RWJ's Muslim Student Organization, which allows students to learn more about the Islamic faith while providing opportunities to put Islamic values such as community service and mentorship into practice

The Integrative Medicine Interest Group (IntegMed) is designed to expand students’ definition of “medicine” and “treatment”. We cooperate with multiple interest groups to host activities and guest lectures that aim to help students foster a respect and understanding for alternate treatment modalities that patients regularly use and also learn if these treatments are safe and/or effective.  

The Internal Medicine Interest Group is a student run interest group intended to educate students about careers in Internal Medicine (IM) and promote relationships and communication among student members, IM faculty, and IM residents. The group focuses on promoting an understanding of the role of the Internist as a primary care physician as well as the role of subspecialists in providing care for complex diseases. Events such as researcher and clinician lectures and participation in activities hosted by the local chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) provide networking opportunities, potential research placements, and mentors. The interest group provides medical students a better understanding of career options, patient care, and the clinical relevance of first and second year coursework.

The International Health Interest Group (IHIG) is designed to raise awareness of international health issues through a close collaboration with the Office of Global Health. IHIG runs an "International Health Elective,” which includes lunch lectures and events over the two semesters with speakers who have worked in different capacities in global health. Topics covered throughout the year will broaden students’ perspectives on different cultures and world medical problems that are not seen in the United States. In addition, IHIG raises funds for charities that contribute to international health relief work and assists students who wish to study abroad during the summer between first and second year or during fourth-year electives with fundraising and information sessions. The IHIG coordinators are also members of the steering committee for the Office of Global Health at the medical school.

The goal of JMSS is to maintain a sense of Jewish community at RWJMS. JMSS provides programming and support for Jewish medical students at RWJ. Events throughout the year include Chanukah and Passover parties, lunch lectures, and Shabbat dinners, and we will also hold events with other faith-based student groups in order to understand the similarities and differences between groups. While we provide a social outlet for Jewish students, we encourage students of all faiths to participate in JMSS events.

LMSA is the local Robert Wood Johnson Medical School chapter of Latino Medical Student Association Northeast (LMSA-NE). Its mission is to recruit Latinos into higher education and health-related areas, educate the public and one another about Latino health issues, and promote awareness about social, political, and economic issues as they relate to Latino health and the Latino population.

The Medical Mandarin Noncredit Elective strives to provide medical students with Mandarin language and cultural competency skills when providing care to Chinese Americans. The noncredit elective involves hour-long classes once a month during lunch as well as community service events throughout the year.

The RWJMS Chapter of Medical Students for Choice is dedicated to ensuring that women receive the full range of reproductive healthcare choices and helping create tomorrow’s abortion providers and pro-choice physicians by supporting medical student advocacy and programming, improving reproductive health curriculum, increasing abortion training opportunities, and promoting the importance of MSFC’s work broadly.

Miles of Smiles is a group focused on exercise and wellness at Rutgers RWJ and the greater community. We aim to promote health, fitness, and wellbeing for all students in order to encourage a positive lifestyle. Throughout the year we hold exercise sessions led by our very own classmates, from lifts and runs to Body Pump workouts and outdoor yoga. 

The Mind-Body Medicine Interest Group (MBMIG) aims to promote a student body understanding of and appreciation for the relationship between mental and physical wellness and disease. We bring in researchers on various topics relating to stress, anxiety, depression, and their physiological correlates. The MBMIG-linked mindfulness meditation elective offers students the opportunity to learn the attentional and self-regulatory skill of mindfulness meditation with an instructor.

The Neurosurgery Interest Group offers students the opportunity to hear from speakers involved in the field of Neurosurgery at all levels. This includes attending physicians, residents, and 4th year students in the process of applying into neurosurgery residencies. Getting involved in a niche field like neurosurgery can be a difficult task for a first year student, and this interest group exists to alleviate some of that complexity. NSIG aims to assist students in gaining exposure to the field, and in cultivating the necessary experiences to be competitive applicants in the near future.

The OB/Gyn Interest Group is designed for students who want to learn more about opportunities available in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology. The group helps students gain an understanding of what a career in Ob-Gyn entails by creating a network between students and health care professionals within the field. In addition, the OB/Gyn Interest Group provides a forum for various speakers and promotes advocacy for issues regarding women's health and reproductive care.

The mission of the Ophthalmology interest group is to cultivate student interest and exposure to the field of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology is the surgical and medical management of all diseases of the eye and orbit.

The Orthopaedics Interest Group is a student run group organized by selected M1 and M2 representatives. The main focus of the group is to expose first- and second- year medical students to the specialty of Orthopaedic Surgery and to provide guidance to become a competitive orthopaedic surgery residency applicant. Past activities include anatomy reviews, a RWJUH physician-run Step 1 review session, and a speaker series on various orthopaedics sub-specialties. In the coming year, we plan to host clinically relevant workshops for students and promote both shadowing and research opportunities within the Department of Orthopaedics. 

