Interdisciplinary Medicine Interest Groups
Student Organizations at NJMS
Updated: October 2025
Interdisciplinary Interest Organizations
Narrative Medicine Interest Group
Description: Narrative Medicine Interest Group is catered towards students who are interested in connecting creative outlets, such as writing and art, with the world of medicine. It tells stories of patients, providers, and situations through a unique lens to share with others. We hope to raise awareness about how to reflect of experiences in medical school and beyond and provide studies a creative outlet.
Events Held: Meetings/writing workshops where we reflect on experiences in medicine and our personal lives through writing.
American Physician-Scientist Association
Description: APSA represents aspiring physician-scientists at NJMS. Most of our events focus on teaching students what
physician-scientists do and how to approach becoming a
physician-scientist.
Events Held: Interest meeting, panels with physicians/physician-scientists, mini research symposium
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
Description: We are the NJMS chapter of American Medical Women's Association. The organization is dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women’s health
Events Held: Speaker events, mixers with faculty and physicians
Green Club
Description: Green Club is a student-run organization that provides fresh produce to residents in Newark. The Fairmount Garden is located on 13th Avenue and Fairmount Avenue and currently has almost 20 raised beds. It is an open plot of land that allows residents to pick vegetables for free. We also provide raised beds within the garden for students so they can
plant, grow, and harvest their own Email:
produce.
Events Held: Planting and Harvest days, Building Days, Barbecues
NJMS Page Turners
Description: Page Turners is a book club for NJMS students to build community through their shared hobby of reading and explore new ideas. We're partnered with the Humanism Center.
Events Held: We hold multiple discussions to talk about themes and our reactions to the chosen books that the group has selected.
Technology in Medicine
Description: We hold events related to medical technologies and innovation in the field.
Events Held: We hold speaker events in which innovators explain their projects and workshops to help students develop technological skills.
Health Policy Interest Group (HPIG)
Description: HPIG is an organization that aims to encourage student engagement in health advocacy projects by hosting special events and connecting members to organizations such as MSNJ and the AMA.
Events Held: Speaker Series, Voter Registration, Health Advocacy Involvement
Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (LMIG)
Description: LMIG's mission is to promote healthy behaviors and enhance well-being through interactive events, including culinary medicine workshops, yoga classes, and mindfulness sessions.
Events Held: Wellness events & workshops (yoga, painting, culinary medicine, etc.)
International Surgical Health Initiative
Description: ISHI is dedicated to global health and ethics and aims to connect medical students with the global lens of medicine. We hope to teach students skills that will help them in a global setting and inform them of the ways they might be able to explore their interests.
Events Held: Medical language/technique workshops, panel discussions
Bleeding Control (BCON)
Description: We train medical students on techniques in bleeding control, provide refresher courses for those interested in trauma intervention and discuss medical cases relevant to this field. We also engage in volunteering events in and outside of Newark for those interested, unrelated to CESL.
Events Held: Refresher courses, journal clubs, case presentations, volunteering in or outside of Newark unrelated to CESL.
Vocal Chords
Description: We are a
long-standing organization at NJMS including the jazz band acapella group, among others, that perform at multiple NJMS and UH events throughout the year. We also offer other services to NJMS students including practice space and lessons.
Events Held: Weekly rehearsals, Holiday Concert, Spring Concert, Open Mic, Karaoke, Battle of the Bands, Jam Sessions
NJMS Outdoors Club
Description: We offer an opportunity for NJMS students to go out in to nature and also learn about the positive health benefits of spending time outdoors.
Events Held: Outdoor trips, hikes, camping, information events, speaker events
NJMS Parents Association
Description: A club focused on supporting NJMS students who are parents or prospective parents through community, mentorship, and other resources.
Events Held: Social Events, Mentoring, Q&A Panels
Human Rights Initiative (HRI)
Description: NJMS Human Rights Initiative is committed to advocating for health and human rights. We run the Human Rights Clinic at NJMS, where we provide pro-bono medical evaluations for asylum seekers and other victims of human rights violations. We also organize education and advocacy events regarding human rights throughout the year.
Events Held: Asylum trainings and guest speaker events
Medical Students for Environmental Health
Description: Our goal is to increase environmental justice awareness in our community, empower
students to advocate for equitable climate solutions, and encourage medical school curriculum reform to include the intersection of climate change and health.
Events Held: Speaker events; Earth day events
Research Roundtable
Description: We encourage students to explore new specialty interests by engaging with research by hosting research discussions and connecting students with existing departmental journal clubs.
Events Held: Journal club discussions where faculty and residents from various specialties introduce students to landmark papers and controversies that influence current practice.
Chess Club
Description: The NJMS Chess Club is a welcoming space for players of all levels, from seasoned competitors to those just learning the basics. We will be hosting low-pressure and low-time commitment chess events where students can play chess with each other. It’s a great way to relax, sharpen your mind, and connect with fellow students who share an interest in the game.
Events Held: Typically host meets where students can play chess in person.
NJMS Crochet and Knitting Club
Description: The NJMS Crochet and Knitting Club is a community for medical students to socialize, de-stress, and learn a new skill. We explore the intersection of medicine and yarn art, offering a creative outlet from the demands of medical school. Our signature events are workshops where we teach members to knit and crochet anatomical organs. These sessions are designed to be fun and also help improve dexterity and fine motor skills—essential for those pursuing procedural careers. Beyond our anatomical creations, the club provides a space for mindfulness and wellness. We also organize donations of our knitted and crocheted projects to the community.
Events Held: Crocheting Anatomical Organs, Winter scarves and hat (future), Stitch and Relax
NJMS Naach
Description: We’re a dance group on campus that teaches primarily South Asian based dance styles including Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, Garba, and Bollywood! No experience required, join for a fun time!
Events Held: Dance Workshops, Performances
Medical Mandarin Club
Description: The Medical Mandarin Club hosts beginner and advance classes teaching basic and medical mandarin. We collaborate with Mandarin instructors from Tzu Chi, a Buddhist foundation we work with for the CESL group CLM. Classes start in the fall and are biweekly. Beginner classes and advanced classes will be held at the same time over zoom on Mondays. Our hope is to equip fellow students with basic mandarin speaking skills to conversate and give basic instruction to Mandarin speaking patients. This is by no means a replacement for interpreters and they should still be used for every medical interaction but is meant to supplement and improve provider and mandarin speaking patient experience.
Events Held: Chinese lessons will be held on zoom starting Monday in the month of September. Lessons will be biweekly and the beginner and advance course will happen at the same time.
Correctional Health Interest Group (CHIG)
Description: The Correctional Health Interst Group (CHIG) is a student-led organization focused on the unique challenges of healthcare in correctional settings. We provide opportunities for medical students to learn through workshops, guest lectures, and advocacy initiatives, preparing future physicians to deliver ethical, trauma-informed care to incarcerated and underserved populations.
Events Held: Guest Lectures, Trivia and Game Nights, Movie Nights
NJMS GAP
Description: We match NJMS student mentors with pre-meds from undergraduate schools that we get a lot of students from in order to help guide them through the application process.
Email: njmsgap@njms.rutgers.edu
