Welcome!Welcome to the home page of the Medical School Government of VCU School of Medicine. We hope to use this site to keep you informed of all events concerning the Medical Student Government including social functions, community service events, publications, resources, and any other activities.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact our government email address, and the appropriate person will respond: medstudentgovernment@gmail.com. |
Welcome New M1sWelcome to the M1s. We hope your transition to medical school is going well, and we're so excited to have you here.
With love, Medical Student Government |
Masking Updates and Employee Vaccination Requirements
Masking indoors, effective immediately for the university and continuing at health system facilities
Effective immediately, masking indoors will be reinstated throughout the university and remains in effect for health system facilities. Studies show that masking effectively reduces the spread of viruses and, combined with COVID-19 vaccination, can greatly reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend indoor masking in areas with substantial community spread. At this time there is rising prevalence of COVID-19 in the City of Richmond and surrounding communities. We will continue to monitor the prevalence rate.
We believe these mitigation strategies — including vaccination and masking — will be effective, at which point we can assess the need to continue requiring masks at the university.
Effective immediately, masking indoors will be reinstated throughout the university and remains in effect for health system facilities. Studies show that masking effectively reduces the spread of viruses and, combined with COVID-19 vaccination, can greatly reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend indoor masking in areas with substantial community spread. At this time there is rising prevalence of COVID-19 in the City of Richmond and surrounding communities. We will continue to monitor the prevalence rate.
We believe these mitigation strategies — including vaccination and masking — will be effective, at which point we can assess the need to continue requiring masks at the university.
Announcements from the Weekly Scoop
Sunday January 17th
Mandatory SIG Leader Training. The second SIG Leader training will be held the last week of January. At least one president and one treasurer need to attend this training session if you didn't attend the first one. The session will be held Wednesdsay, 1/26 from 6:30-7:30PM. Please contact me if you have any questions. A friendly reminder for students: Please do not start a new SIG without first informing me and please do not request reimbursement from the curriculum office without first being allocated money by the Dean's fund chairs. This will occur sometime in May as new SIGs cannot hold events their first semester. Zoom link will be provided soon.
YogaRx Leadership Applications. YogaRx Student Interest Group is opening up leadership applications for the M1 class! It's a great opportunity to get involved in a really low-stress group, with lots of room to make the club whatever you'd like it to be (hosting yoga/meditation sessions, community service, etc). Click here to reach the application, due midnight on 01/22. Please reach out to yogarxvcu@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Robot-Assisted Surgery Interest Group. The Robot-Assisted Surgery Interest Group is looking for new leadership. The positions available include one president, two vice presidents, and one treasurer. For questions regarding the application or various leadership roles, please email rasigvcusom@gmail.com. The application can be found here and will remain open until Midnight on January 21st, 2022! We look forward to hearing from you!
The Underdocs Mentorship Program. We are seeking mentors for our upcoming mentee application cycle, which opens January 25! The Underdocs is a mentorship program dedicated to pre-meds and med students from underrepresented backgrounds (first-gen college, low SES, URM). Any M1 to M4s are encouraged to apply regardless of background! However, mentees DO need to be from an underrepresented group as above. Most of our mentees are pre-meds, however M1/M2s may apply to be matched with an M3/M4 mentor (if available). Questions? Email us at the.underdocs@gmail.com. For more information, visit our website here!
CrossOver Clinic. Help us support a free clinic for Richmond residents by volunteering side-by-side with providers! This opportunity includes taking patient histories, performing physical exams, documenting findings, and presenting patient information to providers - so it is a great chance to get some practice in while helping the community! Spanish-proficiency is helpful, but by no means required! Our next clinic date is Thursday, January 27th from 5:00pm-9pm. Each clinic date can support 3-5 student volunteers and pizza will be provided! Demonstrate interest in attending by filling out this form. by January 20th. Email Amy, Elle, and Michael at <crossoverclinic@gmail.com> to be added to our email list for future dates.
ABC: All 'Bout Couples and Families Leadership. ABC is looking for new leadership! We encourage you to apply if interested in improving the support available for students with partners or families. Positions available include President and Treasurer. Please email abc.vcu@gmail.com no later than 1/21/22 with your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
AMA/MSV at VCU Chapter Leadership. Due January 23rd at 11:59PM. Applications for the next AMA/MSV leadership team are now open here! This is an incredible opportunity to work with students and physicians across the state and country on issues that matter most. We even have Virginia General Assembly Session Lobby Days and the National Capitol Hill Advocacy Visit coming up - ALL chapter leaders get first priority for these events and are eligible for funding support at conferences. Current AMA/MSV members in good standing are eligible to apply. Please contact <amavcu@gmail.com> with any questions.
Rooting For You MCAT Book Drive. We are collecting used MCAT study books and resources to help increase diversity in medicine by redistributing these valuable resources to premed students who have difficulty overcoming the costs of buying MCAT prep books. There is a collection bin on the 5th floor of MMEC outside the studios. The drive will be running until the beginning of February so don't forget to bring back your old prep materials if you're going home for winter break!
