Student Organizations
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Have the Opportunity to Charter and join established student organizations. Many of these clubs are osteopathic in nature and focus on specific medical specialties, while other clubs focus on broader topics. These clubs are very active, and offer speakers, service projects, and outreach, while helping students to lean important lessons in a non-academic setting. See Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s list of student organizations below:
Starting a Club or Organization at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Familiarize and education osteopathic medical students about the Mission, Vision and Core Values of the ACOOG.
- Provide and opportunity for fellowship among osteopathic medical students interested in osteopathic obstetrics and gynecology.
- Educate osteopathic medical students of opportunities for post graduate education and research in the field of women’s health.
- Foster communication between the ACOOG and locally sanctioned OB/GYN student interest groups at accredited COMs.
Advisor: Dr. Traci Groening | tgroening@burrell.edu
President: Love Opoku Afrifa | love.opokuafrifa@burrell.edu
ACOP is an organization for students interested in pediatrics as a potential future specialty. Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine ACOP is focused primarily on working with children in the community to promote health sciences.
Advisor: Dr. Scott Cyrus | scyrus@burrell.edu
President: Mackenzie Blackburn | mackenzie.blackburn@burrell.edu
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s American College of Osteopathic Surgeons’ purpose is to represent and educate the future osteopathic surgeon. ACOS-MSS stresses understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery and provides a forum for discussion among students and surgeons.
Advisor: Dr. Kamran Kamali | kkamali@burrell.edu
President: Oscar Hernandez | oscar.hernandez@burrell.edu
AMSA is a student-governed national organization that encompasses thousands of medical students, pre-medical students, interns, residents and physicians from across the country. AMSA provides education and leadership training, networking, resources, and a platform for students to share their knowledge and experiences in hopes of enhancing the quality of the medical profession. The goal is to help medical students think beyond drugs and diagnoses, in order to promote physicians that can make a difference. AMSA offers mentorships, leadership programs, and scholarships for chapters. For example, AMSA has an annual event for National Primary Care Week to help promote primary care by emphasizing its importance. They also have a Health Equity Week of Action to help bring awareness to health disparities that exist across racial, ethnic, cultural, and social groups. Their events are geared towards the holistic betterment of all medical students.
Advisor: Dr. Muhammad Khan | mkhan@burrell.edu
Co-President: Zayna Abdulla | zayna.abdulla@burrell.edu
Co-President: Ayah Ibrahim | ayah.ibrahim@burrell.edu
The American Medical Women’s Association is an organization which functions at the local, national, and international level to advance women in medicine and improve women’s health. We achieve this by providing and developing leadership, advocacy, education, expertise, mentoring, and strategic alliances.
As a local chapter, our goal is to provide support and fellowship for members, as well as give back to our community through service.
Advisor: Dr. Victoria Chang | vchang@burrell.edu
President: Lauren Mackell | lauren.mackell@burrell.edu
The national chapter of sports medicine at Burrell is focused on advancing a mutually respectful relationship among dedicated sports medicine specialists, and to educate AOASM members, allied health sports medicine professionals, and the public.
Advisor: Kris Vaudrey | kvaudrey@burrell.edu
President: Thomas Baez | thomas.baez@burrell.edu
The American Society of Clinical Oncology Student Group at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to spreading awareness, knowledge, and passion for the study and practice of Oncology. The organization accomplishes its mission through research, seminars, and community events.
Advisor: Dr. Sheeba Varughese Tano | vstano@burrell.edu
President: Cody Bartlett | cody.bartlett@burrell.edu
Animal Helpers is an organization that works with local shelters, like Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley, to bring awareness and opportunities for students to help the shelters find permanent, loving homes for its current furry residents. We would also like to help the school coordinate Pet Therapy Days, so that students can take a break from their schedules and focus on their mental health.
