentors and focus on areas like personal mentorship, college readiness, STEM career advice, standardized testing tips, and general homework help. We will also organize various events for these students, including health fairs and hands-on science experiment workshops.
President: Omar Popal (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Jenny Cesolini (Class of 2025)
Valley Reach Club
Valley Reach is a student organization that is dedicated to providing two main opportunities for CHSU students including Clinical Volunteer Experiences and Community Outreach Volunteer Experiences. Students involved in Valley Reach will become more knowledgeable about the needs of the Central Valley and build clinical skills as they volunteer in the community. Valley Reach intends to collaborate with local clinical and community-based organizations to provide students with volunteer opportunities throughout their years at CHSU-COM. This club will provide its members opportunities for volunteering, leadership, clinical skills practice, and ultimately, to exemplify the values and vision of CHSU.
President: Brooke Crosswhite (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Sonny Pak (Class of 2025)
Wellness and Wilderness Medicine Club
The Wellness and Wilderness Medicine Club is a stress-free organization that promotes health and wellness. Additionally, this club provides educational opportunities to include wilderness medicine techniques and treatments, and discussion on nutritional snacks and meals. The club plans to have its members participate in local hikes and engage the CHSU-COM and local community members of the cities of Fresno and Clovis by promoting fitness and wellness through neighborhood walks, 5k runs, nutritional snacks and meal recommendations, and other projects along the lines of wellness. We plan to collaborate with other clubs on campus, other community clubs, and students to emphasize unity and togetherness.
President: Milena Dragovic (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Chelsey Preciado (Class of 2025)
White Coats 4 Black Lives
WC4BL aims to dismantle racism and accompanying systems of oppression in health, while simultaneously cultivating means for collective liberation that center on the needs, priorities, and self-determination of Black people and other people of color, particularly those most marginalized in our communities. (This mission statement is directly from the national White Coats for Black Lives organization, accessible here.)
President: Dalonna Payton (Class of 2025)
How to Get Involved
If current students are interested in learning more about joining an organization, please visit the COM Student Government and Associations link in Brightspace. If you are interested in creating a new student organization, please contact COM Student Affairs at COMStudentAffairs@chsu.edu.