On April 29, 2010, white coats will flood the halls of Congress and Senate buildings as osteopathic physicians and students gather in Washington DC for the annual DO Day on the Hill. This event is a very rewarding experience that all medical students should participate. Also, SOMA will be convening for their Spring Conference from April 30 through May 1. The conference is going to be filled with workshops and activities for students to partake. To learn more about these events, please contact your local SOMA chapter president or find more information at www.studentdo.com.

SOMA and the Student Doctor Network are proud to offer the Community & Preventive Medicine scholarship, which is due April 22nd, 2010. The scholarship is for students showing commitment to service and improvement in selected areas. One student will be awarded this $1000 scholarship.

The Ed & Melissa Medically Underserved scholarship is also due May 31st, 2010. At least one award of up to $1000 will be provided to help offset the costs of a third or fourth year student completing an elective rotation in an underserved area.  Please submit questions and applications to PublicHealth@studentdo.com.

Please visit the SOMA Foundation website for more information.

The Student Osteopathic Medical Association would like to announce the deadline for two scholarships, Diversity in Medicine and AT Still Memorial. Both scholarships are due by February 5th, 2010.

This winter the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) will join forces with Give Kids the World in Kissimmee, FL to volunteer their time to help fulfill wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.   During the three-day venture from December 28-30, 2009, future osteopathic physicians from across the country will use their talents and abilities to assist with the operation of the village.

Give Kids the World is part of SOMA’s Unity Project, a community service project designed to create unity between medical students and the community, was installed in 2005.  In the past four years, the Unity Projects have helped Katrina victims in Mississippi in 2005, in 2006 osteopathic medical students volunteered their time at Give Kids the World, one hundred medical students helped homeless shelters in New York City in 2007, and last year SOMA returned to Give Kids the World to volunteer their time at the Village.

SOMA started volunteering at Give Kids the World four years ago. One of the medical students who initially helped organize the program was also a former guest of Give Kids the World Village. She had been diagnosed with a terminal illness as a child and was able to make her wishes come true. Her disease miraculously went into remission and she continued on through childhood and chose a career in medicine.  She wanted to give back to other children who were suffering like she had, so she helped organize the SOMA unity project to volunteer at Give Kids the World Village. Today, we continue her desire to give back by returning to volunteer.

The Unity Project is funded by the generosity of the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF).

For more information about SOMA, please visit www.studentdo.com