The purpose and mission of the LSUHS Area Health Education (AHEC) Program is to improve health status, increase access to care, and assure that the future and current health care workforce is properly trained and practice in medically under-served communities.This is done through community-based training, recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals and workers, developing and implementing continuing education programs to meet the needs of healthcare professionals in rural and under-served areas and to plan and respond to community health needs through population-based health system development and public education. Faculty Sponsor: Wanda Thomas, MD (wanda.thomas@lsuhs.edu); Contact: Shirley Wilson (shirley.wilson@lsuhs.edu)

Alpha Omega Alpha is the only National Honor Medical Society. Students are elected in their junior or senior year on the basis of their academic performance and must be in the top twenty five percent of their class in order to be elected.  Founded in 1902 at the University of Illinois, the chapter at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in Shreveport was established in 1973.  The society’s main goal is to stimulate academic excellence. The local chapter has been instrumental in bringing outstanding physicians from around the nation to Shreveport as lecturers and visiting professors.
Faculty Sponsor - Lauren Beal, MD (lauren.beal@lsuhs.edu); President - Andee Fontenot (alf002@lsuhs.edu); Vice-President - Lauren Rando (llr001@lsuhs.edu)
Learn More about AOA

AMA School Chapter:  The AMA is the physician's powerful ally in patient care, representing physicians with a unified voice, leading the charge to confront public health crises, removing obstacles that interfere with patient care, and driving the future of medicine. Faculty Sponsor: Lee Stevens, MD (lee.stevens@lsuhs.edu); President: Ethyn Loreno (elo001@lsuhs.edu); Vice-President: Taylor Jeansonne (trj001@lsuhs.edu)

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA):  The AMWA LSU Health Shreveport chapter is a branch of the non-profit national organization founded in 1915.  We strive to serve the field of medicine and the community through advocacy, outreach, professional development, and education with the intention of raising awareness about issues within and outside of the medical profession.  Our meetings will include discussions about work-family balance, women’s experiences in male-dominated fields.  For more information contact: amwalsumed@gmail.com. Faculty Sponsor: Paul Perkowski, MD (paul.perkowski@lsuhs.edu); President: Caroline DeGraw (cjd001@lsuhs.edu); Vice-President: Alex Anderson (aia002@lsuhs.edu)

Read more about our AMWA Chapter

LSUHS Arts & Humanities in Medicine is a group that allows students the opportunity to provide various art forms to patients and their families during their time in the hospital and associated clinics. Through the club, students are able to play music in patient waiting rooms, inpatient communal areas, and even individual patient rooms. In addition, the arts and crafts component of the club has started hosting monthly music and craft nights on the pediatric floor of the hospital. The goal of this organization is to provide both a therapeutic activity for patients and their families, as well as an outlet through which students can connect with patients in a different way.  For more information contact the Faculty Sponsor: Jay Marion, MD (jay.marion@lsuhs.edu); President: Anna Morris (agm001@lsuhs.edu); Vice-President: Jordan Cross (jordan.cross@lsuhs.edu)

This groups primary goal is to support the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank through fundraising and food donations. We plan to raise awareness for the dietary needs of the Shreveport Community, as research has shown there to be a lack of accesible food for this area with a growing poverty rate. Secondarily, we plan to grow interest in the effects of alcohol on the brain, the brewing process, and the science behind beer-making while also bringing valuable publicity to local breweries and small businesses within our community. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Hyung Nam (hyung.nam@lsuhs.edu); Co-Presidents: Alexa Zaheri (arz001@lsuhs.edu) and Caleb Day (cnd001@lsuhs.edu)

Camp Tiger is a free, five-day camp for children and teens ages 5 to 18 years old living with physical and cognitive challenges such as cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and more. Since 2000, this camp has been organized by first and second year medical students from LSU Health Shreveport. Throughout the week, campers participate in a variety of activities in the Shreveport community such as trips to Hot Wheels of Wonder Skating Rink, Sci-Port Discovery Center, Gators and Friends, Holiday Lanes Bowling, and much more. Most importantly, the campers benefit from the social interaction with one another and the individual attention from camp counselors. Faculty Sponsor: Student Affairs; President: Abigail Poe (aap002@lsuhs.edu); Co-Director: Hannah Cowart (hnc001@lsuhs.edu)

This is a five-day camp for special needs children ages 5-22 run solely by medical students. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sandeep Kandregula (sandeep.kandregula@lsuhs.edu); President: Brennan Gioe (bwg001@lsuhs.edu); Vice-President: Dean Abdehou (daa001@lsuhs.edu). Learn more and apply to be a counselor.

