Student Interest Groups
Introduction
Medical students at UICOMP have a wide range of interests and passions. This is reflected in the large variety of active student interest groups. Student Interest Groups (SIGs) allow students to plan programs and events to further their common interests in different medical specialties, service & advocacy programs, social & recreational activities, and cultural & spiritual topics.
How to Register a Student Interest Group
The annual Student Interest Group registration period begins each year in May and concludes in early August. At UICOMP, the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, and the Peoria Medical Student Council are responsible for approving the registrations of Student Interest Groups at the first meeting of the Academic Year which is held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Review and recommendations of annual funding for SIGs occurs at the Budget Advisory Committee on the third Wednesday in August, and is ratified by the Peoria Medical Student Council shortly thereafter.
Funding derives from Student fees. Expenditures must conform to college and university regulations, as detailed in the Spending Guidelines for Students. Additional funding requests can be made by filling out a funding proposal form and submitting it to the Budget Advisory Council (BAC). The BAC meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
For more information about Student Interest Groups, contact the UICOMP Student Affairs Office, 309-671-8411.
List of Student Organizations
Medical students at UICOMP have a wide range of interests and passions. This is reflected in our large variety of active student organizations.
List of Interest Groups
Cardiology SIG
President: Danielle Prisendorf
Treasurer: Carolina Kirwan
Career Outreach Chair: Karina Favela
Faculty Advisor Name: Soujanya Bogarapu
Purpose: To engage and gain experience in the field of cardiology through physician engagement, skills practice and peer advice.
Dermatology Interest Group
President: Hunter Levingston
Treasurer: Jennifer King
Career Outreach Chair: Robin Rong
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Kentosh, MD
Purpose: To provide volunteer opportunities, education on various dermatology subjects, and advice on how to apply for a dermatology residency position.
Dermatology of Color
President: Yomna Ibrahim
Treasurer: Jennifer King
Career Outreach Chair: Alex Kozuch
Faculty Advisor: Kelvin Wynn, MD
Purpose: Support the campus community with resources to pursue the field of dermatology and particularly skin of color. Create community outreach and volunteer events to foster dermatologic access to under-resourced communities.
Diagnostic Radiology SIG
President: Mohamed Gaballah
Treasurer: Faisal Al-Qawasmi
Career Outreach Chair: Ameena Patel
Faculty Advisor: Jane Maksimovic, MD
Purpose: To provide educational opportunities relating to radiology and mentorship for students interested in applying to diagnostic radiology.
Emergency Medicine SIG
President: Kimberly Norteman
Treasurer: Ayana Blair
Career Outreach Chair: Conner Driver
Faculty Advisor Name: Matt Fischer, MD
Purpose: To expose students to emergency medicine as a specialty, to encourage students to practice hands-on skills, and to help unite students interested in the specialty to offer support through medical school and the process of applying into emergency medicine residency.
ENT SIG
Presidents: Benny Tom and Nathan McLaughlin
Treasurer: Joshua Merrill
Career Outreach Chair: Abdulbasir Khan
Faculty Advisor: Shannon Egli, MS
Purpose: To foster a community dedicated to serving patients with Otolaryngological needs by facilitating exposure to Otolaryngology for students within the interest group, as well as for the broader UICOMP community.
Family Medicine SIG
President: Lauren Schmidt
Treasurer: Hawarit Mohammed
Career Outreach Chair: Alvin Zhang
Faculty Advisors: Dejan Maksimovic, DO & Elizabeth Gabel, MD
Purpose: The purpose of the group is to show students what it is like to be a Family Medicine physician and get students interested in Family Medicine as a career choice.
Gastroenterology SIG
President: Elodie Baumgartner
Treasurer: Matthew Crimmins
Career Outreach Chair: Matthew Hill
Faculty Advisor: Omar Khokhar, MD
Purpose: To help introduce students to the profession of Gastroenterology, connecting attendings and residents with medical students.
