Community Interest Groups

Community Interest Groups provide students with opportunities to take part in community service opportunities. Generally, greater than 50% of this group’s CV hours must be obtained through community service.

Community Health Interest Groups

CHEO Buddies

CHEO Buddies is a unique and inspiring program that matches medical students with children undergoing treatment for cancer at CHEO. As a buddy, you will have the opportunity to make hospital visits more fun for kids and provide support for parents, while gaining insight into a family's experience with childhood cancer.​

French Learning Interest Group

The French Learning Interest Group (Pause Café) will have fun games and activities to expand your French vocabulary and conversation circles to practice speaking French with classmates. These sessions are a safe space meant to help students learn and practice their French.

Global Health Interest Group

The Global Health Interest Group (GHIG) aims to strengthen the global health community at the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine by increasing awareness regarding a variety of issues impacting both our local and global communities. Come get involved!

Sexual Health Outreach Program

The Sexual Health Outreach (SHOUT) Program offers workshops aiming to provide sexual and reproductive health education. We offer an open and safe space to discuss sexual health topics throughout the year, with hopes of increasing your comfort when discussing sexual health with colleagues, patients and students. We aim to break the stigma that equates sex with risk and shame.

Student Senior Isolation Prevention Program

Student-Senior Isolation Prevention Partnership (SSIPP) is an initiative which aims to combat elder isolation in the Ottawa community. Join us to be paired with an elder buddy to make weekly phone calls and foster conversation!​

Students Working Against Tobacco

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) aims to reduce rates of smoking in the youth of the Ottawa area and get medical students involved in public health in Ottawa. While physicians talk to patients about smoking cessation, as medical students we can talk to children about the risks of smoking to stop the problem before it starts!​

Multi-Cultural Interest Groups

Asian Association of Medical Students

The Asian Association of Medical Students aims to promote Asian voices in the medical field and highlight the unique perspectives Asian Canadians have within medicine through talks with physicians and other medical students. We also hope to highlight different aspects of Asian culture to raise awareness of the diversity that exists within Asia so that students have a better understanding of the diverse patient population that exists within Canada.

Black Medical Students Association

Through community building, outreach, and professional opportunities, the Black Medical Students Association (BMSA) strives to support and encourage Black and other minority students pursuing a career in medicine. In addition, BMSA aims to educate and encourage all students to engage in discussions about racial inequalities in health and how to better implement equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as medical students.

South Asian Women's Voices in Healthcare

Are you interested in learning about South Asian culture as it pertains to medicine through physicians and patients? Do you want to advocate for South Asian women and their unique needs in your future practice? Come out to the South Asian Women’s Voices in Healthcare Interest Group events, where we will explore South Asian narratives in medicine through guest speakers, exciting panels, mentorship and shadowing opportunities. This is a great way to ensure you understand about the unique needs of your diverse and multicultural patient populations.​

Multi-Faith Interest Groups

Christian Medical and Dental Association

Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) Ottawa is a chapter of Canada-wide CMDA, a national organization of Christian physicians, dentists, and students, who seek to honour God by integrating Christian faith within their professional practice. The purpose of CMDA is to minister to the spiritual needs of medical students by allowing a space of faith and medicine related discussions, studying scripture, prayer, food and fellowship.

Jewish Medical Students Association

The University of Ottawa Jewish Medical Student Association (JMSA) aims to provide students with social and networking opportunities as well as organize educational events to increase awareness about the intersection of Jewish ethics and medicine.​

Muslim Medical Association of Ottawa

The Muslim Medical Association of Ottawa (MMAO) is a group dedicated to helping Muslim medical students connect with one another in a safe space designed to cater to their unique needs, and to provide a source of learning and community growth to our non-Muslim colleagues. We offer events on topics such as Islamic perspectives in healthcare and bioethics, as well as friendly socials and halaqas.

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