The Pediatrics Interest Group has an overall goal of exposing students to pediatric medicine. We hope to offer forums for students to learn about pediatric subspecialties, pediatric residencies, ethical issues in pediatric medicine, and interacting with pediatric patients. We also collaborate with other student organizations to organize opportunities for volunteering with the local pediatric population. Through our relationship with the RWJ and St. Peter's pediatric programs, we can offer students shadowing opportunities within a number of specialties. Finally, medical students who participate in the pediatrics interest group are eligible to apply for the Pediatrics Non-Credit Elective.

PATH (Pediatric to Adult Transitions in Healthcare) is a non-credit elective designed to educate medical students on what it is like for patients with chronic conditions to transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. PATH students work with physicians in a specific pediatric subspecialty to assist and educate adolescent patients and families on the transition process. 

We are an interest group focused on introducing students to the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The inter-disciplinary specialty aims to help students explore the sub-specialties in the field and to become comfortable working with individuals with varying ability levels. Sub-specialities include Sports Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury, Pain, Traumatic Brain Injury, Pediatrics, and Prostethics and Orthotics.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was founded in 1986 by a group of physicians who believed that their status and skills allowed them the unique opportunity to call attention to and investigate human rights violations both domestically and internationally. We discuss topics such as prison healthcare, medical access, and worldwide developments and allow medical students to tackle and engage in discussions about both domestic and international issues. Our chapter was started by rising M4s two years ago and is currently growing into its own. We hope to fill a void in student opportunities by providing a distinct forum for students to discuss and engage in health and human rights issues that affect the greater population.

The Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group (PRSIG) was formed to connect and energize medical students interested in learning more about a career in plastic surgery. PRSIG hosts monthly lunch lectures led by plastic surgeons from a variety of institutions and backgrounds. In addition, students are connected with plastic surgery research and mentorship opportunities, to help them gain insight into the field. Finally, PRSIG hosts its traditional annual Cadaver Suture Clinic, where students can directly learn suturing skills from the RWJUH plastic surgeons. We encourage all medical students to join PRSIG and learn more about the many opportunities within the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free educational, recreational, and social programs to children and families living with medical challenges! We run an assortment of fun activities ranging from arts and crafts, sporting events, dance parties and much more! Each Project Sunshine member works with a student at Lakeview Middle School, a facility dedicated towards helping children with cerebral palsy and other cognitive impairments.

PRAXIS is the student-run psychiatry interest group at RWJMS. Guest lectures from psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, researchers, community advocates, and more, serve as an opportunity to cultivate interest in psychiatry and mental health broadly. PRAXIS also offers shadowing opportunities with the RWJMS Department of Psychiatry and unique ways of engaging with psychiatry, such as film analyses run by the faculty advisor, Dr. Anthony Tobia.

The Public Health and Preventive Medicine Interest Group aims to educate students at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School about the role of public health in medicine. Events held by the interest group explore topics such as health equity, social determinants of health, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, and health promotion models. The interest group provides information for students considering careers in public health.

The Radiology Interest Group is designed for students interested in learning more about the fields of radiology and interventional radiology. Students will have the chance to hear from and interact with various attendings and residents through a series of lunch lectures. The lectures will address topics such as: the basics of radiology and different imaging modalities, common procedures in interventional radiology, and research and shadowing opportunities for medical students. Additionally, there will be interactive, simulation events for those interested in interventional radiology.

Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national, non-profit organization that advocates for childhood literacy. It adopts a simple model of prescribing books and reading aloud to stimulate early brain development. ROR continues to encourage parents to read regularly to their children by giving them the tools to do so. Our chapter of ROR was created in the fall of 2019 and is only the second student chapter at a medical school nationally. Our goal is to provide a literacy-rich environment and help to model skills to parents and children on how to read at home. Medical students are encouraged to get involved and volunteer to read with us at Chandler!

The RWJMS Ambassadors is a student group that acts as a liaison between the student body and prospective students, guests, and special visitors of the school.  The Ambassadors facilitate interview day for prospective students, delivering presentations and leading tours. Special events, such as Accepted Students Day, heavily rely on participation and planning by the Ambassadors. The Ambassadors have the opportunity to speak to interested and accepted students about what life is like at RWJMS. As spokespersons of the school, the Ambassadors take a tremendous amount of pride in RWJMS and its students, never failing to celebrate their talents, diversity, and unique interests. The Ambassadors strongly believe that the greatest strength of RWJMS is in its students, and the sense of community fostered amongst them. It is the goal of the Ambassadors to share these strengths with future students and visitors.   

