Community interest groups focus on the social aspects of medicine. From diversity in sexual orientation, race and religion to Canadian run chapters or simply engaging in fun hobbies like chess and art!
Community interest groups provide a safe accepting space for all identities in medicine. Events held by our community interest groups allow our diverse student body to share their passions outside of the academic sphere. Be sure to keep up to date with our events by accessing our calendar in the above menu!
2SLGBTQIA+ Interest Group
Executives: Akhil Ramdoyal, Naomi Gebru, Courtney Clark, Rolan Anghelo Salcup
The 2SLGBTQIA+ interest group is a community-based group focused on building community and unity among 2SLGTBQIA+ medical students and allies and raising awareness on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and topics. We host both community networking events and educational workshops/presentations throughout the school year.
Bioethics and Professionalism Interest Group
Executives: Jacob Tallman, Shreya Sharma, Kyla Goulet-Kilgour, Linda Muzamuzi
The Bioethics and Professionalism Interest Group will provide opportunities for medical students to discuss and debate current and challenging issues in medical ethics and professionalism. They will learn about important issues that are impacting their field and society at large, and will develop their critical thinking and debating skills.
Black Medical Students’ Association (BMIG)
Executives: Naomi Gebru, Ben woldu, Aisha Ali, Linda Muzamuzi, Patricia Machekera
The Black Medical Students’ Association is a group committed to creating a community of learning surrounding black health issues, career mentorship and community outreach.
Canadian Blood Services
Executives: Cate Vercaigne, Grace Okunnu, Mehtab Dhillon, Rielle Hanna
The Canadian Blood Services Interest Group aims to increase student awareness and knowledge surrounding blood donations as well as encourage individuals that are eligible to donate blood.
Choosing Wisely Interest Group (CWIG)
Executives: Chanho Lee, Ruchira Thomas, Gabriella Niemczyk
We are a group that is part of the national Choosing Wisely campaign which is designed to foster awareness amongst medical students in Canada about unnecessary tests and treatments. This group will help medical students make smart and effective choices to ensure high-quality care.
Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS)
Executives: Brandon Paradoski, Nicola Kish, Sam Wiebte, Miray Askander, Patricia Machekera, Ryan Bisignano
We are the Manitoba medical student chapter of the national group. CMDS is an organization of Christian physicians, dentists, and students, each holding an individual membership, who seek to honour God by integrating faith with professional practice.
Creative Arts Interest Group (CAIG)
Executives: Tamara Singh, CJ Moreno, Urvi Chaudhari, Kemunto Matini, Nastashya Wall, Chloe Janse van Rensburg
The Creative Arts Interest Group (CAIG) is a student-run organization whose goal is to create a larger outlet for various creative arts within our college. The CAIG was created in 2018 as a conglomerate of the Art, Writing, and Music Interest Groups.
Filipino Association of Medical Students
Executives: Andrei Caymo, Gerald Trojillo, Allison Afable, Katelyn Casalla
We are a group of medical students at the University of Manitoba Advocating for increased representation of Filipinxs in medicine. We aim to address the issues of under-representation and inequity as they apply to the Filipino community through mentorship, research, and community outreach.
Fitness and Nutrition Interest Group
Executives: Dylan Walker, Chris Stockl, Karen Sayfee, Mallika Saggoo
The Fitness and Nutrition Interest Group (FNIG) aims to highlight the role of exercise, diet, and living a healthy lifestyle in improving health outcomes and preventing the development of chronic diseases. FNIG organizes events that encourages all medical students to get active, learn about the impacts of diet on health, and most importantly, have fun with classmates!
Healthcare Competencies Interest Group
Executives: Maor Davidovich, Grace Okunnu, Annika Bernacki
The Healthcare Competencies Interest Group (HCIG) provides students with opportunities to hone their history taking, physical exam skills, SOAP note writing, communication skills, and clinical judgement abilities. Our focus is to help students learn clinical skills applicable to multiple medical specialties, and help prepare students for the OSCE, clerkship, and their future careers as physicians.
Immigrant and Refugee Health Interest Group (IRHIG)
Executives: Naomi Gebru, Aisha Ali, Sam Gill, Kodley Bouachanthala
IRHIG aims to promote peer learning of the various health challenges faced by immigrants and refugees locally and nationally.
