Interest Groups

The medical school at Memorial University boasts a very active Medical Students' Society and learner representation on most committees including Faculty Council. Learners are involved in a wide range of community activities and Learner-Led Interest Groups that enhance their education and contribute to individual well-being and community engagement. Learner-Led Interest Groups sanctioned within the Faculty of Medicine are required to meet certain guidelines.

The following lists the groups and community services led by learners in our Faculty:

About Us: A MUNMED Culture & Traditions Student Interest Group

A group of dedicated learners and educators passionate about acknowledging and celebrating the medical training traditions at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Our goal is to remind our community of medical learners and practitioners that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become. Our goal is to create a sense of comfort and belonging and enable students, faculty and alumni to connect and provide a forum to showcase role models and celebrate the things and people that really matter in our collective life and pursue avenues for creating lasting memories for our Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University, in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.

Contact: Dr. Alex States          Faculty sponsors: Dr. Greg Radu, Dr. Teri Stuckless

ACCESS Clinic Inc.

Access Clinic is a physician-mentored student initiative at MUN Med that aims to provide healthcare to under-served populations in the St. John's area. 

Contact: Joshua Dean

MUN Med Anesthesia Interest Group

Phase 1-3 Resident lead initiative with practical skill sessions and low fidelity simulation.

Contacts: Hollie Tracey, Drew Robert & Megan Snow 

Arts in Medicine Interest Group (AMIG)

The Arts in Medicine Interest Group serves to promote the role of the arts and humanities in medicine.

Contacts: Liam Robbins

Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) MUN Chapter

The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) MUN Chapter is an interest group for aspiring women surgeons, and those in support of women in surgery. The goal of the AWS is to 

  • ENGAGE current and future women surgeons to realize their professional and personal goals,
  • EMPOWER women to succeed,
  • EXCEL in those aspirations through mentorship, education and a networking community that promotes their contributions and achievements as learners, surgeons and leaders.

Our goal as a chapter is to provide you with networking and mentorship opportunities with surgeons and surgical residents at MUN, highlight women surgeon role models, and facilitate discussion related to professional development and challenges that women surgeon’s face. Although the AWS is primarily a support group for women in surgery, we welcome all genders to join us in our talks, events and skills development sessions.

Contacts: Zoe Breen & Dawn Curran

Choosing Wisely Canada @ Memorial Interest Group
 
Choosing Wisely N.L., a branch of Choosing Wisely Canada, is a program to help clinicians and patients engage in conversations about unnecessary tests and treatments and make smart and effective choices to ensure high quality care.

Contacts: Olivia Cumbie & Kevin Kecskemeti

Collected Works

Collected Works is a collection of artistic works submitted by medical learners in each class.  It’s a chance to be creative with such things as poetry, paint or craft, photos, written music, art or whatever talent you have.  The pieces do not need to be medically related or even new.  All pieces submitted will be turned into an awesome little book and everyone will get a copy.
 
Contact:   Office of Learner Well-Being and Success
 
Concussion U

Concussion-U is a group dedicated to medical education, awareness, community outreach and research on the topic of concussions.

Email: concussionu@mun.ca
Twitter: @concussionu           
Instagram: @concussion_u

Contacts: Ryan Murray, Anna Nippard, Robyn Woodrow, & Matthew Laaper

Dermatology Student Interest Group
 
To educate and engage learners interested in the field of dermatology through dermatologists presenting research, having speakers come in, etc.
 
Contacts: Aileen Feschuk & Simal Qureshi

Disability Studies in Medicine
 
The Disability Studies in Medicine Interest Group aims to provide medical learners with opportunities to become better allies to the disability community and to learn how to approach their future medical practice through an inclusive and anti-ableist lens.
 
Education opportunities organized by the group include topics such as the social model of disability, disability history and culture, universal design. and more. Education sessions are to be planned in consultation with individuals with disabilities as the group abides by the common phrase in disability studies and the disability community “nothing about us without us”.
 
The overarching goal of the group is to equip medical learners with the knowledge and awareness to provide inclusive, anti-ableist and barrier-free care to patients in the future.
 
Contact: Emma Dornan

Emergency Medicine Interest Group
 
A group for medical learners who are interested in the specialty of Emergency Medicine or Family Medicine+Emergency. EMIG holds lecture series, talks and skills nights. The aim is to stimulate interest in this field, as well as provide practical knowledge and skills to medical learners that may be beneficial in the practice of field medicine.

Contacts: Claire Neilson & Jade Roberts

Exercise is Medicine Interest Group

Exercise is Medicine at MUN is a group that aims to provide opportunities for greater exercise education within the medical school, while also reaching out into the community to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviours among the general public. Furthermore, the group seeks to raise awareness regarding the importance of exercise as a tool for the prevention, treatment and management of chronic disease, in hopes of promoting regular exercise (and lifestyle) counselling behaviours from physicians in clinical interactions with their patients.
 
