Region V Trustee
ATSU-SOMA
Region V comprises ten chapters from the states of California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. While these osteopathic medical students come from diverse backgrounds, they are united in their passion for SOMA and their patient communities. Our chapters are committed to the mentorship of students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, as well as educating the community about the osteopathic profession. Region V remains active in matters of health policy by leading student advocacy at the local and national level. In the coming year, they plan to expand on their efforts in community outreach, policy, advocacy, and fellowship. Learn more about each of the Region V SOMA Chapters below!
A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA)
ATSU-SOMA’s chapter, SOMA^2, works to empower students to get involved in advocacy and health policy on both a local and national level. From holding resolution writing workshops, to open forums for students to discuss topics most important to them in a safe space, SOMA^2 aims to promote student voices. The diverse group within the organization instills intersectional support for important issues, and the work done by students has created positive changes within ATSU, while also giving students the opportunity to branch out and get involved in their community as well.
Chapter President: Sara Hirshman
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (AZCOM)
After recovering from the 2020-2021 school year where we had no in person events and a nearly nonexistent campus life due to the current pandemic, we have had a successful year recovering and restoring our presence on campus and in the community here at Midwestern University in Arizona. One of two Osteopathic medical schools in the Phoenix Valley, Midwestern University – Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Glendale in the West Valley. Every year we welcome our new students to campus with a Back to School BBQ event in conjunction with our local SAAO chapter. SOMA members at AZCOM are very active around the entire valley and we pride ourselves on our large presence in the community. Students actively participate in advocating for health policy affecting medicine as a whole as well as the Osteopathic profession at both the state and national level. Each spring we hold a “Mock DO Day” on campus to prepare our students for the experience of advocating on health policy at these levels. Our chapter has committed itself to National SOMA’s Overdose Prevention Task Force Initiative by instituting this initiative at our chapter. We host addiction medicine guest speakers at our campus in conjunction with other programs at AZCOM as well as a yearly Naloxone Workshop open to all the health profession colleges present at Midwestern, often partnered with the Pharmacy students on campus. Collaboration and inter-professional health principles are key to our chapter. We strive to ensure inter-professionalism is reflected in everything our chapter does while still maintaining SOMA’s focus on advocating for Osteopathic students and physicians across the nation.
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Chapter President: Paris Beauregard
National Liaison Officer: Yian Zhang
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM)
California Health Sciences University is located in Clovis, CA and is the first medical school situated in the Central Valley of California. Our school seeks to improve the health outcomes and combat the health disparities that uniquely affect the population here. CHSUCOM’s SOMA chapter has just been nationally approved, and we are thrilled to be part of the team that
advocates for patients and physicians alike. Our chapter focuses on providing tools and workshops to help develop and expand the repertoire of our student physicians. We have hosted volunteering events which offer students to interact with and serve the local community. In addition, we provide a mentorship program that connects current students with pre-medical undergraduates at our local universities. As a new school and new chapter, we are excited to see what this next year will bring us!
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Chapter President: Sayam Salman
National Liaison Officer: Cade Fountain
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)
ICOM is located in Boise, Idaho, and is the first osteopathic medical school in the state. Although new, SOMA at ICOM has been active in local and national health policy, and hosts an annual Advocacy Day at the Idaho Capitol; here, medical students are able to interact with the governor of Idaho and other lawmakers. Additionally, SOMA at ICOM plans volunteer events and activities for ICOM students with local foodbanks, the city of Boise, and other organizations. ICOM SOMA is also active within the pre-med community, and meets with prospective osteopathic medical students from around the country.
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Contact us: soma@s.idahocom.org
Chapter President: Jett Murray
Nat’l Liaison Officer: Jessica Hoolihan
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM)
PNWU-COM is located in Yakima in the heart of Central Washington characterized by medically underserved and rural populations. Their SOMA chapter remains committed to maintaining an active role in health policy, with annual advocacy events through DO Day where PNWU students meet with state legislatures to advocate for pertinent topics for the community and healthcare. PNWU-COM continues to advocate for patients and the future of the Osteopathic profession by working closely with state legislators to address issues such as loan forgiveness and residency placement for medical students, among many other issues. Their chapter focuses on providing tools, resources, and workshops geared towards developing the professional identity of current medical students as advocators both on a local and a national level. Moreover, PNWU-COM is invested in the local community through various programs and projects targeted towards mentoring underprivileged students in science, caring for special needs, advocacy panels, premedical outreach, resolution writing workshops, and raising awareness on topics pertaining to social justice and health disparities. As PNWU-COM SOMA continues to prosper, students continue to use their passion and their voice in service to the local community, greater healthcare community, and most importantly, their future patients.