Indigenous Health Promotion Group (IHPG)
Executives: Mercedes Stemm, Kiana Brown, Mikayla Trojan
IHPG provides an opportunity for Indigenous medical students to become involved and create a sense of community, while bringing important health-related information to fellow students. Our group also strives to foster understanding of others when working with Indigenous populations.
Medical Students for Choice
Executives: Urvi Chaudhari, JJ Mao
Our Mission is to support future abortion care providers and advocate for reproductive justice globally. Together we ensure that sexual and reproductive healthcare, including abortion, is a standard part of medical education and training. MSFC provides financial and logistical resources to help future physicians receive this exposure, practice hands-on skills, and review residency training sites with the intention of becoming abortion providers. Our chapters work on a variety of projects, from hosting skills workshops to reforming their school’s curriculum to advocating for reproductive rights and healthcare access in their communities. In the past, MSFC has organized MVA workshop and IUD insertion workshop, which we hope to organize again.
Medical Women Interest Group (MWIG)
Executives: Regina Klassen, Sabryn Fouquette, Allison Afable, Humera Sadiq
The Medical Women Interest Group (MWIG) mandate is to bring together medical learners to improve their personal and professional wellness and promote care for womxn-identifying patients.
Medicine Chess Club
Executives: Ben van Bastelaere, Gerald Trojillo
The Chess Interest Group is the best place for anyone interested in chess or just a space to socialize! We’d like to emphasize that whether you’re a player who doesn’t know the rules of the game to being a competitive player or anything in between, there is a space for you in our club.
Medical Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group (MEIIG)
Executives: Aisha Ali, Kamran Zahid, Sura Alshamary, Xiao Zhang
The Medical Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group serves to provide students with the skill set to grow their ideas and projects. We seek to provide students with resources such as speakers and skills nights, and want to create an environment that facilitates development of innovative and entrepreneurial ideas in healthcare.
Muslim Medical Association of Canada
Executives: Minahil Noor, Fatima Saqib, Asim Ibrahim, Basel Tobail
The Muslim Medical Association of Canada (MMAC) is a registered non-profit organization, providing a national platform for Canadian Muslim physicians and medical students to collaborate on clinical services, community health promotion and outreach, professional education, networking, mentorship, advocacy, and research initiatives. The U of M Chapter hold events to promote collaboration and networking and have held events in the past such as Mock MMIs, Iftars, and BBQs!
Medicine Journal Club (MJC)
Executives: Lucas Mosienko
In Medicine Journal Club we take turns presenting and critiquing academic research papers. This is a great group to join to practice critically appraising research papers which is an essential component of evidence-based medicine.
The Northern Remote Interest Group (NRIG)
Executives: Trisha Anne Anterola, Karlee Proteau-Aminot, Kiana Tait, Antonina Kandiurin, Jacqueline Smith
The Northern Remote Interest Group (NRIG) aims to provide students the opportunity to learn more about practicing medicine in Northern Manitoba. We recognize the unique challenges and health needs of Northern communities and we are dedicated to learn more and work directly with communities in order to help bridge gaps in healthcare and build trusting relationships. We hope to provide several opportunities to meet directly with Northern physicians and visit a community so medical students can learn about Indigenous culture and ways of life.
Project Green Healthcare
Executives: Kristin James
Project Green Healthcare is a newly formed interest group dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for eco-friendly health care processes. If you are passionate about the environment and want to create real change to our wasteful systems in healthcare, this is the group for you. We meet monthly for about an hour, to brainstorm ideas and set goals for our current projects.
Public Health Interest Group (PHIG)
Executives: Tiffany Tantakoun, Michelle Guimond, Amy Lloyd, Annie Jiang
The Public Health Interest Group is focused on providing University of Manitoba medical students with the best opportunities and experiences with all things public health related! If you are interested in public health issues including policy, health prevention, community health, or other public health topics, this is the Interest Group for you.
Rural Interest Group (RIG)
Executives: Caitlin Culleton, Regina Klassen, Zeta Ward, Kaesy Enns
The Rural Interest Group (RIG) aims to expose medical students to rural health care and increase interest in practicing outside of Winnipeg. We are composed of 4 Med 2s and 2 Med 1 executives who organize events for all preclerkship students. Events range from lunches with physicians practicing rural medicine, exposure to rural residency programs, and 1- or 2-day trips to major rural centres to experience rural medicine. RIG executives organize these events with the help of two amazing staff and recruit students to attend. Executive or not, students get lots of exposure to hands-on skill training, advice from physicians, and various health care settings around MB!
