Medical Student Council | OU College of Medicine

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The Medical Student Council (StuCo for short) is a self-governing body that represents the medical students. StuCo meets monthly during the fall and spring semesters to address needs and issues, coordinate the community outreach program, plan social activities, and manage the student fee budget. StuCo also serves as the governing body for Interest Groups, with each Interest Group electing its own officers.

The following individuals and bodies comprise the Medical Student Council:

An Executive Committee: A President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Interest Group Chair, Social Chair, Shadowing Chair, Inter-Professional Education Chair, Aesculapian Chair, Research Chair, Research Chair-Elect, and PA Program Representative
Two representatives from each of the four classes and in the Oklahoma City branch of the College of Medicine, prepared with a substantial report from the class council with any updates and concerns.
At least one Student Council Representative, President, Vice-President, or other executive member of each Recognized Student Organization.
Any and all ex-officio members which the Council sees fit to appoint.

Contact StuCo Executive Council

For questions about StuCo or Interest Groups, contact COM-StuCo@ouhsc.edu.

2024-2025 Executive Committee

President

Taylor Niznik-Kennedy, Class of 2026

Interest Group Chair

Maddie Gregston, Class of 2027

Shadowing Chair

Yadin Joseph, Class of 2027

Vice President

Marianne Kimmell, Class of 2026

Inter-Professional Education Chair

Dylan Becker, Class of 2027

Social Chair

Stephanie Dupuis, Class of 2026

Secretary

Paul Lasiter, Class of 2026

Research Chair

Research Chair-Elect

Jordan Zimmerman, Class of 2026

Aesculapian Chair

S. Nitya Arekatla, Class of 2028

Treasurer

Megan Szymanski, Class of 2027

Research Chair-Elect

Anser Abbas, Class of 2027

PA Program Representative

To be announced

StuCo offers both Residency and Non-Residency Interest Groups. Each residency specialty has a Residency Interest Group where they host meetings that explore possible career paths, bring in guest speakers and offer Post-Match advice for other rising classes beginning the Matching process. Non-Residency Interest Groups host meetings that enhance the student experience whether it's philanthropic work, volunteering or joining together with students of similar identities.

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Class Officers serve as a liaison between the College of Medicine staff, the HSC Student Government Association and their class. Officers host social events, plan Match Day and find opportunities for their class to participate in community service.

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Each Interest Group must have one representative (StuCo Representative) attend the StuCo General Body Meeting each month during the Fall and Spring semesters. The StuCo Representatives shall compose the main deliberative, voting, representative, and working body. The Representatives shall participate in implementing the resolutions of the Council. The Representatives of the council shall have the power to veto the decisions and regulations imposed by the Executive Council with a 3/4ths majority vote.

The Representatives must relay the relevant meeting information to their respective Interest Groups.

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The OUHSC Student Government Association (SGA) serves as the governing body for the OUHSC Student Association with a purpose to:

Serve as an agency for the maintenance of cordial and cooperative relationships among students, their governing bodies, alumni, faculty, and University administration.
Conserve and propagate the ideals and traditions of the health sciences.
Promote honesty and individual achievement in academic affairs.

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The faculty of the College appreciates the student perspective and actively seeks their input. Student representation exists on six major committees of the College of Medicine:

Academic Misconduct Board (10 students are nominated by the Student Council on both campuses from which the Executive Dean selects five to serve one-year terms)
Admissions Board (10 fourth-year students and 10 fourth-year alternates are appointed)
Pre-Clinical Curriculum Committee (one first-year and one second-year from each campus, elected by their classmates)
Clinical Curriculum Committee (one third-year and one fourth-year from each campus, elected by their classmates)
Dean's Student Advisory Group (Presidents and Vice Presidents of the four medical school classes and Student Council)
Student Appeals Board (10 students nominated by the Student Council on both campuses from which the Executive Dean selects five to serve one-year terms).

Executive Committee Officer Duties & Responsibilities

President

The duties of the President include, but are not limited to the following: The President of the Council shall be the official head of the Council. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council, charged with enforcing the Constitution, appointing and organizing the structure of all standing and special committees, and serving as spokesperson in all matters in which the Council is to be represented. The President shall have the power to call emergency session of the Council and serve as head of the executive committee. The president shall have the power to delegate duties to the other officers, or ex-officio members with the consent of the Council.

Vice President

The duties of the Vice-President include, but are not limited to the following: The Vice-President of the Council shall fulfill the duties and exercise the authorities of the President in the absence of the official. The Vice-President shall keep the Constitution updated, keeping record of all amendments of the Constitution. The Vice-President shall also handle all Philanthropic affairs for the Student Council and coordinate a community service event(s) with the individual Class StuCo Philanthropy Chairs. The Vice-President shall assist in planning Student Council sponsored events, such as the College of Medicine Interest Group Fair and aid with IG of the Month/Year selection. Additionally, the Vice-President shall monitor school wide forms of electronic communication for appropriateness and aid with IG of the month/year selection.

