Welcome to the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the SOMA Family. As the independent voice of osteopathic medical students for over 50 years, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association has grown to be recognized as an organization of excellence founded in leadership and focused on amplifying the medical student voice. Today, we represent the collective interests of more than 35,000 United States osteopathic medical students to key stakeholders in medical education and the profession. I am honored that each of you have decided to embark on this journey in SOMA and work for the betterment of the osteopathic profession and your future patients.

Our membership is the heart of our organization and the role each of you serve is crucial. Whether a Pre-Medical Student and starting on their journey to enter the osteopathic profession; an Osteopathic Medical Student looking to advance the profession for themselves and their future patients; or an Alumnus returning home to SOMA and advocating from within the profession – SOMA members are passionate advocates, creative thinkers, and committed leaders. We hail from all over the country and are distinct yet united. While each of your individual passions, values, and goals may differ – you are united by the mission of advocacy. We are many voices, but we are one Student Osteopathic Medical Association.

There is so much to be gained as you contribute to this organization. Your passion projects will take on new meaning and come alive in SOMA. Your fellow members will become some of your closest friends, because naturally working toward a common goal with communication and encouragement forges trust. The conferences you will attend include impactful speakers and opportunities for you to learn and engage with your profession. You will have opportunities to grow your public speaking skills, add to your leadership involvement with task forces and committees, share your story as an example of the organization’s impact, and even find a new passion or two.

The Student Osteopathic Medical Association has a long history of producing the osteopathic leaders of tomorrow. As you may know, our predecessors have continued to advocate for the profession as physicians at the local, state, and federal levels. Many of those same leaders began their journey in the role you now fill. It is my absolute privilege to welcome each of you into our SOMA legacy.

I look forward to all we will accomplish together,