CHOP is dedicated to learning how to use food as medicine and promoting evidence-based, affordable nutrition in the Shreveport-Bossier community.
Faculty sponsor: Rupa Mahadevan; President: Kaitlyn Tholen; Vice-President: Matt Norton
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This is a public awareness group for the increasing prevalence of diabetes, to spread awareness of the effects of diabetes, and to work with health centers to have medical students gain clinical experience regarding diabetes care. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kirandeep Chahal; Co-Presidents: Caroline Hill and Aaron Fernandez; Vice-President: Lillian Lauck

Our mission is to bring awareness to the disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community, especially in health care, through community service, findraising, and expert lectures. In doing so, we strive to create safe spaces for students a faculty alike, and we aim to foster an enviroment that produces healthcare professionals who are allies. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Shahzeem Bhayani; President: Elena Boardman

This organization serves as the student government for both medical and graduate students. Officers are elected and will serve as representatives of the general student body.
Faculty Sponsor: Office of Student Affairs; President: Amir Kaskas; Vice-President: Rhian Germany
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Geaux Bald raises funds for St. Baldrick's Foundation. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has funded more than $286 million in research grants to find cures for kids with cancer. This is all thanks to the generosity of participants, shavees, volunteers, and donors. We are proud to be among the top fundraisers for St. Baldrick’s and to help these children in their unimaginable battles!
Faculty Sponsor: Crystal Morton, M.Ed.; President: Maggie Boston; Vice-President: Shanthi Tanga
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The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors and leaders in medicine. GHHS members are peer nominated and are the ones that others say they want taking care of their own friends and family. The local GHHS chapter began in 2016.
Faculty Sponsor: Lauren Beal, MD; President: Taylor Jeansonne; Vice-President: Maggie Ross
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The mission of Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) is to exchange and promote sharing of ideas about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion regarding medical education curriculum to further advance the educational, medical, and scientific standards of the School of Medicine. This group will look to aid students, faculty, and other organizations in the LSUHS institution to advocate for curriculum changes by collecting, organizing, and recording the coice of the students regarding intergating diversity and equity topics within our standard education. The purpose is to provide a continual impact on the evolution of medical curriculum at LSUHS for the betterment of our education and community. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Toni Thibeaux; President: Tanisha Fleming; Vice-President: Kelsey Douangmavongsa
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This group unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Natalie Trujillo-Aguirre and Dr. Kenneth Aguirre; Co-Presidents: Victoria Bollich and Caroline Ochoa; Vice-President: Nicholas Jones

Our mission is to provide support and resources for pregnant and parenting women in our community. We want to alleviate any social or structural barriers that these women may encounter. Our vision is to educate expecting mothers in Shreveport and the surrounding areas on their options for prenatal and postpartum care including adoption for those not ready to raise a child. We plan to have monthly meetings, where we will discuss upcoming events and fundraisers and invite guest speakers to promote awareness on multiple aspects of women’s health. We will hold baby-supply giveaways and reach out to pregnant and parenting students both on campus and in the community to offer compassion, encouragement and options. Lifeline will offer opportunities for its members to volunteer at the local CARE Pregnancy Center and other maternity homes around the greater Shreveport-Bossier area. As an organization, we value peace, respect, and understanding above all else.  
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Stephanie Sockrider;; President: Elizabeth Hixson

LSUHS Growing for Good Interest Group was founded to provide medical students with a common interest a way to meet one another in a socially distanced setting during the pandemic. This student organization grew quickly and later went on to construct a raised bed garden on LSU Health Shreveport’s campus. The goal of this organization and campus garden is to grow produce to be donated to a local garden that distributes food to families in need at their weekly farmer’s market. This project and future projects illustrate values of this student organization and the impact we wish to have on both our campus and local Shreveport communities.

1. Promote healthier food options in a population at a higher risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease
2. Provide members of the interest group and other students/faculty of LSU Health Shreveport to take part in a meaningful break outdoors, which may help prevent day-to-day burnout among students
3. Add greenery to our growing campus

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rupa Mahadevan; President: John Cerrone; Volunteer Coordinator: Shelby Rider

To create opportunities and events for LSUHS medical, allied health, and graduate students which address medical burnout through fitness, interdisciplinary community building, and philanthropy. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Seidenberg; President: Madeline Gautreaux

LSUHS MeSCO Foundation exists to improve the healthcare and well-being of the City of Shreveport and surrounding areas in Northwest Louisiana. Our focus is to assist any and all individuals who face barriers to care and improve the health equity of our workers, neighbors, families, and friends. From the severely underprivileged to those simply under-insured or facing unknown disparity or socioeconomic challenges that prevent them from seeking care under traditional means, we aim to uphold our vision by:

1. Overseeing and operating the MeSCO Mobile Health Clinic, an interdisciplinary, collaborative (faculty-precepted), student run free clinic (SRFC)
2. Preparing and maintaining a sustainable plan to ensure the long-term outreach of the MeSCO SRFC
3. Supporting the advancement and future development of other student-driven clinical service projects

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dayanand Bagdure; Executive Director: Maria Kerrigan

Medical Students Against Addiction (MSAA) is an organization created to offer its members volunteer opportunities in the local community and to provide an outlet to increase awareness of addiction. Through this organization we hope to educate the community on the role addiction plays in our society, break stigmatization of substance use disorders and to provide support to those in need. The organization is based in Louisiana in the Bossier/Shreveport area and composed of medical students and faculty of the Louisiana Health Science Center-Shreveport. Guided by compassion and empathy, we commit to advocate for the safety and health those living with substance use disorder. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Debbie Chandler; President: Laura Nussdorf

The purpose of Medical Students For Choice (MSFC) 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 the availability of all reproductive health care services. The LSU Health Shreveport chapter of MSFC also strives to support and contribute to community advocacy efforts and to provide interested students with family planning and abortion training educational opportunities, both locally and nationally.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Charles Baxter; President: Ashlyn Scheinost

The mission of the Northwest Louisiana Medical Society is to establish an organization of physicians in the 4th District of Louisiana for the purpose of assisting in the advancement of medical science and education, elevating the standards of medical practice; improving the health of the community it serves; and by all legitimate means to improve the social, economic, and professional status of its members.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christina Notarianni; President: Halen Scott

Pars for Ped’s mission, vision, and values revolve around being able to provide a recreational and entertainment environment through age- appropriate equipment that is comforting and enjoyable for children who are hospitalized. Being able to participate in activities that they might experience at home could help to normalize their environment and decrease the stress of being in the hospital. This can have such a positive impact on the children’s hospital stay, and anything that can make their everyday lives just a bit more bearable is certainly worthwhile. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ryan Jones; Director: Liam Ordoyne

The mission of PBIG is to give LSUHS SOM students the opportunity and resources to play pickleball with other students and community members of the Shreveport-Bossier community. Our vision is to continue to grow the Pickleball community within our SOM student body and the greater Shreveport-Bossier community. Our values consist of teamwork, networking, improved work-lifestyle balance, and enhance social opportunities. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Debbie Chandler; Co-Presidents: Ama Mosieri and Matt Norton

Our desire is to bring exposure and accessibility to a sport that we have come to love, as it provides a means for a social and fun exercise, and a brief but intense challenge that remains inclusive to absolutely any person willing to try. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Landry; President: Timothy McBride; Vice-President: Hillary Savage

The SAGE organization is composed of medical students from all four years, each selected by members of the Curriculum Evaluation Committee, a sub-committee of the Medical Curriculum Council. The purpose of SAGE is to promote the amicable exchange of opinions between the student body and the faculty, with a view to the consistent betterment of the educational, medical, and scientific standards of the School of Medicine.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christi Ninaudo; President: Rachel Parks
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I. ACCESS TO ACADEMIC RESOURCES
The program provides students with dependable and accessible resources for academic guidance, either through mentors or peer tutors. Mentors provide guidance about study resources, effective study and time management skills, and encourage the use of student services on campus. Peer tutors provide 1:1 tutoring on specific subjects or skills.
II. ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER RELATIONSHIPS
The program promotes interclass relationships among students by ensuring mentor/mentee pairs involve an upperclassmen/lowerclassmen. While mentors must establish and maintain contact throughout the duration of the program, they are also encouraged to continue their relationship. These matches are often based on academic needs and personal interests. 
III. SELF-DIRECTED & PEER ASSISTED LEARNING
The program provides opportunities for students to engage in self-directed and peer assisted learning.
IV. LEADERSHIP
The program will provide opportunities for students to strengthen their leadership, mentorship, and educational skills.

Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth Rambo; President: Jacob McDowell

The groups mission is to advocate for the importance of science and science education (STEM) in our daily lives. Through advocacy and outreach efforts we aim to make science more accessible to the local general public.
Faculty Sponsors: Julia Esparza, MLS, AHIP; President of IDEAS Day and VP Education: Holly Lacour; VP Outreach: Lauryn Honore

IDEAS Day is our largest event that we hold every spring. This is a fun-filled, free day of hands-on science fun for children from across the Shreveport-Bossier area. We partner with various clubs from campus as well and local vendors and companies to sponsor booths that will each have their own experiment or demonstration to do with the kids as they make their way through the event. The idea behind this event is to intervene and introduce children to all the fun and wonder of science while they’re still at an impressionable age. Most literature states that kids should be introduced to science by age 10 to end up going into one of the fields of science.
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S.T.A.P.H aims to educate students on the importance of public health to their career, make students aware of the Public Health programs in the local community, give students the opportunity to get involved in a variety of Public Health Based volunteer works, to promote community oriented medical practices and volunteerism, and to work in collaboration with other public health oreinted organizations.
Faculty Sponsor: Laura Mackowiak; President: Jessica Rodriguez

The purpose of Standing up for Seniors is to provide care and assistance to nursing home residents on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Our goal is to coordinate events such as holiday goodie-bag/ gift drop-offs or outdoor fitness classes, in ways that are COVID-safe. We also want to implement smaller events such as grocery drop-offs or visit with residents to allow these individuals to feel a sense of companionship. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michelle Self; Co-Presidents: Braeden McCutchan and James Bridges

This organization holds as its principal purpose the concerns of the minority medical student, though its programs address issues for all medical students.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Toni Thibeaux; President: Marjorie Blouchousse

A non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of underprivileged populations. Medical students travel to Kenya each year to fulfill this mission.
Faculty Sponsor:  Dr. Michael Harper; President: Brady Rice
LEARN MORE ABOUT S.H.I.P.
 

The mission of the Tennis Interest Group is to promote camaraderie and wellness among students of LSU Health Shreveport through promotion of mental and physical health by playing tennis. Our vision is to include our community by hosting tennis clinics and other outreach opportunities. 
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Stephen Baker; Co-Presidents: Sarah Myers and John Campbell

Tiger Ambassador is involved in hosting applicants to our school, making them feel welcomed, and giving them hints for their interview. Although Covid19 has changed how interviews are conducted (via Zoom), we still get to participate by joining onto the Zoom interviews to answer questions and ease the stress of the applicants! We will also be planning and hosting Preview Days for accepted incoming Pre-Meds. 
Faculty Sponsor: Sonya French; Presidents: Madison Catalanotto and John Campbell

The mission of the group is to afford LSU Health Shreveport students the opportunity to hone their palates for wine, to learn about the production of wine and the factors that influence the taste of wines, and to cultivate a useful skill that will help students throughout the rest of their days. 
Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Lucy Robinson and Dr. Christi Rinaudo; President: Ashley Barras; Vice-President: Rachel Parks

The Anesthesia Interest Group (AIG) is a special interests group focused on providing information and resourcesto those wishing to better understand anesthesia and to explore it as a potential career.The aimof this group isto provide students with all of the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities needed to match into an anesthesia residency. This will be achieved by providing memberswith unique opportunitiesto participate in lectures,research,writing, and networking opportunities. Ifyou are interested in anesthesia, please consider joining the AIG.
Faculty Sponsor - Shilpadevi Patil; President: Ross Rieger; Vice-President: Catherine Johnson

Dermatology Interest Group (DIG): This group provides a resource for medical students who are interested in dermatology and the steps to take to pursue a residency position in the field.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Chris Haas; Co-Presidents: Ashley Barras and Rachel Parks

Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Mary Edens and Dr. Avery Callahan; Co-Presidents: Avery Bryan and Jordan Gahagan

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cherie-Ann Nathan; President: Ahmad Kasabali; Vice-President: Londyn Grey

Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG): The mission of the LSU Health Shreveport Family Medicine Interest Group is to provide students with access to updated information regarding the field of family medicine, exposure to the broad scope of family medicine, contact with upperclassmen and faculty mentors, and volunteer opportunities at our facilities and within the community.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ammar Husan; President: Sam Taylor; Vice-President: John Cox

The Gastroenterology Student Interest Group provides medical students with educational opportunities to learn more about the dynamic field of gastroenterology. Students are exposed to the field through clinical experiences, research opportunities, mentorship, seminars, panel discussions with faculty and fellows, and conferences. We hope these opportunities expand the knowledge of students during their medical training and assist them in their career choice asfuture physicians.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudha Pandit; Co-Presidents: David Okuampa and Nikki Lentini

Our goals are to engender a sincere interest in the field of internal medicine in our students, to involve our students more deeply in internal medicine through shadowing opportunities, to promote volunteering opportunities for our members, and to help develop our members into leaders for the field of internal medicine.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Karina Sulaiman; President: Kyle Barron; Vice-President: Tanisha Fleming

