The SNMA was established to serve the needs of the minority medical student and to produce an increasing number of minority physicians. In addition, the SNMA serves as a gateway of positive interaction with young minority students interested in a career in science and/or medicine. We are the future doctors of tomorrow and, as such, we have an obligation to serve as a resource for our communities.

Since 1974, Weill Cornell has fostered the educational pursuits of minority students interested in a career in medicine. Currently, Weill Cornell Medical College boasts a record of graduating over 400 minority physicians with numbers still rising. In addition, eighteen percent of our student body consists of underrepresented minorities as designated by the Association of American Medical Colleges. This percentage is among the highest in the nation as well as in New York State. Weill Cornell has a reputation of embracing medical students from many different walks of life and strives to diversify its student population in order to reflect the changing healthcare system.

Chapter President:

Joanna Ayoung jna2001@med.cornell.edu Chapter Contact Information: Weill Cornell Medical College Office of Student Affairs c/o Student National Medical Association 445 East 69th Street, Room 110 New York, NY 10021

Chapter Vice President:

Kristin Taylor knt2001@med.cornell.edu National Contact Information: SNMA National Office 1012 Tenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 371-1616 phone (202) 371-5675 fax

Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program
The Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) was developed in 1989 by the Weill Cornell chapter of the SNMA. It is now a national program addressing the issues of declining enrollment rates of underrepresented minorities, specifically in medicine and generally in the health professions. The program exposes high school sophomores and juniors to science-related activities. HPREP also teaches students about specific career fields and the steps needed to become a physician or other health care provider.

During the ten-week program, 10th and 11th grade high school students are exposed to physicians and health care professional from minority groups. These professionals give lectures on a broad range of topics and, in addition, the students participate in small group workshops led by medical students. The participants are also required to submit a short research paper on a pre-approved subject at the conclusion of the program.

For further information on these activities at Weill Cornell, please contact our chapter's coordinators:

Luanne Belgodere lmb2004@med.cornell.edu

Hanna Alemayehu haa2008@med.cornell.edu

Jessica Noack jln2002@med.cornell.edu

MAPS at Weill Cornell Medical College
The Minority Association for Pre-Health Students (MAPS) is an organization targeted toward undergraduate pre-medical students. The MAPS institution for the Weill Cornell chapter of the SNMA is Barnard College, and through the efforts of these two schools the MAPS program hopes to increase the matriculation of pre-medical students into professional health related programs by providing information, materials, and mentorship opportunities. In 2000, Barnard College was awarded MAPS chapter of the year at the SNMA National Conference in Los Angeles. Please contact Challon Perry at chp2001@med.cornell.edu for further information.