Advisor:
President: Julia Wong | julia.wong1@burrell.edu
Arab-American Medical Association at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine works to share Arab culture with the surrounding community and highlight the medical struggles of Arab patients within the United States and globally. We strive to introduce the culture and traditions with the goal of increasing cultural competency and advocacy for this community while providing a space for our Arab students.
Advisor: Dr. Muneer Assi | massi@burrell.edu
President: Haneen Hamie | haneen.hamie@burrell.edu
This organization unites Asian American medical students and people interested in helping the APIA community face in healthcare. Additionally, this club provides a space where minority students can share their experience or struggles they may have face/d to become a medical student and as a medical student. This organization is a way for students of similar backgrounds to connect and uplift each other.
Advisor: Dr. Victoria Chang | vchang@burrell.edu
President: Maria Guadalupe Escano | mariaguadalupe.esc@burrell.edu
To provide students of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine with insight into anesthesia and perioperative medicine as career options through educational lectures, guest speakers, and clinical skills workshops
Advisor: Dr. Harald Stauss | hstauss@burrell.edu
President: Lauren Mackell | lauren.mackell@burrell.edu
Our goal is to expose students to more practice with biochemistry related content. On a monthly/bi-monthly basis we practice biochemistry questions related to the medical curriculum in a team based learning style and facilitate discussion among students about important concepts in biochemistry.
Advisor: Dr. Vanessa De La Rosa | vdelarosa@burrell.edu
Co-Presidents: Jessica Stephens | jessica.stephens@burrell.edu
Advisor: Brett Newcomer | bnewcomer@burrell.edu
Co-President: Allison Nanez | allison.nanez@burrell.edu
Co-President: Jacob Hollis | jacob.hollis@burrell.edu
Burrell Befikre is a fusion fitness dance club designed to share Desi/ Bollywood culture with our classmates. Befikre is an Urdu/ Hindi word that means carefree. Thus, the goal of this club is to allow students to leave their worries at the door, join with friends to learn new dance forms, and burn calories in a healthy and fun environment.
Advisor: Dr. Sheeba Tano | stano@burrell.edu
Co-Presidents: Shreya Tumu | shreya.tumu@burrell.edu
Co-Presidents: Shaha Aziz | shaha.aziz@burrell.edu
The mission of Burrell’s Christian Medical Association is to tend to students’ spiritual well-being, serve the Las Cruces area, and assist local churches through community outreach events.
Advisor: Norice Lee | nlee@burrell.edu
Co-Leader: Carter Cunningham | carter.cunningham@burrell.edu
Co-Leader: Rebecca Nika Tsai | rebeccanika.tsai@burrell.edu
Burrell in Brevard is a youth mentoring program between Burrell Medical Students and elementary, middle, and high school students in Brevard County. Our goal is to promote health education as well as provide students who are interested in pursuing medicine with advice and healthcare experience through various volunteer and learning opportunities.
Advisor: Dr. Rooney-Otero | Kathleen.Rooney-Otero@nemours.org
President: Brooke Ortiz | brooke.ortiz@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Steven Ontiveros | sjontiveros@burrell.edu
President: Kendra Barker | kendra.barker@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Steven Ontiveros | sjontiveros@burrell.edu
President: Jennifer Phan | jennifer.phan@burrell.edu
Dermatology Club’s purpose here at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine where our main goal is to educate and provide resources about skin care, cancers, and diseases. We participate in health fairs and will be looking to provide dermatology related resources to those interested.
Advisor: Dr. Debra Bramblett | dbramblett@burrell.edu
President: Shaichi Sen | shaichi.sen@burrell.edu
Our groups goals are to provide guidance and mentorship to local high school students so they can succeed in undergraduate studies and medical school. Another goal of our group is to broaden students interests and knowledge via medical and scientific workshops. We also aim to provide medical and healthcare related volunteer opportunities to students.
Advisor: Dr. Karen Vaillant | kvaillant@burrell.edu
President: Tianna Sell | tianna.sell@burrell.edu
ACOEP Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine chapter is a group of students interested in the field of Emergency Medicine with views in line with the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. The American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) promotes patient-centric, holistic emergency care consistent with the osteopathic philosophy, practiced by all emergency medicine professionals.