Hematology/Oncology SIG
President: Aaron Deter
Treasurer: Matthew Crimmins
Career Outreach Chair: Sammy Alhayek
Faculty Advisor: Jenna Regan, PhD
Purpose: Help introduce students to the profession of Heme/Onc, connecting attendings and residents with medical students.
Infectious Diseases SIG
Presidents: Zoe Demko & Michael Pudlo
Vice President: Isabella Green
Career Outreach Chair: Lexi Weltin
Faculty Advisor: John Farrell, MD
Purpose: To provide educational, research, and career support for students interested in infectious disease subspecialties, and to hold campus-wide events to help students across the years prepare for infectious disease topics covered on in-house and national exams.
Internal Medicine SIG
President: Manasi Lingamaneni
Treasurer: Omar Garcia Martinez
Career Outreach Chair: Neil Saini
Faculty Advisor: Peter Phan, MD
Purpose: To promote communication among medical students and internal medicine faculty and to promote events to learn about careers in internal medicine.
Interventional Radiology
President: Faisal Al-Qawasmi
Treasurer: Mohamed Gaballah
Career Outreach Chair: Ameena Patel
Faculty Advisor: John Irish, MD
Purpose: To increase awareness of Interventional Radiology and provide opportunities for students to become more involved in the IR community.
Med-Peds SIG
President: Hannah Raj
Treasurer: Zoe Demko
Career Outreach Chair: Saahithya Gowrishankar
Faculty Advisor: Matthew Mischler, MD
Purpose: To introduce medical students to the combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (Med-Peds) specialty and the diverse career paths it offers across the lifespan. The Med-Peds SIG fosters mentorship and connection among students, residents, and faculty. Through panels, workshops, community service, and social events, we aim to promote awareness of and appreciation for Med-Peds
Microsurgery SIG
President: Olivia Guntin
Treasurer: Benny Tom
Career Outreach Chair: Julia Bendorf
Faculty Advisor: Shannon Egli, MS
Purpose: We aim to foster interest and skill development in microsurgery by providing opportunities for students and trainees to explore fundamental techniques and principles. In the future, we plan to host a hands-on microsurgery workshop series that will enable participants to practice and refine their skills in a supportive and educational environment.
Neurology SIG
Presidents: Andrea Ouyang & Heysel Serra Rodriguez
Treasurer: Jay Srinivas
Career Outreach Chair: Navid Shoaee
Faculty Advisor: Jorge Kattah, MD
Purpose: To promote student interest in and provide information about neurology as a career specialty through sharing information about volunteer opportunities related to neurology; networking, research, and conference opportunities; and discussions with residents and faculty from the neurology department.
Neurosurgery SIG
President’s Name: Baasit Jamal
Treasurer’s Name: Jarrett Newnam
Career Outreach Chair Name: Grace Liu
Faculty Advisor Name: Sohail Syed, MD
Purpose: Exploring the field and getting connections with current attending’s and residents to better understand it.
OB/GYN SIG
President: Mariella Saludares
Treasurer: Amanda Tran
Career Outreach Chair: Toma Tchernodrinski
Faculty Advisor: Katie Crawley, DO
Purpose: We aim to connect students at every level of medical education to foster cooperation and mutual success in pursuing the OBGYN specialty. We will be a source of events and education in the realm of OBGYN to all students interested in the field.
Ophthalmology Student Interest Group
Presidents: Rhonda Lee & Grace Tu
Treasurer: Supriya Ravishankar
Career Outreach Chairs: Clare Chen, Abdulbasir Khan
Faculty Advisor: Kamal Kishore, MD
Purpose: Provide opportunities for volunteering and advising to students interested in ophthalmology as a specialty choice
Orthopedic Surgery SIG
President: Eric Hu
Treasurer: Jhamal Wallace
Career Outreach Chair: Sofie Stroeva
Faculty Advisor: Robert Kinzinger, MD
Purpose: Host hands-on events to explore the field of orthopedic surgery. Foster an interest in the student body surrounding orthopedic surgery and its associated sub-specialties. Host educational panels to help interested students apply to a career in orthopedics.