Contact: Ryan Murray, Maddy Stevens, & Claire Neilson

Family-Low Risk Obstetrics Interest Group

A group for medical learners interested in women’s health and maternal care from a family medicine perspective.  This group will focus on the holistic care family doctors provide for mom and baby, prenatal visits, postnatal care and include weekly shadowing at the prenatal clinic.  Information will also be provided via talks on post graduate training in low risk obstetrics and other related programs across Canada.
 
Contact: Victoria Han & Maddy Brosella
 
Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)

Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) are run by medical learners for medical learners . Our goal is to increase exposure of Family Medicine during undergraduate medical training. We offer a variety of learner activities to help increase awareness and understanding of the opportunities, roles and responsibilities within Family Medicine. 

Contacts: Sarah Eustace, Kayla Viguers & Zahra Rehan

Gastroenterology Interest Group

The goal of the gastroenterology interest group is to provide students further knowledge and education regarding the field of Gastroenterology and hepatology. We aim to bring in experts in the field to provide talks for students about their day to day lives as GI physicians, pros and cons of the field, as well as novel advancements in the field of gastroenterology. We also hope to set up networking events where students are able to directly talk to physicians and residents who can give advice about entering the field.

Contacts: Arshia Kazerouni

Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Interest Group

The Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Interest Group (GSAIG) aims to educate undergraduate medical students as well as other health care staff in health issues related to gender and sexuality diversity. We do this by organizing a variety of events, talks and providing online resources to medical students. These activities provide additional information about healthcare in the LGBTQQ2SIPPA+ community that is not covered by the medical school curriculum.

Contacts: Miles Llewellyn, Michael Hand, Angela Cheng, & Melanie Collins

General Internal Medicine Interest Group (GIMIG)

Our group aims to help medical learners learn about internal medicine and to establish communication with faculty and other learners who share similar interests. GIMIG has a faculty advisor who provides guidance and lends continuity to the group. We organize talks, arrange shadowing opportunities for learners to learn more about internal medicine and subspecialties as possible careers.

Contacts: Richard Smith & Olivia Cumbie

Global Health Interest Group

Increase awareness and provide global health learning opportunities in order to create a socially accountable community that promotes global engagement both locally and abroad. For more information, visit the website.
 
Contact: Emily Philpott & Brooklyn Goucher

Her Health

Her Health is a student-run women's health initiative which aims to improve access to health-related information among immigrant and refugee women living in St. John's and surrounding areas. Through Her Health, we hope to contribute to the health of immigrant and refugee women in our community, while providing medical students the opportunity to participate in meaningful community engagement with a population that often faces many barriers to accessing health care and health-related information.

Contacts: Sarah Higdon, Madison Borsella, Dami Adekunle, Dakshita Jagota, Sarah Williams, & Sarah Devereaux

Indigenous Health Interest Group (IHIG)
 
MUN medicine IHIG aims to educate future physicians on Indigenous well-being, whether it be traditional methods of healing, or incorporating cultural beliefs into healthy lifestyles. Our interest group advocates for cultural awareness for medical learners in order to promote culturally sensitive practice and promote equitable care for Indigenous populations. 

Contacts: Berit Sellars & Emily Collis

Infectious Disease Interest Group

The Infectious Disease Interest Group strives to supplement the learning of medical learners in topics involving infectious disease through the shared real-life experiences of physicians and researchers in the field. This information is usually given in the form of scheduled presentations and covers a variety of material. Some topics of interest we may cover include history of provincial infectious disease outbreak, spread of disease vectors, emerging infectious disease, infectious disease research, clinical practice for handling infectious disease and more.
 
Contacts: Liam Payne, Chantel Rice, & Daisy Li

Medical Students against Poverty

The mandate of Medical Students Against Poverty is to empower medical students to learn about the effects of poverty on health and well-being, to advocate for policy and interventions geared towards poverty reduction, and to learn what direct interventions are available to clinicians when working with patients experiencing poverty.

Contact: Katie Oldford

Medicine in Literature Interest Group

The mandate of this interest group is to join like-minded students together with a love of literature to delve into medicine, culture, and ethics in a way that goes beyond the classroom. Literature and narratives is a great way to explore our own thoughts on heavy topics that students will face in our medical careers, and having a group to discuss the literature we read together is a great way to share and listen to new perspectives and feel a sense of community here at MUN medicine. 