Advisor: Dr. Oliver Hayes | ohayes@burrell.edu
President: Kyle Essex | kyle.essex@burrell.edu
The mission of the American Academy of Family Physicians is to engage, foster, and support Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s medical students and their interest in family medicine. The group will facilitate this mission in a variety of ways such as, community engagement, mentorship, and focused clinical experiences.
Advisor: Dr. Karen Vaillant | kvaillant@burrell.edu
President: Carl Brayton | carl.brayton@burrell.edu
The Financial Success Club will promote understanding of basic financial and business skills with an emphasis on giving student doctors the necessary knowledge for success in their personal and business finances.
Advisor: Dr. Anthony Levatino | alevatino@burrell.edu
President: Tommy Tsang | tommy.brennantsang@burrell.edu
Gifted Hands is a club dedicated to serving the families and individuals with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities in Las Cruces and the surrounding area. We aim to interact with and learn more about the special needs community while educating future physicians on how to care for and treat individuals with special needs.
Advisor: Dr. Scott Cyrus | scyrus@burrell.edu
President: Renee Crick | renee.crick@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Michael Woods | mwoods@burrell.edu
President: Huda Abughannam | huda.abughannam@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Muneer Assi | massi@burrell.edu
President: Heather Jao | heather.jao@burrell.edu
Health and Wellness Club exists to monitor and improve the physical and mental wellness of the student body at BCOM, providing the resources, activities, and experiences to promote students’ health.
Advisor: Brett Newcomer | bnewcomer@burrell.edu
President: Cedar Edell | cedar.edell@burrell.edu
To unite and empower medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.
Advisor: Dr. Pedro Del Corral | pdelcorral@burrell.edu
President: Vanessa Escolero | vanessa.escolero@burrell.edu
Advisor: Miley Grandjean | mgrandjean@burrell.edu and Karen Provencio | kprovencio@burrell.edu
President: Ashley Stumpf | ashley.stumpf@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Daniel Dodson | ddodson@burrell.edu
President: Divya Bhatia | divya.bhatia@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Nancy Minugh-Purvis | nminugh@burrell.edu
President: Spencer Cook | spencer.cook@burrell.edu
The purpose of this organization is to increase education, awareness, and open discussion regarding issues of reproductive health and to support those within the medical community who are working to ensure freedom of choice. While MSFC supports education in contraceptive methods and family planning, in contrast to similar organizations, this organization seeks to focus on the utilization and provision of abortion services. MSFC recognizes that abortion services are an important facet of medical care, and we encourage awareness of resources available in local communities to allow each medical provider to provide the best care possible to individual patients.
Advisor: Dr. Vanessa De La Rosa | vdelarosa@burrell.edu
Director: Victoria Harrison | victoria.harrison@burrell.
Medical Students for Gun Safety is a group started in 2018 that addresses the growing issue of gun violence in our country. Fellow medical students from several other institutions have joined together to advocate for responsible gun ownership, better gun safety curriculum in medical education, and increasing funding for public health research on the topic. We would be one of several chapters that meets regularly to discuss how we can further the movement given our unique position as future doctors. Our main goal for this year would be to establish a chapter base and to discuss implementing training on gun safety into BCOM’s current curriculum. Activities would include regular meetings and potential community outreach/educational events.
Advisor: Dr. Robert Goldsteen | rgoldsteen@burrell.edu
President: Hannah Lancaster | hannah.lancaster@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kristin Gosselink | kgosselink@burrell.edu
Coleader Contact: Kevin Dwyer | kevin.dwyer@burrell.edu
Coleader Contact: Evan Juntunen | evan.juntunen@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. De La Rosa | vdelarosa@burrell.edu
President: Katherine Ripley | katherine.ripley@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Benoit | jbenoit@burrell.edu
President: Brandon Cunningham | brandon.cunningham@burrell.edu
Our mission is to expand the interest of pathology and its subspecialties to the BCOM student body. We hope to engage our fellow colleagues through community outreach, possible shadowing experiences, and learning opportunities.