Pathology SIG
President: Samantha Wahlers
Treasurer: Ayana Blair
Career Outreach Chair: Evan Strandquist
Faculty Advisor: Lori Racsa, DO
Purpose: The goal of this interest group is to provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of pathology. This SIG will shed light on the various subspecialties of pathology, work settings (yes, some pathologists do see patients!), and the expansive career opportunities available. Further, have you ever wondered how a biopsy makes its way from inside a patient to under a microscope? This group will help bridge the gap between histology and pathology, as it takes students on a cell’s journey from the O.R. to those pretty images students spend years studying. Finally, the pathology SIG seeks to demonstrate how a pathologist is a critical team member in any specialty, provide resources for students to engage with the field, and increase the number of students considering pathology as their career.
Pediatrics SIG
President: Austin Le
Co-president: Manasi Lingamaneni
Treasurer: Madeline Query
Career Outreach Chair: Navya Peddireddy
Faculty Advisor: Zohra Moeenuddin, MD
Purpose: To learn more about the field of Pediatrics and support our Pediatrics community in Peoria.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation SIG
Presidents: Heysel Serra & Zain Sattar
Treasurer: Kedrick Shin
Career Outreach Chairs: Muhammed Ghazal & Sofia Faillaci
Faculty Advisor: Savitha S. Reddy, MD
Purpose: The PM&R SIG provides students with the opportunity to explore the specialty of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation by connecting with peers, participating in hands-on skills sessions, and networking with mentors, with the ultimate goal of helping students determine whether a career in PM&R is the right fit for them.
Psychiatry SIG
President: Carmen Calhoun
Vice President: Melissa Kim
Treasurer: Lon Hutchinson
Faculty Advisor: Andrew Lancia, MD
Purpose: To connect students to information and mentorship about psychiatry.
Pulmonology SIG
President: Matthew Crimmins
Treasurer: Jessica Hass
Career Outreach Chair: Pranesh Ravichandran
Faculty Advisor: Anamika Sengupta, PhD
Purpose: To provide a platform for community initiatives to improve lung health in the Peoria community. The Pulmonology SIG aims to increase interest in the field of pulmonology by collaborating with community groups to address pulmonary diseases, including COPD, asthma, and lung cancer, in Peoria.
Sports Medicine SIG
President: Muhammed Ghazal
Treasurer: Ali Rassouli
Career Outreach Chair: Nojus Ausra
Faculty Advisor: Bradley Oliver, MD
Purpose: The Sports Medicine SIG purpose is to introduce students to the field of sports medicine through hands-on experiences, teamwork, and mentorship. We aim to show how sports medicine brings together different specialties—family medicine, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and rehabilitation—all working toward the shared goal of helping patients stay active and healthy. Our goal is to help students explore different routes within sports medicine while fostering a sense of connection and collaboration among peers.
Surgery SIG
President: Devon Negron
Treasurer: Jinyu Zhang
Career Outreach Chair: Jacob Wurster
Faculty Advisor: Anthony Munaco, MD
Purpose: The Surgery Student Interest Group (Surgery SIG) is dedicated to fostering early exposure, education, and mentorship in the field of surgery for medical students. Our mission is to cultivate curiosity, build technical skills, and provide meaningful opportunities for professional development through hands-on workshops, faculty-led talks, research guidance, and mentorship programs. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers students of all backgrounds to explore and pursue careers in surgery.
List of Service & Advocacy Groups
Adaptive Climbing SIG
President: Mohamed Gaballah
Vice President: Toma Tchernodrinski
Treasurer: Conner Driver
Faculty Advisor: Kyle Brown, MD
Purpose: We are a volunteer group that aims to create a space for climbers with disabilities to enjoy the sport of climbing.