Contact:           Meghan Hickey

Medical Students for Choice Interest Group
 
Medical Students for Choice works to ensure that all medical learners have access to abortion education and training. We do this through the following programs:  

Contact: Madison Borsella & Jocelyn Adundo

MUN Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group
 
The MUN Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (MUN LMIG) provides opportunities for medical students to grow their knowledge of nutrition and mindfulness through a variety of education sessions and practical cooking classes (online/socially-distanced as required during the pandemic). Established in collaboration with Gift of Health, our group will focus on branching out to other community organizations with similar goals of empowering people to make evidence-based lifestyle changes to prevent and manage chronic disease. MUN LMIG also hopes to engage in advocacy initiatives to improve access to nutrition education in the medical school curriculum, to encourage the hospital to offer healthier cafeteria and inpatient meal choices, and much more!
 
Executives: Erynn Button  and Jordi Slaney

MUN Medicine Hacking Health Group

MUN Medicine Hacking Health Group is a sub-group of Hacking Health St. John’s. As part of a global movement, we are a learner-led group focused on innovation in healthcare through a multidisciplinary approach.

Contacts: Matthew Kennedy

MUN Med RMDH Just Like Nan's 

We support Ronald McDonald House (RMH) through their Just Like Nan's baking program. Any medical student who has an interest in baking and/or supporting RMH is welcome to volunteer. Teams of medical students will sign up to bake at the RMH on various occasions throughout the school year (September - June).

Contact: Julie Croucher

MUN Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group (MUN OB/GYN)

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group Interest Group (OGIG) allows medical students at Memorial University to share issues related to women’s health and to promote opportunities to gain experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Momma Moments

Members of the MUN OGIG have the opportunity to volunteer with Momma Moments once a month. Momma Moments is a fantastic program organized by Choices For Youth, during which young mothers come in with their children for a home-cooked meal and a safe and creative play space for their children. There is also a woman’s health clinic during these sessions, and previous OGIG volunteers have the opportunity to shadow these clinics. For more information, please visit: https://www.choicesforyouth.ca/family

If you are interested in participating with Momma Moments, please join the Facebook group (“MUN Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group (OGIG)”) and stay tuned for volunteer sign-up and schedules. Each session splits volunteers into preparing and serving meals and playing with the kids/arts and crafts. One student is allowed to shadow each week (this schedule is separate from the once-per-month volunteer schedule).

Contacts: Claire Pratt & Jane Cooze 

Neurosurgery Interest Group

The Neurosurgery Interest Group is: a student-led initiative dedicated to expanding MUNMED student's interest and understanding of Neurosurgery as a potential career. We strive to create meaningful learning opportunities for those interested in Neurosurgery and provide a hub for students to discuss these interests with like-minded individuals.

Contact:          Austin Bowering, Kurtis Butt, Nathan Pitts, Tim Noble

Oncology Interest Group

The Oncology Interest Group is comprised of a group of medical students with an interest in Oncology. Through a series of presentations and events, we hope to provide several learning opportunities in the field of Oncology for those interested.

Contacts: Julie Croucher & Victoria Hand

Opioid Awareness and Support Team (OAST) Student Interest Group

The Opioid Awareness and Support Team (OAST) was formed in 2018 by a group of medical learners out of interest in increasing awareness, education and support in response to the Opioid Crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, OAST consists of 10 medical learners. Our team has three principle working mandates moving forward: Opioid overdose awareness at MUN; Medical Education; and Community Engagement and Social Accountability. 

Contact: Anna Thomas

OAST Email
Instagram: @munoast

Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group

This group was created by and for medical learners with an interest in orthopedic surgery as a specialty. Our goal is to create a welcoming space for learners to learn more about the field of orthopedics by hosting a variety of interactive events and connecting medical learners with orthopedic surgeons. We aim to achieve our mission by working collaboratively with all members of the group.

Contact: Rosemary Stanoev & Madison Stevens

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Interest Group

This group was created to expose learners to the many opportunities and subspecialties within the field of Otolaryngology.

Contact: Aileen Feschuk & Christina Major

Palliative Care Interest Group

The MUN Medicine Palliative Care Interest Group is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for students interested in the field of palliative care. There will be a series of events that offer students access to knowledge and exposure in the field.

Contact: Dawn Murphy


Pediatrics Special Interest Group (PSIG)

The Pediatrics Special Interest Group (PSIG) is organized by and for medical learners interested in the field of Pediatrics.  The aim of the PSIGN is to help connect medical learners with pediatricians and pediatric residents through a variety of events.  These include interactive sessions on various pediatrics related topics and event such as ‘Pediatric Resident Night” and “Trivia night”.  The PSIG also advocates for youth in the community in the form of fundraising for local charities such as the Ronald McDonald House.
 
