Resolution: S-21-02: ESTABLISHING A SOMA ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP

[Valerie Lile]

WHEREAS, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is constitutionally missioned to “promote unity within the profession” and support “the multifaceted education of osteopathic physicians-in-training;” and

WHEREAS, mentorship helps promote unity in medicine and helpful in navigating the complexities of physician training;^1,2,3 and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of National SOMA already contains the infrastructure to support a SOMA Alumni membership through its Membership and Alumni Affairs Director; and

WHEREAS, SOMA has a strong alumni network that could serve in mentoring current membership; and

WHEREAS, there is no official membership established to connect alumni with SOMA; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the following revisions be made to the SOMA Bylaws to establish a SOMA Alumni Membership:

Sections	Revisions	New Language
Article III, Section 1 Membership Classes	Membership in National SOMA shall be classified into four five groups: 1. Osteopathic Medical Student Membership. To be admitted to Osteopathic Medical Student Membership in SOMA, an applicant must be enrolled at a Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited osteopathic medical school and have paid the appropriate national and local dues. Osteopathic Medical Student Membership is limited to students through their date of graduation. Any student who is dismissed from their osteopathic medical school of record shall have their Active Membership in the Association summarily terminated. No appeal process is available in this action. Only Osteopathic Medical Student Members shall have voting privileges in their local chapter elections. 2. Honorary Membership. Honorary Membership may be granted to individuals or organizations making outstanding contributions to the success and perpetuation of SOMA. They can be awarded on a yearly basis by the Board of Trustees and/or on a lifetime basis in a closed session of the House of Delegates. Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues. Honorary members shall have none of the obligations of membership in the Association, but shall be entitled to all of the privileges except those of making or seconding motions or voting in the House of Delegates, or of holding office. 3. Associate Membership. Any student of an allied health care profession associated with one of the COCA accredited osteopathic medical schools may be granted Associate Membership in SOMA. The benefits of Associate Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member. 4. Pre-Medical Student Membership. All National Pre-SOMA members as defined by the Pre- SOMA Constitution are granted membership to SOMA under the category of Pre-Medical Student. The benefits of Pre-SOMA Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member. 5. Alumni Membership. To be admitted to Alumni Membership in SOMA, an applicant must be a graduate of a Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited osteopathic medical school and have paid the appropriate national dues. The benefits of Alumni Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member.	Membership in National SOMA shall be classified into five groups: 1. Osteopathic Medical Student Membership. To be admitted to Osteopathic Medical Student Membership in SOMA, an applicant must be enrolled at a Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited osteopathic medical school and have paid the appropriate national and local dues. Osteopathic Medical Student Membership is limited to students through their date of graduation. Any student who is dismissed from their osteopathic medical school of record shall have their Active Membership in the Association summarily terminated. No appeal process is available in this action. Only Osteopathic Medical Student Members shall have voting privileges in their local chapter elections. 2. Honorary Membership. Honorary Membership may be granted to individuals or organizations making outstanding contributions to the success and perpetuation of SOMA. They can be awarded on a yearly basis by the Board of Trustees and/or on a lifetime basis in a closed session of the House of Delegates. Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues. Honorary members shall have none of the obligations of membership in the Association, but shall be entitled to all of the privileges except those of making or seconding motions or voting in the House of Delegates, or of holding office. 3. Associate Membership. Any student of an allied health care profession associated with one of the COCA accredited osteopathic medical schools may be granted Associate Membership in SOMA. The benefits of Associate Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member. 4. Pre-Medical Student Membership. All National Pre-SOMA members as defined by the Pre- SOMA Constitution are granted membership to SOMA under the category of Pre-Medical Student. The benefits of Pre-SOMA Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member. 5. Alumni Membership. To be admitted to Alumni Membership in SOMA, an applicant must be a graduate of a Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited osteopathic medical school and have paid the appropriate national dues. The benefits of Alumni Membership shall be limited to SOMA partnership deals and discounts, and admittance to SOMA conventions and the House of Delegates as a non-voting member.

Relevant Existing Policies: (The policy number of any relevant existing policies provided for reference)

 

SOMA Policy:

SOMA Bylaws

Policy of Other Organizations Named in the Resolved Statements (AOA/AMA/etc):

References

1. Bettis, J., Thrush, C. R., Slotcavage, R. L., Stephenson, K., Petersen, E., & Kimbrough, M. K. (2019). What makes them different? An exploration of mentoring for female faculty, residents, and medical students pursuing a career in surgery. The American Journal of Surgery, 218(4), 767–771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.07.029
2. Colford, C., Kraemer, M. S., Contarino, M., Denizard-Thompson, N., Evans, K., Hairston, K., Harris, R., & McNeill, D. (2018). After the Match: Cultivating a Community of Support, Retention, and Mentoring to Enhance Diversity. The American Journal of Medicine, 131(12), 1520–1523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.07.029
3. Farkas, A. H., Allenbaugh, J., Bonifacino, E., Turner, R., & Corbelli, J. A. (2019). Mentorship of US Medical Students: A Systematic Review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(11), 2602–2609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05256-4

Submitted by:

Matthew Mayeda, OMS-IV- Michigan State University- College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clara Hofman, OMS IV, Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Action Taken: [Leave Blank. Will be Approved by the House of Delegates or Not Approved.]

Date:

 

[Jennifer S. Lee<br>TouroCOM Middletown]

In SUPPORT of this resolution, speaking on behalf of myself–
I would ask that the incoming Executive Board make appropriate constitution and bylaws changes that would provide equal consideration of attendance at the Open House of Delegates to non-voting SOMA general members as it currently does Pre-SOMA members and seeks to do here for alumni members. Aside from that, I support this resolution. Though I am involved with multiple medical student societies and student sections, SOMA remains the most supportive, welcoming, and willing to teach. It is through the leadership and example of SOMA leaders before me that I have been able to come as far as I have in student advocacy and health policy. I look forward to the opportunity to pay that forward as a SOMA alumna.

[Author]

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