Admissions Ambassadors
President: Zoe Demko
Vice President: Amit Somalwar
Treasurer: Dr. Adaobi Duru
Faculty Advisor: Adaobi Duru, PhD
Purpose: We support the admissions administration by organizing student panels, meet and greets, second-look, and other events during and after interviews. We seek to give prospective and incoming students a clear and compelling perspective on the student experience here at UICOMP.
Bradley University Pipeline SIG
President: Kelly Delgado
Vice President: Andrea Ouyang & Grace Borkowski
Treasurer: Ashley Hanviriyapunt
Faculty Advisor: Tracy Soltesz, PhD
Purpose: To support Bradley Premed students in their endeavors to apply to medical school and support the Bradley Pipeline Program.
Community Clinic Connect
President: Benny Tom
Vice President: Kelly Delgado
Treasurer: Hannah Luchinski
Faculty Advisor: Dominique Fons, MD
Purpose: Community Clinic Connect partners with the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Peoria to offer blood pressure and blood sugar screenings as well as free provider visits to individuals utilizing the emergency food system in our community.
Cordoba Free Clinic
President: Annie Zhu
Vice President: Anjani Maley
Treasurer: Barbara Mera
Faculty Advisor: Elsa Vazquez Melendez, MD
Purpose: To provide a free specialty clinic for underinsured and uninsured people in the Peoria area.
Disability and Medicine
President: Yoonje Cho
Vice Presidents: Alexander Morse & Chirag Gopinath
Treasurer: Sofia Faillaci
Faculty Advisor: Jessica Hanks, MD
Purpose: Educate medical students on working with people who have disabilities. Give opportunities for students to learn through a disability curriculum integrated into the coursework. Provide outreach opportunities in the community for organizations specific to serving people with disabilities.
Global Health
President: Abdulbasir Khan
Vice President: Muhammed Ghazal
Treasurer: Maher Alsamsam
Faculty Advisor: Rima Shrestha, MD
Purpose: To provide a means of educating ourselves and our peers about topics related to global healthcare, and to encourage discussion and involvement in addressing healthcare disparities.
Healthy Kids University (HKU)
President: Ayana Blair
Vice President: Manasi Lingamaneni
Treasurer: Kelly Delgado
Faculty Advisor: Amy Christison, MD
Purpose: To provide community service such as exercising with kids, teaching kids how to cook, and healthy lifestyles.
Hearts for Hope St. Jude
President: Ciara Callanan
Vice President: Jose Gonzalez
Treasurer: Hannah Raj
Faculty Advisor: Liz Kellington, MA
Loops of Love
President: Allie Sidwell
Vice President: Kimberly Norteman
Treasurer: Isabella Green
Faculty Advisor: Tracy Soltesz, PhD
Purpose: To teach people to crochet, and crochet hats together to donate to the babies in the NICU at CHOI!
Medical Student For Choice
President: Eilidh O’Brien
Vice President: Shiko Githere
Treasurer: Toma Tchernodrinski
Faculty Advisor: Angela O’Bryant, DNP
Purpose: Support for women’s health and abortion services. Educational lectures and workshops on contraception and abortion. Volunteering opportunities through education and donations.
Medical Students 4 a Sustainable Future (MS4SF)
President: Austin Le
Vice President: Navya Pedireddy
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Angela O’Bryant, DNP
Purpose: The Medical Students for a Sustainable Future (MS4SF) is dedicated to uniting medical students invested in the health of our planet and patients and providing them with tools to make a difference at their institutions and in their communities through advocacy, curriculum reform, research, and climate-smart health care. This group conducts the annual Planetary Health Report Card evaluation of UICOMP’s sustainability and climate initiatives.
Medicine for Kiddos
President: Anjani Maley
Co-President: Pranesh Ravichandran
Treasurer: Mohammed Gaballah
Faculty Advisor: Amy Christison, MD
Purpose: To educate local first graders about medicine and healthy habits every month.
