Want to get involved in the community beyond the RHS workshops and activities? Here are the UMass Chan-affiliated groups, organizations, and OEEs that we are likely to partner with throughout the year.

Self Assessment 

MassAHEC RHS-UHS Transcript Summary

Faculty Sponsor|Dr. Hillary Irons
Email|Hillary.Irons@umassmemorial.org
Department| Emergency Medicine
OEE Title| OE916 Wilderness Medicine and Recreational Emergencies
Terms offered| Fall
OEE Description
This elective teaches first and second-year students to identify and manage common injuries and illnesses in the wilderness and recreational settings. The principles and practice of wilderness medicine will be presented through a combination of classroom-based didactic sessions and outdoors-based simulated medical scenarios. Participants learn to provide care as a team, and experiential learning will be stressed throughout.

Faculty Sponsor|Linda Cragin, MS
Email|Linda.Cragin@umassmed.edu
Department| Family Medicine & Community Health
OEE Title| OE962 Primary Care Principles
Terms offered| Fall
OEE Description
This OEE is designed to advance UMMS student interest in patient-centered primary care; to help them understand how they can be active participants in the transformation of our health care system, and to help them become advocates for both primary care and system transformation. Primary Care is defined as the provision of integrated, accessible healthcare services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing the large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community (IOM 1996).

Faculty Sponsor|Riley McLean, MD
Email|riley.mclean@umassmemoria.org
Department| Family Medicine & Community Health
OEE Title| OE996 Climate Health & Action
Terms offered| Fall
OEE Description
The goal of this OEE is to expand medical students’ understanding of the environment as a determinant of health in order to better prepare future physicians to address growing health burdens related to climate change and to encourage advocacy for environmental protection as it relates to public health and medicine. To this end, we will organize six lectures given by experts in various intersections of medicine and climate change. Students will attend lectures and write a brief reflection at the end of the semester. The Climate Action OEE is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about climate change within the context of health and medicine, specifically related to certain medical specialties more broadly as a public health issue.

UMass Human Rights & Asylum Program
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/umass-human-rights-and-asylum-program

Description: Health Professionals for Human Rights is the UMass student chapter of Physicians for Human Rights. Through advocacy and action, we work to alleviate human rights abuses abroad and domestically. Our largest project is the student-run Worcester Asylum Clinic which provides physical and psychological medical evaluations to supplement our clients' asylum applications.

Medical Students for Choice (MSFC)
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing

Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/medical-students-for-choice-msfc

Description: Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) is a national organization with the goal of creating tomorrow's abortion providers and pro-choice physicians. UMass's Chapter of MSFC holds information sessions about reproductive health including abortion, hosts procedure trainings for manual vacuum aspiration and non-scalpel vasectomy, provides opportunities to shadow abortion providers, and facilitates involvement in local advocacy and policy discussion.

Organized Medicine (OrgMed)
Membership: School of Medicine
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/organized-medicine-orgmed

Description: As physicians, we are trained to identify the factors that influence our patient’s health, many of which include social barriers, health care system delivery, and current public policy. As such, physicians should advocate for positive change on behalf of the health and well-being of our patients. Organized Medicine collaborates with organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA), Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), Worcester District Medical Society (WDMS), and American Medical Student Association (AMSA) to represent the physician and trainee perspectives on topics ranging from racial justice to medical education. With these partnerships, students have the opportunity to write and review policy, meet with their local or state elected officials, learn more about health care policy, and are empowered to make changes in their community.

Community Garden Interest Group
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/community-garden-interest-group

Description: The UMMS Community Garden is a student-run community garden growing vegetables in the Spring and Summer seasons. The student group provides fresh produce to the greater UMass community. This student interest group is perfect for anyone who enjoys gardening, nutrition, sustainability, or community advocacy.

Plantation 2 Peak: UMass Medical School Outing Club
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/plantation-2-peak-umass-medical-school-outing-club

 Description: We aim to share our love for the outdoors with all interested members in the UMass Chan community- whether you are a seasoned mountaineer or you are interested in going on your first hike. We lead hikes and various other non-hiking outings, such as runs, skiing, backpacking, and biking trips at various levels and in all seasons, locally and around New England. We also host workshops and gear demonstrations to educate members on safe hiking practices in all seasons. Our monthly trips provide an opportunity to meet other students while enjoying safe and challenging adventures that serve as an excellent break from your studies. Our goal is to improve access to the outdoors in the UMass Chan community. The mission of Plantation 2 Peak: UMass Medical School Outing Club is to improve access to the outdoors in the UMass Chan community and provide our members with safe and inclusive outdoor activities that encompass a wide range of skills and experience.

UMass Chan Coalition for Climate Action
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/umass-chan-coalition-for-climate-action

Description: Climate change is the greatest global public health crisis of our generation as evidenced by the increasing incidence of natural disasters, heat waves, sea level rise, food instability, and the changing patterns of infectious diseases. Importantly, rising global temperatures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with predisposing illnesses. International efforts are lacking in attempts to curb the climate crisis so it is imperative that swift action be taken on an individual and organizational level. As future healthcare providers, we must not only be educated about the effects of climate change but also use our collective voice to generate institutional change to better serve our patients. The UMMS Coalition for Climate Action aims to bring awareness to the climate crisis, educate current and future physicians about the health effects of climate change, and collaborate with the UMass Medical School administration and other student organizations to bring more sustainability initiatives to both the UMass and greater Worcester communities.

Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/wilderness-medicine

Description: The Wilderness Medicine Interest Group and the Wilderness Medicine OEE are the best ways to gain useful skills related to the practice of medicine in remote areas. Come to our sessions to hear from incredible speakers, take part in scenario-based learning, and go on adventures in the wilderness of the Northeast!

Worcester Free Care Collaborative
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/worcester-free-care-collaborative

Description: The Worcester Free Care Collaborative (WFCC) is the student body that oversees a range of free medical clinics in the Greater Worcester area. Our clinics offer medical care, social support services, and educational materials to improve the health and well-being of our patients. We are dedicated to serving the residents of our community regardless of their income, insurance, or housing status.

Correctional Health Educators
Membership: School of Medicine
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/correctional-health-educators

Description: Correctional Health Educators is a group of students passionate about improving health education. We partner with Massachusetts Department of Youth Services to work with juvenile detention centers in the Worcester area to teach interactive health education classes. Our curriculum covers sexual education, healthy relationships, nutrition, alcohol, and drug use. This is a great opportunity to spend time with hilarious teenagers, learn about correctional medicine, and work on health education skills.

Family Medicine Interest Group
Membership: School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing
Website & Contact: https://umassmed.presence.io/organization/family-medicine-interest-group

Description: The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) provides interested students with an opportunity to explore the diverse field of family medicine, including the specialty's emphasis on social justice and health equity. Students will get the opportunity to network with family medicine providers and build clinical skills through panel discussions, procedure workshops, shadowing and research opportunities, and much more!

National Rural Health Association
Website: https://www.ruralhealth.us/
Description: The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national nonprofit membership organization with more than 21,000 members. The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. NRHA membership consists of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health. 

New England Rural Health Association (NERHA)
Website: https://nerha.memberclicks.net/  
Description: The New England Rural Health Association (NERHA), previously known as the New England Rural Health Roundtable was established in 1997, with funding from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities throughout the six New England states of CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT.  Our Association is unique as it is the only association that serves as a regional convener for the State Rural Health Associations. We have a wide variety of members across all sectors of healthcare and the community including: FQHCs & RHCs, critical access hospitals, behavioral health, dental, social services, community-based organizations, and individuals who are passionate about rural health.