Student Enrichment Programs serve to broaden the scope of medical education to include health, social, and academic experiences beyond the classroom with the goal of creating cross-culturally competent physicians instilled with the understanding and desire to serve their many communities - professional, local, and global.
The wide variety of extracurricular opportunities available at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is a reflection of our dynamic and engaged student body. There are more than 20 active department-sponsored interest groups (e.g. Orthopedic Surgery, Radiology, Emergency Medicine), more than 20 active sub-field interest groups (e.g. Wilderness Medical Society, LGBT People and Allies in Medicine, Global Health Interest Group), many community service organizations (e.g. free clinics, patient advocacy experiences, health literacy programs), active chapters of prominent national organizations (e.g. AMA, AMSA, AMWA, APAMSA, AOA, SPSR, SNMA), as well as religious and cultural groups.
These organizations sponsor a wide variety of activities: lunch talks, community service events, open mic nights, clinical workshops, and lobby days, just to name a few.
In addition, students run a literary magazine (Murmurs) and an annual musical theater production (the graduating class's Scope & Scalpel). The Student Executive Council maintains an up-to-date calendar of the many extracurricular goings-on at PittMed. There is consistently at least one general interest talk or activity per day and usually much more.
Interested students can take on a big role in the day-to-day affairs of the medical school itself; there are active student representatives on the curricular committee, the technology committee, the honor council, and the admissions committee.
Area of Concentration Program
The Area of Concentration Program is an innovative, theme-based, longitudinal experience that was established to create a learning environment that enables student to develop in-depth expertise in a selected discipline of medicine.
Community Service Opportunities
Pitt Med students value that each person is unique, and they recognize the importance of being able to understand and relate to patients as people. Student community service initiatives through the student interest groups and other avenues allow students to give to their communities and provide opportunities to deepen their skills as humanitarian doctors.
Global Health Student Association
The Global Health Student Association is a student group at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. It seeks to promote interest in global health issues among GSPH students through the exchange of information among GSPH global health researchers, worldwide global health organizations, and the large body of international students enrolled at GSPH.
UPMC - Global Reach
The global reach of UPMC is extraordinary. With operations in Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Cyprus, UPMC is transforming its medical and technological expertise into new products, services, and companies that are helping patients and health care providers worldwide. It is rapidly becoming an international health care brand that attracts the best and brightest physicians and staff from around the world for the benefit of its patients.
Health Sciences Library System
The Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh offers a wide array of information services, educational opportunities, and resources in print and electronic format to faculty, medical staff, students, and researchers in the schools of the health sciences (Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
PalPITTations
PalPITTations is an a cappella vocal group made up of medical students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The group performs concerts throughout the year for the campus community.
ProActive
ProActive tries to inject physical activity into the lives of medical students, whether it’s training for a marathon, participating in a weekly kickball league, hitting the slopes on a weekend ski trip, or bowling –anything to get them away from their desks and moving around. ProActive’s activities are aimed at serious athletes, curious beginners, and everyone in between, but all have one thing in common: FUN!
ProActive also serves as a guide, directing students to different athletic sources, such as running trails, Frisbee golf courses and even physical therapists. Some medical students also choose to form teams in the University's intramural league or the city's Pittsburgh Sports League.
Student Executive Council (SEC)
The Student Executive Council is the official student government of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Its membership consists of class officers, representative from student organizations and interested individuals who are willing to make a commitment of time and energy to the Council. The Council meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues affecting medical students at the school, university, state and federal levels. These concerns are then shared with representatives of the School and University Administration.
In addition to being a forum for the discussion of issues and exchange of information, the SEC also performs valuable services for the student body. All members of the School of Medicine are eligible to become members-at-large and/or serve on SEC committees.