Oath & Order
President Name: Karina Favela
Vice President: Devon Izquierdo
Treasurer: Rey Gordiano
Faculty Advisor: Elsa Vázquez-Meléndez, MD
Purpose: Oath & Order is an advocacy group dedicated to educating healthcare professionals on policy changes from the perspectives of medicine (Hippocratic Oath) and law (order). Through educational workshops, it will break down new policies and Supreme Court rulings, explaining the impacts they may have on patients and their care moving forward.
Pregnant Adolescent and Adult Learning with Medical Students
President: Yoonje Cho
Vice President: Kara Proctor
Treasurer: Mariella Saludares
Faculty Advisor: Rahmat Na’Allah, MD
Purpose: To match medical students with an adolescent or adult who is pregnant (PAL), offering individualized support for the parent-to-be during the pregnancy and beyond.
Public Health Interest Group
President: Lauryn Remmers
Vice President: Austin Le
Treasurer: Lauren O’Neil
Faculty Advisor: Angela O’Bryant, DNP
Purpose: To bring together students who are interested in learning more about public health, connect them with initiatives in and around Peoria, and host the annual Health Disparities Forum.
Students for Ethics, Advocacy, and Policy
President: Yeoryia Christoforides
Vice President: Jared Moxley
Treasurer: Danielle Prisendorf
Faculty Advisor: Greg Tudor, MD
Purpose: Opportunity to learn about the issues that will influence how we practice, and the issues that will face our patients.
Students for a National Health Program – Peoria Chapter
President: Kelley Baumann
Vice President: Haley Reynolds
Treasurer: Kelley Baumann
Faculty Advisor: Peter Orris, MD
Purpose: Spread awareness about different healthcare payment models and promote healthcare as a basic human right.
UIC Mobile Clinic
President: Daniel McBride
Vice President: Riyaaz Khaan
Treasurer: Sofie Stroeva
Faculty Advisor: Angela O’Bryant, DNP
Purpose: Act as a liaison and provide opportunities for UICOMP medical students to volunteer on the UIC mobile clinic provided by the college of nursing.
Academic Interest Groups
American Medical Association (AMA)
President: Austin Le
Vice President: Jessica Haas
Treasurer: Ryan Marmis
Faculty Advisor: Asim Jaffer, MD
Purpose: The AMA’s mission is “to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.” The Medical Student Section (MSS) is the student arm of the AMA. The MSS strives to be medical students’ leading voice for improving medical education and policy with the goal of bettering the future of medicine. The MSS provides student members with an important and visible platform for voicing concerns, advocating for change, and proposing solutions to problems in health care.
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
President: Julia Bendorf
Vice President: Sarah Thomson
Treasurer: Sydney Boelter
Faculty Advisor: Dominique Fons, MD
Purpose: The American Medical Women’s Association is a Philadelphia-based professional advocacy and educational organization of women physicians and medical students. AMWA works to advance women in medicine and to serve as a voice for women’s health.
Association of Women in Surgery (AWS – Peoria Chapter)
Presidents: Adwoa Sefah & Mariam Banoub
Treasurer: Barbara Mera
Career Outreach Chair: Julia Bendorf
Faculty Advisor: Emma Ryan, MD
Purpose: The goal of the group is to establish a chapter of the American Women Surgeons on the Peoria campus, fostering engagement and promoting interest in surgery among students. Additionally, the group aims to facilitate mentorship opportunities between female surgeons and medical students passionate about pursuing a career in surgery.
Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS – Peoria Chapter)
President: Elodie Baumgartner
Vice President: Devon Negron
Treasurer: Austin Le
Faculty Advisor: Richard Anderson, MD
Purpose: The ISMS UICOMP Chapter connects medical students with statewide physician leaders to advocate for the future of medicine in Illinois. Through education, policy development, and hands-on advocacy, members learn how to shape healthcare legislation, promote the well-being of physicians and patients, and ensure that student voices are heard in decisions that affect medical practice and public health.