Contacts: Selina Zhao & Amelia Lacey

 Planetary Health Interest Group
 
Welcome to the MUN Planetary Health Interest Group (PHIG). We take action to improve human health through environmental protection. Our interest group educates medical learners about the linkages between planetary health and human health. Through advocating for change in our community, we are working to develop a healthier province through prospective environmental changes. This is a group where medical learners, residents and staff physicians can work together to make the necessary changes for our community moving forward.
 
Goals of the PHIG:
 
1)      To promote environmental protection and conservation for the betterment of human health.
 
2)      To provide medical learners with learning experiences and opportunities that foster awareness about environmental and human health linkages.
 
3)      To act as a resource for students who would like to engage with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).
 
Contacts: Lauren Law (Class of 2025); Justin Billard (Class of 2025); Samath Fageria (Class of 2024); Robyn Woodrow (Class of 2024); Nilita Sood (Class of 2023); Eric Fradsham (Class of 2023)

PoCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) Interest Group

The Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) Interest Group intends to educate undergraduate medical students on the various uses of PoCUS and to give pre-clerkship students adequate preliminary training to become comfortable and confident using ultrasound machines.

Contacts: Liam Payne & Daniel Blaine

 

Prehospital and Wilderness Medicine Interest Group

This interest group aims to provide learners with information and training opportunities in the wide range of disciplines surrounding prehospital and wilderness medicine. We are interested in fields such as:

  • Prehospital Medicine
  • Wilderness Medicine
  • Mountain Medicine
  • Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
  • Extreme Medicine
  • Expedition Medicine

Contact: Ryan Pretty & Nikki Bursey

 

Psychiatry Interest Group (PsyG)

A group open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Psychiatry! The PsyG is run by learners at MUN’s Faculty of Medicine who would like to raise awareness about the opportunities within the Discipline of Psychiatry, and to promote wellness and healthy coping among the learners of our medical school.
 
Contacts: Ryan Murray & Josh Conway

Radiology Interest Group (RIG)

The objectives of the Radiology Interest Group are to:

  • Enhance radiology education through a scheduled series of lectures, workshops, and events.
  • Promote a greater understanding of the diverse and important roles that radiologists have in healthcare.
  • Stimulate interest in radiology among medical learners.
  • Provide an opportunity for medical learners to explore and make informed decisions about radiology as a career.
  • Inform medical learners about radiology residence and CaRMS process.
  • Connect medical learners interested in radiology or radiology related research with faculty mentors.

For more information, please visit our website.

Contact: Daniel Pearce & Olivia Cumbie

Responsible Sexuality

The mandate of this group is to assist Planned Parenthood NL in providing sex positive, harm reduction and inclusive sex education presentation to schools and community groups following specific training. This group provides an opportunity for medical students to give back to their community as well as to become familiar with sexual health and the types of questions and knowledge that youth are seeking.

Contacts: Alex Cho & Julia Bruce-Robertson

Rheumatology Interest Group

The Rheumatology Interest Group is a group created for students interested in rheumatology. Our goal is to share information and bring awareness to this specialty through a variety of presentations from local rheumatologists. The group also aims to create connections and promote research and clinical opportunities within the field. 

Contacts:  Kathleen Dyer & Lauren Hemphill

Rural Medicine Interest Group

A learner group that aims to increase the presence of medical learner leaders from rural backgrounds, or who have an interest in practicing rurally.

Contact: Emily Collis & Emily Philpott

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN)

The purpose of SIGN is to introduce medical students to the field of neurology by bringing them together with fellow students with similar interests through discussions by neurologists, patient presentations, seminars, journal clubs, learning materials, and arranged shadowings of neurologists in the workplace.

Contact: Liam Robbins

Surgery Interest Group

The Surgery Interest Group provides learners with talks and skills nights related to various surgical specialties. These including talks on interesting cases, how to match to a surgical specialty and maintaining work-life balance as a surgeon. Skills nights include learning suture techniques, hand ties and the opportunity to practice skills on 3D printed models. 

Contacts: Rachel Sorensen , Sam Newhook, & Maddy Stevens

Vision and Ophthalmology Interest Group

The Vision and Ophthalmology Interest Group (VOIG) addresses the gap in medical education regarding vision care from a cross-disciplinary perspective. By hosting talks, skills nights, trivia sessions and a patient perspective series, VOIG aims to improve the understanding and confidence of medical learners in managing the various ophthalmic conditions they may be confronted within their careers. We also hope to instil the seeds of curiosity in medical learners regarding ophthalmology as a speciality interest.

Contacts: Stuti Tanya & Meena Saad & Dami Adekunle

Wellness Interest Group

The Wellness Interest group will be a peer-based group that will work in consultation with the Well-Being Committee to research, support, plan, implement activities that support the well-being of the undergraduate learners. We will base our activities on 5 tenets of wellness: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health.

Contacts: Kaya Dooley, Pauneez Sadri,  Mary Jane Butler