Advisor: Dr. Jon Jackson | jjackson@burrell.edu
President: Ashley Rocks | ashley.rocks@burrell.edu
The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Club (PM&R) at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is charged with educating future physicians on pathways to restore and improve functional ability and quality of life for patients with disabilities or physical impairments. In efforts to holistically develop our members, we take part in community service, clinical opportunities, and mentorship.
Advisor: Miley Grandjean | mgrandjean@burrell.edu
President: Ryan Keller | ryan.keller@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kamran Kamali | kkamali@burrell.edu
President: Walker Toohey | walker.toohey@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Nancy Minugh-Purvis | nminugh@burrell.edu
President: Kristine Oines | kristine.oines@burrell.edu
Burrell PsychSIGN is affiliated with the national organization of the Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network or PsychSIGN within the American Psychiatric Association (APA). PsychSIGN is a psychiatry interest group which intends to encourage student interest in the field of psychiatry, foster networking between students with an interest in psychiatric medicine and allow a platform with which to exchange information concerning planning a career in the psychiatric field. The club aims to foster connections between students and psychiatry faculty while also working to eradicate the negative stigma associated with mental illness. PsychSIGN seeks to promote the importance of mental health among students and future medical professionals as well as provide students with leadership and community outreach opportunities.
Advisor: Dr. Kristin Gosselink | kgosselink@burrell.edu
President: Tessa Marandola | tessa.marandola@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jon Jackson | jjackson@burrell.edu
President: Izik Goldman | izik.goldman@burrell.edu
Reflection, Empowerment, Action, & Collaboration through Humanism (R.E.A.C.H) is brought to you by the highly esteemed Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) here at Burrell COM. Our mission is to encourage humanism as leaders in medicine by engaging and uplifting our local community through service. R.E.A.C.H is open to all students who are interested in actively participating in community service projects, including GHHS sponsored projects. Although participation does not guarantee induction, it will provide insight into GHHS and what we represent as a national organization.
Advisor: Dr. Muneer Assi | massi@burrell.edu
Coordinator: Jasmin Espinal | jasmin.espinal@burrell.edu
Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) is an honorary osteopathic service fraternity that aims to further the science of osteopathic medicine, improve scholastic standing and bring about a closer relationship and between the students and community.
Advisor: Dr. Scott Cyrus | scyrus@bcomn.org
President: Marina Sasnau | marina.sasnau@burrell.edu
Provide mentorship and tutoring for local elementary students;
Aid in improving the medical student experience by providing community service opportunities;
Provide basic age appropriate health education for the elementary students;
Build relationships between BCOM and the community.
Advisor: Christa Vaudrey | cvaudrey@burrell.edu
President: Marina Sasnau | marina.sasnau@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Steven Ontiveros | sjontiveros@burrell.edu
President: Jessica Szasz | jessica.szasz@burrell.edu
The South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA) is a national organization dedicated to unifying medical students and promoting South Asian health initiatives across the United States of America. We aim to provide support and guidance to South Asian medical students and others who wish to support and uplift our community.
Advisor: Dr. Sheeba Varughese Tano | stano@burrell.edu
President: Anusia Mansukhani | anusia.mansukhani@burrell.edu
Advisor: Student Affairs | studentaffairs@burrell.edu
President: Emily Kenny
The Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) has been organized by students of the accredited American osteopathic medical colleges under the auspices and guidance of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) for the purposes of helping osteopathic medical students:
1. Acquire a better understanding of osteopathic principles, theories and practice to include:
- Helping students attain a maximum proficiency in osteopathic structural diagnosis and treatment.
- Fostering a clear concept of clinical application of osteopathy in health and disease.
2. Improve public awareness of osteopathic medicine so the community may better take advantage of the benefits provided by osteopathic medicine.