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Chapter President: Momo McLaughlin
National Liaison Officer: Megan Nelson
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Southern Utah (RVUCOM-SU)
RVUCOM-SU is located in Ivins, Utah, with their campus just ¼ mile away from the beautiful 1000ft Red Mountain. They are a satellite campus of RVUCOM in Parker, Colorado. RVUCOM-SU remains active in the community with its annual Fall Festival and Spring Community Health Fair. Recently they also held a school supply drive for a local underprivileged elementary school, providing essential supplies for the school year. Working with 9 other student organizations, they annually host a Health Fair for community members that included: information booths, OMT demonstrations, ultrasound and Self Breast Exam demonstrations, as well as presentations on the opioid crisis and “What is a DO?”
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Chapter President: Alhan Samimi
National Liaison Officer: Marcos Muller
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California (TUCOM-CA)
Touro University California is located in Vallejo, CA on Mare Island, a historical and meaningful site for many. Mare Island served as one of many Naval Bases and holds a rich history of service, healthcare, and community. Just like many other campuses over the past few years, TUCOM’s SOMA chapter has been adapting to and overcoming the challenges of a hybrid medical school experience. We have hosted events such as our “How to Get Involved with Research!” and our “What should I do in the Summer?” with the help of our amazing upperclassmen and fellow student interest groups on campus. While there are still challenges toward hosting in person events, we hope to bring our ideas for more philanthropy and community service events to life in the upcoming fall semester. Our SOMA chapter here at TUCOM is still relatively new, so we are excited to see where the next school year will take us and how much we can grow!
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Chapter President: Jennifer Lee
National Liaison Officer: Kelvin Luu
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUNCOM)
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Henderson, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas. TUNCOM SOMA chapter hosts a variety of exciting events including monthly speaker series lunch time presentations for certificate programs including topics in mental health and wellness, addiction, and inclusive care. We also host yearly events such as scrub and lab coat sales, white coat sales, happy gram sales, and flower sales during white coat ceremony. We are involved in the community through events such as making blankets with Project Linus and Soup Kitchen. In the past, we have been involved with Shade Tree women’s shelter. We hope to expand our advocacy efforts and to work on projects to combat the opioid crisis in addition to other exciting events in the new year.
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Chapter President: Reily Cannon
National Liaison Officer: Jane Ryu
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP)
Western University COMP sits near the heart of Los Angeles making itself home in vibrant Pomona, California. Since its founding in 1977, Western University has nurtured generations of not only osteopathic physicians but podiatrists, veterinarians, nurses, and everything in between. Although it has been an especially challenging year for our students, our SOMA chapter and its members have adapted incredibly to not only meet the needs of students but provide as many opportunities as possible. We continue to provide mentorship for our local universities, furthering academic opportunities through our virtual ShaDO Day program and partnering undergraduates with year long mentors. We have connected students with physicians intimately involved with organized medicine, running business presentations that offer a glimpse into life outside the clinic. Knowing how hard the past year has been on students financially, we were successful in connecting students to not only SOMA discounts but subsidizing cots for scrubs. Ultimately, its been a great pleasure to help students find their voice through DO Day On the Hill, easing members into advocacy at the highest levels of governance.
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Chapter President: Rebecca Shaneck
National Liaison Officer: Shivali Raja
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Northwest (COMP-NW)
This year has been one to remember and here in the small town of Lebanon, Oregon, COMP-NW SOMA has been working hard. Our Pre-SOMA program has enhanced their pre-med mentorship program, meets monthly with pre-med students, and continues to reach out to colleges about continuing or starting Pre-SOMA clubs. Our Overdose and Prevention Task Force hosted a virtual Narcan training for all students at COMP-NW and is planning more training for the future including DATA Waiver Training this summer. We have participated in school supply drives, food drives, and continue to work with our community to address their needs. Our Advocacy leader is hard at work helping others learn about, write, and revise resolutions. The highlight of the year was being able to attend SOMA’s Spring Convention and DO Day on the Hill in Washington DC. It was the first year they were able to be back in person since 2019. Our Chapter Leaders were able to vote in the SOMA House of Delegates, attend workshops, and meet with the staff of the Oregon State Legislatures to advocate on behalf of the AOA. We are excited to keep working hard and see what more we can accomplish this year.
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Chapter President: Holley Carlson-Riddle
National Liaison Officer: Jordyn Lacey