MSG Instagram. Follow us at @vcusom_msg to find out information on SIG and MSG events. If you are looking for more ways to advertise for your event, submit the information or flyer to our account and we will share it. This account is another great way to promote your events.
Vaccinations. Students who have direct contact with patients in clinical settings and received a second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of six months ago may now schedule an appointment for a booster through University Student Health Services. To make an appointment, visit the Student Health web portal. Booster appointments will be available beginning November 1. Students are strongly encouraged to get the flu vaccine at the same time. To do so, please call Student Health at 804-828-9220 on the MCV Campus and 804-827-8047 on the Monroe Park Campus to add the flu vaccine to your appointment for the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 booster. You may visit this site to find alternative locations where boosters are currently available. If you get a booster dose or the flu vaccine somewhere other than University Student Health Services, please upload your documentation to the Student Health web portal.
University Counseling Services. Students can contact university counseling at 804-828-6200 and schedule a telehealth appointment. Please see this website for more information.
Interested in recruiting student volunteers for your organization? Contact the MSG, <medstudentgovernment@gmail.com>.
YogaRx Leadership Applications. YogaRx Student Interest Group is opening up leadership applications for the M1 class! It's a great opportunity to get involved in a really low-stress group, with lots of room to make the club whatever you'd like it to be (hosting yoga/meditation sessions, community service, etc). Click here to reach the application, due midnight on 01/22. Please reach out to yogarxvcu@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Robot-Assisted Surgery Interest Group. The Robot-Assisted Surgery Interest Group is looking for new leadership. The positions available include one president, two vice presidents, and one treasurer. For questions regarding the application or various leadership roles, please email rasigvcusom@gmail.com. The application can be found here and will remain open until Midnight on January 21st, 2022! We look forward to hearing from you!
The Underdocs Mentorship Program. We are seeking mentors for our upcoming mentee application cycle, which opens January 25! The Underdocs is a mentorship program dedicated to pre-meds and med students from underrepresented backgrounds (first-gen college, low SES, URM). Any M1 to M4s are encouraged to apply regardless of background! However, mentees DO need to be from an underrepresented group as above. Most of our mentees are pre-meds, however M1/M2s may apply to be matched with an M3/M4 mentor (if available). Questions? Email us at the.underdocs@gmail.com. For more information, visit our website here!
CrossOver Clinic. Help us support a free clinic for Richmond residents by volunteering side-by-side with providers! This opportunity includes taking patient histories, performing physical exams, documenting findings, and presenting patient information to providers - so it is a great chance to get some practice in while helping the community! Spanish-proficiency is helpful, but by no means required! Our next clinic date is Thursday, January 27th from 5:00pm-9pm. Each clinic date can support 3-5 student volunteers and pizza will be provided! Demonstrate interest in attending by filling out this form. by January 20th. Email Amy, Elle, and Michael at <crossoverclinic@gmail.com> to be added to our email list for future dates.
ABC: All 'Bout Couples and Families Leadership. ABC is looking for new leadership! We encourage you to apply if interested in improving the support available for students with partners or families. Positions available include President and Treasurer. Please email abc.vcu@gmail.com no later than 1/21/22 with your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
AMA/MSV at VCU Chapter Leadership. Due January 23rd at 11:59PM. Applications for the next AMA/MSV leadership team are now open here! This is an incredible opportunity to work with students and physicians across the state and country on issues that matter most. We even have Virginia General Assembly Session Lobby Days and the National Capitol Hill Advocacy Visit coming up - ALL chapter leaders get first priority for these events and are eligible for funding support at conferences. Current AMA/MSV members in good standing are eligible to apply. Please contact <amavcu@gmail.com> with any questions.
Rooting For You MCAT Book Drive. We are collecting used MCAT study books and resources to help increase diversity in medicine by redistributing these valuable resources to premed students who have difficulty overcoming the costs of buying MCAT prep books. There is a collection bin on the 5th floor of MMEC outside the studios. The drive will be running until the beginning of February so don't forget to bring back your old prep materials if you're going home for winter break!
MSG Instagram. Follow us at @vcusom_msg to find out information on SIG and MSG events. If you are looking for more ways to advertise for your event, submit the information or flyer to our account and we will share it. This account is another great way to promote your events.
Vaccinations. Students who have direct contact with patients in clinical settings and received a second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of six months ago may now schedule an appointment for a booster through University Student Health Services. To make an appointment, visit the Student Health web portal. Booster appointments will be available beginning November 1. Students are strongly encouraged to get the flu vaccine at the same time. To do so, please call Student Health at 804-828-9220 on the MCV Campus and 804-827-8047 on the Monroe Park Campus to add the flu vaccine to your appointment for the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 booster. You may visit this site to find alternative locations where boosters are currently available. If you get a booster dose or the flu vaccine somewhere other than University Student Health Services, please upload your documentation to the Student Health web portal.
University Counseling Services. Students can contact university counseling at 804-828-6200 and schedule a telehealth appointment. Please see this website for more information.
Interested in recruiting student volunteers for your organization? Contact the MSG, <medstudentgovernment@gmail.com>.