The RWJMS Literary Society provides a forum where RWJMS students can share their experiences, ideas, and talent. We produce an annual literary journal: a collection of medically related commentary, criticism, fiction, poetry, art, and humor. Our organization is dedicated to establishing a creative and intellectual community at RWJMS where students can discuss whatever is on their minds, and to bring events of cultural significance to the campus. There is a lot of talent and diversity at our school; we hope to tap into some of this talent and let the RWJMS community celebrate all that our students and faculty have to offer.

SAGA is a group for queer medical students and their allies to organize around LGBTQ issues in medicine, medical school and medical education. Our mission is to educate our peers through events and trainings, provide a community for queer med students and work with the administration to make the school more inclusive.

Substance Use Interest Group

The Student Curriculum Committee (SCC) is a Subcommittee of the Rutgers RWJMS Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee is composed of both elected and appointed faculty whose job is to develop, review and make policy related to the entire 4-year medical school curriculum. The role of the SCC is to bring forth the opinions, perspectives, and suggestions of students. SCC responsibilities include attending monthly meetings of both the SCC and the full Curriculum Committee and sitting on Course Evaluation Subcommittees. SCC members also select 2 Course Representatives for each M1 and M2 course to maintain communication between students in the course and the course director. After every course, both M1 and M2 SCC members lead meetings with all their Course Representatives to gather additional feedback from students. 

The Ultrasound Interest Group was formed in the interest of having a multidisciplinary group that would promote the education and use of ultrasound. We hope to explore the use of US across multiple specialties through lectures and hands on experiences. Ultimately we hope to see US education incorporated into our school’s curriculum to better prepare our students to use this great technology.

The Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) provides a forum for the exploration of interests in neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, and promotes interaction among students, faculty, and residents through scholarly and social functions. Students also have the opportunity to complete the non-credit elective in Clinical Neuroscience through a combination of attendance at SIGN events and the fulfillment of an approved program of doctor shadowing, research, or related volunteer work. SIGN is a national student organization affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). All student members of SIGN are eligible and encouraged to apply for free membership to the AAN, which offers scholarships for summer research and travel to the AAN conference.

SIR facilitates student entry into research activities by improving student exposure and access to faculty involved in research activities within the RWJMS community. Through its Research Studies Lecture Series, SIR exposes students to current research being conducted at RWJMS to stimulate student interest in research and to provide students with the necessary information to further pursue research activities, such as the RWJMS Summer Research Fellowship. One faculty member is invited to give a research presentation with time for discussion during lunchtime sessions. While the elective targets M1 students, M2 students can also attend. Lectures focus on the crossroads between medicine and research, including both the personal perspective of the presenter in addition to the technical aspects of the presenter‘s research. The lectures and resources provided by SIR ease the transition into fellowship applications and summer research programs.

Student representatives on the Student Admissions Committee participate in discussion and selection of the incoming class with the medical school’s Admissions Committee. Students are selected on the basis of class election and interview components.

SNMA is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of under-served communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians. We aim do do this through the following goals: - 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.

The Ultrasounds a cappella group aims to integrate music into the medical community within our school and surrounding areas. With various events throughout the year, we strive to provide opportunities to our classmates for musical and artistic expression, as well as help create the link between music and medicine as we bring our singing out into the community. As an organization that is open to all levels of experience, we foster a collaborative environment for musical growth and development as we work together and learn from one another.

The Wilderness Medicine Interest Group serves to unite a community of students passionate about nature, the outdoors and the complexities of clinical management outside the four walls of a hospital. WMIG events range from lunch and dinner lectures from trauma and wilderness medicine specialists to wilderness hikes involving emergency scenarios.

The Urology Interest Group provides an approachable connection to students interested in Urology as a specialty. We aim to expose students to Urology and provide guidance for residency applicants. We provide shadowing and research opportunities, discussions with current Urology attendings and residents, and other urology/surgery demonstrations. Lectures can range from simple anatomy review, to chances to use a surgical simulator. We encourage all students regardless of previous knowledge to attend UIG events and join the group.

WC4BL is a medical student-run organization born out of the National White Coat Die-In demonstrations that took place on December 10, 2014. We aim to safeguard the lives and well-being of our patients through the elimination of racism and dismantle racism in medicine and promote the health, well-being, and self-determination of people of color.

The Valentine Mott Surgical Society is an extension of the professional Valentine Mott Surgical Society at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and is open to all students. Valentine Mott’s goal is to provide opportunities for students to explore the exciting fields available in surgery through a longitudinal lecture series and various hands-on surgery skill sessions. The Society sponsors monthly specialty seminars, providing opportunities for students to get to know the faculty and residents at RWJUH. Activities include introduction to OR sessions, M1/M2 laparoscopic sessions, and both physician-run and student-run suture sessions.