Pre-SOMA

What is Pre-SOMA?

Pre-SOMA is the undergraduate division of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), a national organization of students pursuing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. Pre-SOMA is a way for pre-medical students to become a part of this community before getting into medical school. It’s a way to help decide if osteopathic medicine is for you.

National Pre-SOMA works hard to promote osteopathic medicine, increase the number of applicants to osteopathic medical schools, support aspiring osteopathic physicians at all levels of education, and continue the proud legacy of osteopathic medicine. Visit the Pre-SOMA website to find information on how you can get involved in osteopathic medicine as a Pre-Medical student, keep up to date with upcoming Pre-SOMA events, and to access resources available to Pre-SOMA members.

What is a DO?

The DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree is one of the two degrees conferred in the United States for the full practice of medicine, including surgery. Osteopathic physicians receive an additional comprehensive education in physical and manipulative medicine, enhancing the physician’s ability to diagnose, evaluate, and treat while minimizing costs and side effects. Osteopathic medicine is a community of physicians that practice whole-person care and treat patients in a way that allows their body to achieve health.

What is SOMA?

The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) was founded in 1970 as a nonprofit association with the objectives to improve the quality of healthcare delivery, to educate osteopathic medical students, to espouse the ideals of osteopathic medicine, and to establish lines of communication among health care professionals.

With over 10,000 members, SOMA is the largest osteopathic medical student organization in the world. In addition to providing valuable programs and benefits, SOMA plays an active role in portraying the student voice to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and larger medical community in order to help shape the future of our chosen career field. Osteopathic medical students run both local and National SOMA organizations.

You can learn more about SOMA at www.studentdo.org

You can learn more about the AOA at osteopathic.org

What Events Do You Host?

PreSOMA holds 4 events every year:

PreSOMA at OMED: Held in conjunction with OMED and SOMA Fall Conference, this event provides pre-medical students with invaluable opportunities including an address from the AOA president, one-on-one time with med students, meetings with admissions officers, and clinical skills workshops.
National Osteopathic Night Out: A casual wintertime Q&A session with medical students at your local coffee shop.
National ShaDO Week: An April event hosted at osteopathic medical schools across the country, this week consists of informative lectures, workshops, and tours. Agendas vary from school to school.
PreSOMA at DO Day on Capitol Hill: Join hundreds of osteopathic medical students and physicians as they advocate for the osteopathic medicine profession and take part in interactive lectures and workshops in Washington, DC.

“That sounds awesome! How can I get involved?”

You can begin by becoming a national member for $25/annually. You can find the link to register at the join Pre-SOMA page. You can also become a member of your local Pre-SOMA chapter. If your school/region does not have one, you can create one. You can be members of both your local chapter and national Pre-SOMA.

Click Here to sign up to be a National Member of Pre-SOMA.

National Pre-SOMA is run by 2 National Directors. You can reach us at any time at presoma@studentdo.org