Student Interest Groups

Get Involved in Diverse Student Interest Groups

To ensure that OHSU recruits and retains diverse students, faculty, and staff, efforts must be intentional and focused. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion works with OHSU schools, academic programs, and units to support all students. OHSU is home to local chapters of distinguished national student organizations and other diverse student interest groups. See all student interest groups with student central here.

We are committed to bringing awareness of the diverse experiences of students with disabilities and advocating for equal access for all students at OHSU by: 

  • Supporting OHSU students along their journeys to their desired profession. 
  • Advocating for learning, testing, and clinical accommodations, both at OHSU and for national examinations.
  • Campaigning for the basic everyday educational needs of all students, current and future.
  • Providing a central forum to discuss accessibility difficulties and collaboratively envision solutions.

The mission of the Alliance for Visible Diversity in Science (AVDS) is to increase visible diversity within graduate programs at OHSU. The group focuses on recruiting, retaining and supporting graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and faculty members from underrepresented backgrounds.

The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is an organization of Asian and Pacific Islander medical students committed to raising awareness of health challenges in Asian and Pacific Islander communities through education, outreach, advocacy, and service. The group is interested in both directly promoting the health and well-being of our communities as well as helping current and future health care workers who work with these populations to understand how to care for patients in a culturally-sensitive manner.

This is a student organization representing Native American graduate health professions students throughout the US and Canada. The goals of ANAMS include providing support and a resource network for all Native Americans currently enrolled in various allied health professions schools.  Members strive to increase the number of Native American students in medicine and other health professions.

Values: Uphold nursing ethical principles, including veracity/truth, leadership, community, networking creating resources and mentorship, outreach and representation.

Mission statement:

The Black Student Nurses Umoja (BSNU) of OHSU mission is to provide community for Black and African American diaspora identified students within the OHSU School of Nursing undergraduate and graduate programs. BSNU's aim is to create space where truth and respect is upheld within its members. Provide a safe and brave environment to discuss issues that affect the Black/African American community within OHSU and Oregon. Advocate for student experiences and uphold anti-racist culture within higher education and the nursing profession. Connect and network within the profession and grow in professional development while contributing to URM pathways programs. BSNU also commits to celebrating Black/African American excellence, culture, and history.

Mission statement

The mission of the Immigrant Community at OHSU is to foster common ground, regardless of background, where members can listen to and share origin stories, find new ways to connect to their culture and minimize the hours of the day that we feel “othered”. IC at OHSU is open to students, residents, attendings, employees, and allies. IC at OHSU is an environment where immigrants and first-generation immigrants can come together to find community, solidarity, and intersectionality. IC at OHSU strives to expand the resources available to the OHSU community to help foster a sense of belonging to all members of many different ethnic backgrounds.

The Jewish Student Association is an organization dedicated to celebrating Jewish culture and spreading awareness of Jewish tradition throughout OHSU's student population. The mission is to create a space for students of Jewish background and interested OHSU community members to gather and observe traditions together.

To promote, support and provide mentorship to the Latinx/Hispanic student community, both current and aspiring, through storytelling, resource sharing, cultural celebrations and peer support. We are committed to improving the visibility and accessibility of bicultural-bilingual providers by forming sustainable relationships with our local community and increasing diversity within the healthcare educational system. We welcome all LATINX students regardless of spoken language.

We exist:  
for the professional, social, and emotional support and development of men within the nursing profession; as space to critically and compassionately discuss issues uniquely impacting men in nursing; to understand the roles men play in the context of healthcare, and to celebrate the diversity of men within our profession; to confront patriarchal biases and practices, and to dispel self-limiting beliefs about masculinity.
We aspire:
to develop leaders whose goal is to endow others with power, promoting collaborative structures rather than hierarchical arrangements; to represent men in a profession of kindness and compassionate service; to advocate for
We value:
representation of diverse peoples and perspectives; interpersonal and professional integrity; transparency, honesty, accountability;
humility, respectfulness and temperance amid conflict; expressions and concrete acts of solidarity with intersectional allies; generosity of time and spirit.

The Middle Eastern and South Asian Association (MESAA) allows students across all OHSU healthcare programs and ethnic backgrounds to gain exposure to the cultures of the Middle East and South Asia. MESAA is committed to promoting cultural competency and networking as a platform for career development in healthcare. Opportunities to spread awareness of diversity include social, educational and community service events.

The group strives to create a supportive and inclusive community for Muslim students and provide educational experiences to strengthen our own faith. Members seek to engage the entire campus community and empower Muslim students to develop leadership skills by representing the faith on campus. It is open to students, residents and staff. Activities include Friday prayers, holiday celebrations, lectures and community service.

Mission of being committed to diversifying the Physician Assistant profession by: Support pre-PA students and promoting the PA profession. Advocate and be a contributor to anti-racist education within the OHSU campus and collaborating with the surrounding community. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion and access to for all under-represented minorities PA students at OHSU and aspiring PA candidates across the nation. Center the voices, experiences and knowledge of a diverse student body.

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is a national student-led organization that was founded in 1964 as a subdivision of the National Medical Association. The SNMA has been dedicated to "ensuring medical education services are culturally sensitive as well as increasing the number of minority students entering and completing medical school." SNMA accomplishes its missions and goals by focusing on three core areas: community outreach, pipe-line programs and medical education.

SACNAS is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.

The group's mission is to provide safe, validating and inclusive health care and working environments at OHSU through education and advocacy.  Students for LGBTQ Health implements educational trainings, participates in community volunteer events and holds social gatherings and visibility campaigns. This group welcomes current and future health care professionals, gender and sexual minorities and allies.

VIBE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion will further advance the dental profession, improve the oral health of thepublic, and achieve optimal health for all. To host social and educational events for underrepresented populations at the School of Dentistry. VIBE is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion to foster a safe and equitable environment for its membership. In this environment, representation matters and every member is provided intentional opportunities to make meaningful contributions. Diverse viewpoints and needs are heard, valued, and respected. VIBE embraces diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and growth, ensure a relevant and sustainable organization and deliver purposeful value to members and prospective members.