Meet the 2008 - 2009 Cabinet

Cabinet Positions

Mission

The Latino Medical Student Association strives to promote

• ~ Recruitment, retention, academic success and support of Latinos in health profession careers that will result in the improvement in the delivery of health care services to Latinos and the medically underserved populations.
• ~ Development of a communication network for Latino medical students, pre-medical and health care students.
• ~ Latino medical, pre-medical and health care students' interests that will lead to the improvement of health care for underserved communities.
• ~ Educational enrichment programs for the recruitment of Latino medical school applicants.
• ~ All other organizations committed to the improvement of health care delivery for Latinos nationwide.

Vision

LMSA firmly believes that the diversity stemming from varied backgrounds is critical for clinically competent and culturally compassionate health care providers. Since 1982, the LMSA Regional organization has spearheaded the effort to increase the numbers of qualified Latino students gaining acceptance into medical school. LMSA has been a strong voice in advocating for programs, services and equity for Latino students committed to obtaining higher education. The Latino community represents the largest growing segment of the California population. By recruiting, admitting, supporting and matriculating Latino physicians, LMSA can have a significant impact on how this population will utilize our health care system.

History

With the tremendous need for effective programs to increase the number of Latino students recruited, prepared, admitted and trained in medicine and other health professions, the founding members of the Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association (CMSA) established a network of medical students throughout the entire state in 1982. In April of 1984, the CMSA Statewide Constitution was presented and approved and CMSA was officially introduced as a statewide organization. Subsequently, in order to streamline its outreach efforts to students and to create name recognition conformity with other similar organizations throughout the country, the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) has succeeded in carrying on the CMSA vision.

Network

LMSA members have the experience of applying to medical schools and successfully attaining acceptance into medical schools throughout the country. Therefore, LMSA is capable of providing appropriate counseling to premedical students to ensure the success of the medical school application process.

Through the Mentorship Program, LMSA has organized a systematic outreach to Latino premedical clubs in its members’ states of California, Arizona, and Utah. Medical students have provided premedical students with information about curriculum planning, medical applications and interviews, MCAT preparation, and extracurricular involvement. As Latino students continue to enter into medical schools throughout the country, many have been dedicated to speaking to their younger hermanos in order to encourage, support, and increase enrollment of Latino students. LMSA members continue to motivate and counsel students at premedical conferences, high school and undergraduate organizational meetings, as well as on an individual basis. Indeed the energy and enthusiasm inherent in this program is significant. It reflects the desires of LMSA members to share their experience with undergraduates wishing to follow the same or similar career path. This program also exemplifies the eagerness of the pre-health students to receive this guidance.