Cultural & Spiritual Interest Groups
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
President: Madeline Query
Vice President: Ashley Hanviriyapunt
Treasurer: Jeffrey Fung
Faculty Advisor: Saurabh Bansal, MD
Purpose: APAMSA is a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
President: Matthew Wattelet
Vice President: Yoonje Cho
Treasurer: Barbara Mera
Faculty Advisor: Greg Tudor, MD
Purpose: A group of Catholic medical students, also open to anyone interested in faith, focused on community, growing in the faith, fellowship, and receiving the Sacraments.
Christian Medical Dental Association (CMDA)
President: Young-Hye Lee
Vice President: Bailey Bohannon
Treasurer: Emily Carroll
Faculty Advisor: Mary Stapel, MD
Purpose: To support students spiritually in a faith-based community.
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
President: Heysel Serra Rodriguez
Vice Presidents: Omar Garcia Martinez & Kelly Delgado
Treasurer: Diego Avila
Faculty Advisor: Elsa L .Vazquez-Melendez, MD
Purpose: The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Interest Group aims to cultivate community, mentorship, and education among medical students. Our mission is to foster a strong sense of belonging by engaging in volunteer activities such as the Mobile Food Pantry and by providing members with meaningful mentorship opportunities. We strive to support our members’ personal and professional growth through connections with physicians, residents, and faculty, as well as by encouraging participation in regional and national conferences that promote leadership, networking, and career development
Muslim Medical Student Association (MMSA)
President: Abdulbasir Khan
Vice Presidents: Muhammed Ghazal & Mariam Ouzidane
Treasurer: Maher Alsamsam
Faculty Advisor: Rahmat Na’Allah, MD
Purpose: The MMSA SIG provides a space for Muslim medical students and allies to connect, support one another, and explore the intersection of faith and medicine. Through community events, discussions, and service initiatives, MMSA fosters cultural understanding, promotes wellness, and advocates for inclusive healthcare. All are welcome to learn, engage, and grow together.
South Asian Student Association (SASA)
President: Anjani Maley
Co-President: Supriya Ravishankar
Treasurer: Neil Saini
Faculty Advisor: Gauri Shevatekar, MBBS
Purpose: Spread culture and create a sense of community among the South Asian student population at UICOMP.
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
President: Jhamal Wallace
Vice Presidents: Eghosa Atoe & Wanjiku Githere
Treasurer: Abdul Lawal
Faculty Advisor: Elsa L. Vazquez-Melendez, MD
Purpose: Our purpose is to support underrepresented students in medicine and address the healthcare needs of underserved communities. The group seeks to achieve this through community service, professional development and networking opportunities, mentorship programs, and advocacy efforts that foster culturally competent and socially conscious future physicians.
Social & Recreational
Atrial Kick
President: Diego Ruiz-Avila
Vice President: Matthew Wattelet
Treasurer: Jose Gonzalez
Staff Advisor: Jaymi Belcher
Purpose: This is a soccer team composed of medical students that competes year-round in local Peoria leagues.
Basketball and Leadership
President: Ben Mendez
Vice President: Abdullah Mubarik
Treasurer: Matthew Hill
Faculty Advisor: Kelvin Wynn, MD
Purpose: Our group fosters a sense of community among medical students, residents, and attending physicians across multiple specialties within both the OSF and Carle Health systems. We meet weekly to compete, collaborate, and seek informal advice on topics in medicine and beyond. This year, we are also pursuing partnerships with local organizations to host a fundraising tournament to give back to the Peoria community.
Bump, Set, Spike – Volleyball
President: Hannah Luchinski
Vice President: Mariam Ouzidane
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Jenna Regan, PhD
Purpose: To offer UICOMP students opportunities to play volleyball, both in the RiverPlex league against community members and in scrimmages against each other. It is a chance to take a break from studying, get some exercise, and have fun.
Docapella
President: Navya Peddireddy
Co-President: Kedrick Shin
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Janice Tamplin, MS
Purpose: Docapella is UICOMP’s own a cappella singing group! We rehearse weekly and perform at university and community events, including the annual Halloween Party, Holiday Breakfast, Match Day Celebration, and at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois. Students of all abilities and experience levels are welcome to participate!
