OUR PROJECTS

CULTURE SHOCK

Culture Shock is UConn SNMA's biggest annual event, and involves the entire student body, the John Dempsey Hospital faculty, and local business in order to raise money to benefit the Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals in Hartford, CT. Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals is an organization was designed to provide young professionals (ages 21-40) in the Greater Hartford area, with a forum that fosters professional development, community service, social awareness, equal access to opportunities and self-reliance Culture Shock is a night where UConn students, faculty and local businesses showcase their culture through food, music, and dance in order to raise money for the Urban League. This year, UConn SNMA was able to receive donations from over 20 local businesses for the event, had over 40 volunteers, over 250 attendees, and raised $1200.

MINORITY MENTORSHIP COMMUNITY PROGRAM (MMCP)

UConn SNMA's MMCP seeks to connect physicians of color with minority students at different levels of their medical training (from first year medical students to residents). This year, UConn SNMA's vice president, Anisha Lewis, was in charge of the program, and was able to create six "families" consisting of at least one minority physician and four medical students. Since the program's 2018-2019 Launch in February of 2019, the families have had 2 meetings scheduled through UConn SNMA (a Superbowl Kick-Off event and a Black History Month event), as well as various meetings within the families on their own. The goal of this program is for local minority physicians to serve as mentors and a source of guidance to UConn SNMA students throughout their medical education.

SATURDAY ACADEMY

Each Saturday, the Health Career's Opportunities Office, along with UConn SNMA's mentorship coordinators, set up an educational activity for middle/high school students from the surrounding community.  Topics range from topics such as obesity prevention and diabetes to basic sciences. This program allows underserved students in the surrounding communities to gain exposure to health care, and more importantly, for them to see and learn from professionals that look like them. Through this program, UConn SNMA has been able to create strong relationships with youth in the community, and serve as mentors for underserved students interested in medicine.

DAY OF ENRICHMENT/WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL VISIT

UConn SNMA, in conjunction with our diversity office, planned a visit to UConn School of Medicine for underserved students at West Middle School in Hartford, CT. Through this visit, the students were given unique exposure to the health care setting. The students were given the opportunity to learn about pipeline programs offered through the UConn School of Medicine's diversity office (Health Career Opportunity Programs), and to partake in cardio/respiratory simulations taught by UConn SNMA medical students. Additionally, a panel of medical students was set up so the students could ask questions, and interact with students who were once in their shoes. This will be an annual UConn SNMA event.

CUT HYPERTENSION

A program created by Dr. Kenji Taylor while he attended UPenn School of Medicine that addresses the health disparities faced by African American men by bringing preventative health, community building, and outreach to them at their local barbershops. UConn's SNMA Chapter has our own chapter of "Cut Hypertension", a program designed to increase health literacy about hypertension and overall health in our communities. Students provide hypertension screening and health and wellness information while interacting with community members. Volunteers would give blood pressure screening to people in the barbershops for 1 hour a session, and give them health information related to their blood pressures. The goal is to empower African American communities to be literate in their own health with an emphasis on cardiovascular health of black men, inspire the future generation of black providers, and build trust between health providers and African American men.

ANNUAL PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS CALLING CAMPAIGN

 We are very excited to begin our outreach to accepted underrepresented minority students, especially in such uncertain times. We are calling over 40 accepted URM  students during the month of April, to encourage them to join the Class of 2024 at UConn. Our goal is to increase the number of URM matriculants to UConn. As an added challenge this spring, the University has decided to cancel all in-person matriculation events, including Second Look weekend, due to COVID-19/Coronavirus. Those events have often helped us to seal the deal with students and parents weighing various admission offers. Through this initiative, each volunteer will be responsible for making calls to speak about their personal experiences at UConn and answer any questions that students have.

MAPS PRE-MED EXPERIENCE PANEL

Members of SNMA participated in a panel for the associated MAPS chapter at UConn for pre-medical undergraduate students. Panelists shared their experiences of medical school, the application process, and advice based on those experiences. Additionally, panelists answered any questions students had and provided contact information and resources to help the undergraduate students. UConn SNMA members also provided personal information so that we can maintain a continuing relationship. We also connected the MAPS Pre-med students to members of the admissions committee for future reference.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LUNCH AND LEARN

In collaboration with UConn’s Student National Dental Association, UConn’s SNMA hosted an annual Lunch and Learn Seminar to celebrate Black History Month. The presentation centered around prominent African Physicians and Dentists that have been trailblazers in the field of medicine through conducting research, discovering treatments, and providing leadership that improved the health of millions.

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB

SNMA is hosting a virtual book club as a way to build connections through the UConn Health community via literature. The book chosen for the first session is Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. We understand that this is a time many students may be struggling with feeling connected and we are hoping that through discussion of a book, feelings of disconnection can be diminished.

PHILLIPS METROPOLITAN CME CHURCH’S WEEKEND FITNESS CLUB

Phillips Metropolitan CME Church's mission is to fulfill God's purpose for all people through active ministry and community service. UConn SNMA has partnered with the church’s Health ministry to provide blood pressure readings and take other vitals including Heart Rate and body mass index for the church’s weekend fitness club. Participants of the fitness club include church goers and other members of the community of the North End of Hartford. Through the weekend sessions, vitals are logged for each session to track participants progress towards their personal health goals.

VIRTUAL WORKOUT SERIES

UConn SNMA has begun a new Virtual Workout Series, Dedicated. Each week, stimulating and versatile workout programs will be available virtually for UConn students, the UConn community, and the larger community all around us. We will learn new skills; strengthen our body and minds; deepen our discipline and dedication, and expand our horizons. Each week we will feature fresh programs with new content and instructors.