South Asian Medical Students Association
Executives: Urvi Chaudhari, Tamarah Singh, Vidhi Arya
The South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA) is a dynamic interest group dedicated to empowering South Asian medical students on their journey to becoming healthcare professionals. Our mission is to illuminate the unique identity and responsibilities of South Asians in the medical field while fostering a strong sense of representation within the diaspora. Through engaging events and AMA’s, SAMSA creates a vibrant platform for students to connect, learn, and celebrate their heritage. We provide invaluable connections with physicians and healthcare practitioners who share our identity, allowing members to build networks and gain insights into the shared experiences that unite us. Join SAMSA to embrace your heritage while pursuing a rewarding career in medicine.
Student Advocacy Committee (SAC)
Executives: Doris Goubran (GAAC Jr), Akhil Ramdoyal, Keegan Lilley, Fatima Saqib, Humera Sadiq, Kyla Goulet-Kilgour, Courtney Clark, Nicole Shen
A collaborative committee formed by representatives from the Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee (GAAC) as well as Global Health Advocacy (GHA), SAC represents the interests and concerns of medical students to all levels of government. Annually, SAC organizes a delegation of medical students to travel to Ottawa for Lobby Day. Additionally, SAC organizes Provincial Lobby Day locally in Manitoba, as well as opportunities for students to become better advocates at a local and international level.
Available positions:
- Government Affairs Advocate Committee Rep Jr (GAAC Jr): Co-leads student advocacy committee with Global Health Advocate (as GAAC Sr). Participates in monthly teleconferences and National GAAC initiatives (as GAAC Jr. and Sr). Non-voting position on the MMSA (GGAC Sr)
- Community Outreach Rep Jr: Reach out to community stakeholders in preparation for the Provincial Day of Action to gain insight on political issues.
- Communications and Media Strategist Rep Jr: Promote advocacy to peers, relevant organizations, and media via mainstream and social media platforms
- MLA Rep Jr: Responsible for correspondence and organization of Provincial Day of Action meetings with MLAs.
- Advocacy Training Coordinator Jr: Organize annual advocacy training events with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS)
- Global Health Advocate/Local Officer of Human Rights and Peace Jr (GHA/LOHRP Jr): Represents the U of M in the CFMS Global Health Advocacy program. Works with the CFMS Global Health Portfolio to coordinate national advocacy initiatives. Gets the opportunity to join the National Day of Action in Ottawa each year (Fall term). Is a member of the local Student Advocacy Committee (SAC) and advocates for a Manitoba specific local justice issue in the Provincial Day of Action in the Spring term.
Teaching Awards Committee
Executives: Shreya Sharma, Jennifer Luo
UM Canadian Alliance of Medical Students Against Human Trafficking (CAMSAHT)
Executives: Charanpreet Kaur, Guneet Uppal, Sarah Thomson, Grace Okunnu, Maya Polevoi, Jasmine Gandhi, Kristi Loeb
The Canadian Alliance of Medical Students Against Human Trafficking (CAMSAHT) is the first, student-led anti-trafficking initiative of its kind in Canada. We work to educate all Canadian healthcare professionals about human trafficking through curriculum development, research, and advocacy.
UM Run
Executives: Sophie Poirier Cole, Klara Whalen
UM Run exists to bring together students that share a common interest in running, organize regular group runs, and help encourage both physical and mental well-being.
The University of Manitoba Journal of Medicine Club (UMJM)
Executives: Tooba Razi, Mitchell Wilson
The UMJM is our school’s very own academic journal, highlighting the accomplishments of our college. Participation in this club will allow students to be involved in the writing and editing of the UMJM
UV & Me Manitoba Chapter
Executives: Jaime McNicholl, Sem Perez, Charan Kaur, Hailey Hutchinson, Raman Grewal, Morgan Taverner
Our chapter’s mission is to educate the nation’s youth with the knowledge to protect themselves from the dangers of skin cancer and UV exposure.
Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
Executives: Sophie Poirier Cole, Joshua Waldman, Mackenzie Medeiros, Graham Moll
The wilderness medicine interest group (WMIG) will provide experience and education for those interested in emergency and wilderness medicine, with emphasis on outdoors and low resource environments. Our goal is to support and inform students regarding careers related to wilderness medicine, teach practical skills, and promote further education.