AΩA Alpha Chapter of Illinois Activities

AΩA’s goals are to promote professionalism, scholarship, leadership, and service in medicine. In recent years the Alpha Illinois chapter has been taking steps to increase our involvement in these areas. We continue to look for ways to improve ourselves and our surroundings.

2006-07 ACTIVITIES

M1 Orientation Breakout Session: As in prior years, a representative from AΩA was present at the M1 orientation in August of 2006. Our Vice-president (Joseph A. Walsh) answered questions regarding AΩA for the new M1's. Joe also gave advice on how to succeed in medical school academically, professionally, and extracurricularly.

M2 USMLE Step 1 Panel: Once again we held our annual M2 USMLE advice panel for the Class of 2009. There were approximately 80 students in attendance. A powerpoint presentation ( AΩA USMLE Powerpoint ) was presented and then seven current senior AΩA members reviewed their personal study strategies with the M2's. A question-and-answer session followed. Special thanks to Joe Walsh, Cyrus Press, Smiresh Shah, Dev Kamdar, Leilah Backhus, and Steve Malcolm, and Dan Golden for sitting on the panel.

AΩA USMLE Panel for M2 class of 2009

ACADEMIC SUPPORT NETWORK (ASN): AΩA is working closely with the Chicago Medical Student Council (CMSC) to solidify the Academic Support Network's role on campus. This year the ASN was presented to the incoming M1 class at the August orientation. Dan Golden again presented the ASN to the M1's during a "late" orientation in September 2006. The UIC Office of Student Affairs is working diligently to identify those students that will most benefit from the ASN's free-tutoring. Student's who have failed exams are promptly contacted regarding the ASN and it's tutoring services. M2 tutors met at an orientation session in late September. This year we are proud to have 22 M2 volunteer tutors covering every M1 class. As in prior years, a prerequisite to tutoring is a grade of "Honors" in the particular class.

Academic Support Network Tutor Orientation Session, September 28th, 2006

Chicago Race for the Cure: Sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, this year's event was on September 30, 2006. This annual fundraiser supports the fight against one of the most prevalent types of cancer in our society. You can run in the 5K race (~3miles); you can register to run in the morning of the race for $35 (by check only). You can also be a volunteer to help out at the race or be a donor without running/walking in the race itself. Details can be found at (http://www.chicagoraceforthecure.org/).

2005-06 ACTIVITIES

Please donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief effort

Click once daily to help provide basic health care for children.

Click once daily to help provide free mammograms for women.

Click once daily to help provide free food for people in need.


Chicago Student Run Free Clinic	Urbana HeRMES Clinic	MedicIndia
Pediatrics Night, helping provide health care for the underserved of Chicago	Helping Revitalize Medical Education through Service, Champaign County	Sponsored Summer Program for medical students in Surat, India


Elder Abuse Awareness	UIC Pediatric Art Program	UIC OSA Service Awards
Elder Abuse Awareness Week at the Thompson Center (7/11/05-7/15/05)	Summer weekend art activities for kids, ended after a successful four-year run	Provided $1250 in supplies for pediatric art & summer entertainment activities

M1 Orientation Breakout Session: AΩA members (including our Vice-President George Havelka) participated in the Aug 2005 Orientation Week for incoming M1 students. We participated in a panel discussion during which we inform students about the history of AΩA and our local AΩA chapter activities. We also gave advice to incoming M1s regarding how to survive and do well in medical school, and we remind them not to lose sight of the original reason they came to medical school in the first place (to become a skillful, compassionate doctor) in the midst of their intense studies and trying to do well on tests.

M2 USMLE Step 1 Panel: In the annual tradition, we hold an informative session for the M2 students regarding preparation for the board exams. We hold this event in conjunction with the local American Medical Association each year. Please also refer to the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 study tips from AΩA members on this website that include sample study schedules.

AΩA/CMSC Tutoring Program: Our chapter also works each year with the Chicago Medical Student Council to coordinate a tutoring program for M1s and M2s who may be having difficulties with any of their medical courses. Tutors are generally AΩA members or other medical students who have performed well (received honors) in the class, and this program is part of the Academic Support Network.

Chicago Race for the Cure: Sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, this year's event is on Oct 1, 2005. This annual fundraiser supports the fight against one of the most prevalent types of cancer in our society. A few of us will actually be running in the 5K race (~3miles) as cardiovascular exercise for a great cause; you can register to run in the morning of the race for $35 (by check only). You can also be a volunteer to help out at the race or be a donor without running/walking in the race itself. Details can be found at (http://www.chicagoraceforthecure.org/).


2005 Komen Race for the Cure	2005 HeRMES Clinic Photo 1	2005 HeRMES Clinic Photo 2

Health Disparities Task Force: Our AΩA Vice President is the liaison for this task force headed by Dr. Jorge Girotti and comprised of various students and faculty interested in addressing the topic of cultural competence and healthcare disparities. The work of this committee has resulted in a speaker series, ECM plenary session, and organized information distributed to students during preclinical training.

2004-05 ACTIVITIES

The Heartbeat 8K Run/Walk took place on Saturday, July 17, 2004 (located in Cherry Valley, IL, right outside Rockford). The event helps to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community and raises money for the SwedishAmerican Heart Center in Rockford. According to their web site,

Our mission is to promote awareness in the community about America’s number one killer, heart disease. We want this race to be used as a memorial to all those who have been victims of heart disease, while providing education and fund-raising within our community towards the fight against heart disease. All race profits will be given back to local organizations for this cause.

One of the two race directors was AΩA treasurer Ryan Enke,and this was a chapter-wide volunteering event for AΩA members although volunteers did not have to be AΩA members. AΩA Rockford representative Jeff Cook coordinated the recruitment of students, family, and friends from the UIC–Rockford campus; volunteers worked from 7:30-10:30am.

The American Cancer Society has a weekly call-in show on the Chicago Access Network television station, a local public access channel. The hosts discuss cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and answer viewers’ questions. AΩA members helped answer the phones and take donations. It was an enjoyable experience and the ACS was very appreciative of our help. The show took place on Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:00pm, on channel 21.

The Student-Run Free Clinic is a clinic run by UIC medical students on Tuesday nights from 5:00-10:00pm. The weekly clinic is completely volunteer-run, providing basic health care to those in need. Students from the M1 to the M4 levels participate. AΩA contributes to the clinic in several ways. AΩA alumni Stephanie Banasczek, Alex Sauper, and Nirali Shah participated in its founding. The Alpha Illinois chapter donated $300 to the clinic in March, and the clinic also was one of the recipients of the AΩA Medical Student Service Project Awards in 2003. AΩA members and other UIC medical students are encouraged to volunteer their time at the clinic; it is an outstanding service and educational experience.

AΩA members annually participate in a panel discussion in August at M1 orientation (when the incoming M1s can choose various panels to which to listen and ask questions). We inform incoming M1 students about AΩA, our local chapter, and our current activities. There is also a separate panel regarding “How to Survive and Succeed in Medical School.”

Annually in the fall semester, AΩA members hold an informative session in conjunction with the local American Medical Association (AMA) student chapter for the M2s to help them prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam. In addition, we have collected and posted USMLE Steps 1 and 2 study tips from AΩA members on this website.

AΩA also works annually with the Chicago Medical Student Council to coordinate a tutoring program for M1s and M2s who may be having difficulties with any of their medical courses. Tutors are generally AΩA members or other medical students who have performed well (received honors) in the class. This program is part of the Academic Support Network.