Advisor: Dr. Adrienne Kania | akania@burrell.edu
President: Osama Hashmi | osama.hashmi@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Paul Chubb | pchubb@burrell.edu
President: Alexandra Rhodes | alexandra.rhodes@burrell.edu
SAMOPS Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine chapter is a group for students interested in military medicine that seeks to provide osteopathic education, mentorship, and advocacy to the United States Uniformed Services.
Advisor:
President: Joseph Sammarco | joseph.sammarco@burrell.edu
Advisor: Brett Newcomer | bnewcomer@burrell.edu
Executive President: Alberto Velasco | alberto.velasco@burrell.edu
Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.
Advisor: Dr. Steven Ontiveros | sjontiveros@burrell.edu
President: Abena Poku | abena.poku@burrell.edu
The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association’s (SOIMA) goals are to promote interest among osteopathic medical students in the practice of Internal Medicine and its subspecialties. We aim to educate and inform on the path towards becoming a Doctor of Internal Medicine and or subspecialties while allowing members to practice and learn applicable skills for future practice.
It is the purpose of the Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association (SOIMA) to represent aspiring osteopathic internists. This is accomplished through the following activities: 1) Providing osteopathic medical students with an early exposure to the field of internal medicine; 2) Stressing the understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of internal medicine and its subspecialties; 3) Affiliation with the American College of Osteopathic Internists as well as the American College of Physicians to establish and maintain the highest educational, moral and ethical standards in the teaching and practice of internal medicine. 4) Serving as a liaison with the AOA, the ACP, and the ACOI for the provision of information on training and career opportunities in internal medicine to osteopathic students. 5) Keeping members informed of the latest developments in the field of internal medicine.
Advisor: Dr. Muneer Assi | massi@burrell.edu
President: Erin Nolte | erin.nolte@burrell.edu
SOMA strives to provide its members with an independent, cohesive voice and the power to effect
relevant change. BCOM SOMA is particularly concerned with supporting its student’s development as osteopathic physicians, and implementing policy that will improve healthcare in New Mexico.
Advisor: Dr. Scott Cyrus | scyrus@bcomn.org
President: Miranda Willis | miranda.willis@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Harald Stauss | hstauss@burrell.edu
President: Mahssa Rezaei | mahssa.rezaei@burrell.edu
Advisor: Miley Grandjean | mgrandjean@burrell.edu
Co-President: Mikaela Zufelt | mikaela.zufelt@burrell.edu
Co-President: David Le | david.le@burrell.edu
The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Youth Medical Explorers, Tucson Chapter (Burrell COM Tucson YME, Tucson YME, TYME) will serve to connect high school, middle school, and elementary school students with experiences in medicine and exposure to careers in medicine.
Advisor: Olivia Karroum | okarroum@burrell.edu
President: Chloe Anne Liu | chloeanne.liu@burrell.edu
USIG is a registered, chartered organization at BCOM that explores the utility of point-of-care ultrasound, a tool that is useful regardless of the specialty you are pursuing! We are currently in the works of partnering with national affiliates as well as exploring research avenues to publish, all while furthering our understanding of how ultrasound can benefit your scope as future provider.
Advisor: Kristopher Vaudrey | kvaudrey@burrell.edu
President: Gary Rupp | gary.rupp@burrell.edu
White Coat for Black Lives focuses on safeguarding the lives and well-being of our patients through the elimination of racism. The mission of the organization is to dismantle racism in medicine and promote the health, well being, and self-determination of people of color.
Advisor: Dr. Kristin Gosselink | kgosselink@burrell.edu
President: Madonna Anya | madonna.anya@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Michael Woods | mwoods@burrell.edu
Co-President: Anna Fuller | anna.fuller@burrell.edu
Co-President: Cedar Edell | cedar.edell@burrell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Robert Goldsteen | rgoldsteen@burrell.edu
President: Lauren Mackell | lauren.mackell@burrell.edu