Fantasy Football Physicians
President: Muhammed Ghazal
Vice President: Malek Shawabkeh
Treasurer: Abdul Afeez Lawal
Faculty Advisor: Bradley Oliver, MD
Purpose: The purpose of The Fantasy Physicians is to foster camaraderie, wellness, and leadership among medical students through the shared enjoyment of fantasy football. The group aims to create a low-stress, inclusive environment where students can connect across classes, build teamwork and communication skills, and take a mental break from the rigors of medical training.
Film Studies
President: Abdullah Mubarik
Vice Presidents: Eric Medenblik & Daniel McBride
Treasurer: Riyaaz Khan
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Fisher, PhD
Purpose: A way for students to relax and watch movies related to medical topics.
Gaming SIG
President: Milon Hutchinson
Vice President: Toma Tchernodrinski
Treasurer: Ashley Hanviriyapunt
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Fisher, PhD
Purpose: To foster a community of students who share a passion for gaming, both recreational and educational. Our group seeks to provide a platform for students to connect, collaborate, and engage in various gaming activities, including video games, board games, and other interactive entertainment. We aim to promote teamwork, strategic thinking, and stress relief through gaming events, tournaments, and discussions. Additionally, we will explore the potential applications of gaming in medical education and healthcare, including serious games for training and patient engagement.
Golf SIG
President: Damon Phillips-Chantelois
Vice President: Graham Archer
Treasurer: Jacob Sowizrol
Faculty Advisor: Mathew Fischer, MD
Purpose: To promote participation in the world’s best, low-impact, networking conducive sport–golf. Help find tee-times, groups, skill events, and friendly competitions.
Makers in Medicine
President: Kushi Gowda
Vice President: Samantha Wahlers
Treasurer: Ayana Blair
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Fisher, PhD
Purpose: Arts and crafts interest group for students who are interested in creative projects. Host crafting events where we provide supplies and encourage students to explore various forms of arts and crafts.
Outdoors Club SIG
President: Nolan Luckett
Vice President: Benny Tom
Treasurer: Ashley Hanviriyapunt
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Fisher, PhD
Purpose: The Outdoors SIG is organized to arrange various outdoor group activities open to the student body, from visiting and exploring the parks and nature preserves around the Peoria area to shooting events with clay and steel targets.
Pickleball
President: Nehal Patel
Vice President: Kedrick Shin
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Monzurul Roni, PhD
Purpose: Sports recreation.
Queer Coalition
President: Hunter Levingston
Vice President: Grace Liu
Treasurer: Zoe Demko
Faculty Advisor: Elsa Vazquez-Melendez, MD
Purpose: To create a social space, provide resources, and provide volunteer opportunities for members and allies of the queer community on our campus.
SOAP Box
President: Abdulbasir Khan
Vice President: Muhammed Ghazal & Maher Alsamsam
Treasurer: Malek Shawabkeh
Faculty Advisor: Amy Christison, MD
Purpose: SOAP Box is a student-led group aimed at providing a space and platform for medical students and professionals to convey their experiences and perspectives through various forms of media. We aim to nurture the human side of medicine by encouraging reflection, creativity, and authentic self-expression in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Strength & Conditioning SIG
President: Aaron Deter
Vice President: Matthew Crimmins
Treasurer: Jacob Wurster
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Fisher, PhD
Purpose: To promote exercise and wellness among medical students by promoting hobbies such as weight training, running, and cooking, among others.
Tennis SIG
President: Kedrick Shin
Vice President: Hunter Levingston
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Anamika Sengupta, PhD
Purpose: To coordinate and play tennis recreationally.
Ultimate Frisbee SIG
President: Kedrick Shin
Vice President: Allie Sidwell
Treasurer: Yanal Kawaleet
Faculty Advisor: Anamika Sengupta, PhD
Purpose: To play recreational games of ultimate frisbee among students of UICOMP.