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Lauren Beal; President: Alyse Soileau; Vice-President: Rhory Legendre

The Neurosurgery interest group, NSIG, is a student run interest group created for medical students who want to pursue neurosurgery as a career or are interested in the process of applying to residency in a surgical field. The group is dedicated to networking medical students with residents, research opportunities, application help, volunteer work and social events.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christina Notarianni; President: Arthur Rezayev

The mission of this organization is to introduce the field of obstetrics and gynecology to medical students and create a space for students with an interest for the field to learn more about it. Goals of the group include creating volunteer opportunitiesspecifically in women’s health, having school-wide meetings within the year where students may hear from faculty in the LSUHS OB-GYN Department, and connecting students with residents for research opportunities. It is our hope that this club can provide clarity, guidance, and mentorship among LSUHS medicalstudentsinterested in the field of OB-GYN.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mila Shah Bruce; Co-Presidents: Katelyn Parker and Bailey Turbeville

The Ophthalmology Interest Group (OIG) at LSU Health Shreveport aims to serve as a resource for medical students interested in pursuing a career in Ophthalmology. OIG meets quarterly each year and has been formed to:

• Stimulate medical students' interest in the field of Ophthalmology
• Facilitate clinical and research opportunities in Ophthalmology for medical students by promoting communication between members and faculty
• Provide guidance to students interested in pursuing a career in Ophthalmology
• Provide Ophthalmology related volunteer opportunities for students
• To organize and make available a variety of resources regarding the residency selection process, and to provide students with advice on how to accomplish their goal of becoming an Ophthalmologist

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marlyn Langford; President: Evan Falgoust; Vice-President: Hilary Savage
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Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Shane Barton and Dr. Patrick Massey; President: Allie Desforges

The Pediatric InterestGroupwas established to helpmedicalstudents explore their interest in pediatricmedicine. In addition to quarterly meetings, we host fundraisers and eventsto benefit the pediatric floor of the hospital, including Fall Fest and a Christmas party. These eventsteach us about the joyinvolved in pediatric medicine while offering our patientsstressrelief during difficult times.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ryan Jones; President: Kerigan Bowman; Vice-President: Jessica Elliott

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Paige Bundrick; President: Ama Mosieri; Vice-President: Liam Ordornye

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Juliana Fort; President: Madison Casey; Vice-President: Cameron Hewett

Expanding opportunities in radiology for underclassmen and assisting senior medical students in matching successfully.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Gates; Co-Presidents: Reena Wadhwa and Arielle Degueure

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Oleg Chernyshev; Co-Presidents: Fatima Iqbal and Londyn Grey

Sports Medicine Interest Group aims to create opportunities and experiences for students interested in seeing the field of sports medicine through a non-operative lens. SMIG has allowed students to shadow ringside physicians at the USA National Boxing Championship, shadow sideline physicians with local high school sporting events, and attend workshops led by primary care sports medicine physicians. SMIG students have also been involved in the preparticipation physical process for local high schools, colleges, and the Mudbugs.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Aguirre and Dr. Christena Hay; President: Shelby Patti; Vice-President: Sarah Peytavin

The Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) is a student organization that strives to help medical students interested in neurosciences to understand its application in clinical technique, career, and community. SIGN holds regular group meetings with faculty and residents to learn about the wonders of careers in neurology, the multitude of opportunities within the field of neurology, and how to get involved in neurological research. At the beginning of each year, members participate in the school-wide organizations exposition to introduce incoming students to our organization. SIGN has hosted neuroanatomy demonstrations to introduce students to brain and spinal cord specimens, in addition to various pathologies. The group also hosts a yearly lumbar puncture workshop instructed by neurology faculty and residents, which introduces students to the procedural aspect of neurology. At the end of each academic year, we host a post-match meeting to share experiences and advice navigating residency applications, ranking, and matching within both adult and child neurology residency programs. SIGN focuses on community service with various local neurological organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Epilepsy Alliance, and Muscular Dystrophy Association. SIGN has organized multiple fundraisers.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rosario Riel-Romero; President: Sarah Kate Roblow; Vice-President: Weldon Furr

The surgery interest group serves to introduce students to the field of surgery and its subspecialties, engage in surgical educational activities geared towards medicalstudents, and promote mentorship between staff and students.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Amos Sit; President: Ali Zeringue; Vice-President: Katherine Russo

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alex Gomelsky; President: Ann Stolzle and August Valangendonck

The Vascular Surgery Interest Group aims to promote the field of vascular surgery through educational workshops, simulations, community outreach, and research opportunities.
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Chiranjiv Virk and Dr. Paul Perkowski; President: Timothy McBride