Secretary

The duties of the Secretary include, but are not limited to the following: The Secretary of the Council shall keep an accurate, complete record of all meetings which may be referred to at all times; the Secretary shall make available such records to all members of the student body and the Director of Student Affairs. The Secretary shall identify quorum, track attendance of Interest Group Representatives at StuCo meetings, and serve as a liaison for Interest Group Representatives. The Secretary shall write and post correspondence as directed by the Council and shall notify Council members of upcoming meetings and events. The Secretary shall also be responsible for maintenance of the COM StuCo Calendar and documents. Additionally, the Secretary shall monitor and maintain any communication interfaces used by Interest Groups and enforce the College of Medicine’s electronic communications policies by recording infractions and reporting them to the executive council and Director of Student Affairs.

Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer include, but are not limited to the following: The Treasurer of the Council shall handle the financial affairs of the Council, providing the Council is fully aware of and in complete agreement with the proceedings. The Treasurer shall monitor and report on the Council’s spending and financial balance. The Treasurer shall publish a year-end financial report, which is to be made available to the Council members and to the medical student body. The Treasurer shall coordinate all committees on financial matters. The Treasurer shall also monitor and approve Interest Group expenditures. Additionally, the Treasurer shall oversee and facilitate the StuCo Travel Scholarships Program.

Social Chair

Interest Group Chair

The duties of the Interest Group Chair include, but are not limited to the following: At the start of the academic year, the Interest Group Chair will communicate and require the submission of the annual reapplication form. The Interest Group Chair shall keep an updated registry of Interest Groups. The Interest Group Chair shall keep an accurate, complete record of each Interest Group’s required activities and attendance at meetings. The Interest Group Chair shall communicate requirements for each Interest Group. Additionally the Interest Group Chair shall be responsible for planning the Interest Group Fair. The Interest Group Chair shall also monitor Interest Group activity on electronic communications interfaces (Slack) and help select an Interest Group of the month/year.

Interdisciplinary Education Chair

The duties of the Interdisciplinary Education Chair include, but are not limited to the following: The Interdisciplinary Education Chair shall serve on the HSC Interdisciplinary Education Committee. The Chair will collaborate on any projects developed by the Committee and communicate those projects to the Council. Moreover, the IPE Chair shall assist the Interest Group Chair as needed or requested.

Research Chair

The duties of the Research Chair include, but are not limited to the following: The Research Chair shall maintain a holistic research catalog, and promote its usage by both faculty and students. The Research Chair shall organize a yearly Research Symposium. The Research Chair shall initiate and maintain OU COM partnerships with various medical research institutions. Additionally, the Research Chair shall be tasked with emphasizing and promoting a culture of research prioritization amongst the student body through whatever avenues the Chair sees fit. The Research Chair will work closely with the Director of Medical Student Scholarship and Research Chairs for each IG to realize goals on campus. Prior to serving as the Research Chair, the Chair will serve 1 year as the Research Chair Elect.

Shadowing Chair

The duties of the Shadowing Chair include, but are not limited to the following: the primary responsibility of the Shadowing Chair will be to work with interest groups to facilitate shadowing experiences through their affiliated departments. The Shadowing Chair shall keep an updated registry of assigned Interest Group faculty, Interest Group shadowing liaisons, and faculty departmental career advisors. The Shadowing Chair shall maintain and distribute a guide covering how to access shadowing opportunities through each Interest Group. The Shadowing Chair will also be responsible for facilitating shadowing experiences that are not coordinated by or assigned to a specific Interest Group.

Aesculapian Chair

The duties of the Aesculapian Chair include, but are not limited to the following: The Aesculapian Chair shall plan, coordinate, and facilitate the Aesculapian Award Banquet at the end of each year. The Aesculapian Chair will work with the Social Chair to organize voting for the awards as well as planning the banquet. The Chair will work with Student Affairs and ensure all students and faculty are informed of the event, invited to the event, and any and all other important communication necessary to hold the event.

PA Program Representative

The duties of the PA Program Representative include, but are not limited to the following: The PA Program Representative shall serve to express the broad interests of the students enrolled in the OU College of Medicine Physician’s Associate Program and advocate on their behalf. The PA Program Representative should attend all OUCOM Student Council Executive and General Body meetings. At these meetings they should present a report on the current state of interests within their representative student body. They should collaborate with other Executive Committee officers on projects and initiatives whenever input is deemed appropriate.

Medical Student Council & Elections

2024-2025 Executive Committee Elections

Election Timeline

Filing Period: March 25 - April 7, 2024

Platform Talks: April 8-9, 2024

Election Voting Period: April 10-17, 2024

Election Process

Communications regarding elections will be administered by the current StuCo Executive Committee.

The 2024-2025 Executive Committee officers will be announced at the 2024 Aesculapian Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Medical Student Council (StuCo) Structure

The Student Council is composed of the Executive Committee, class representatives, PA program representatives, Interest Group representatives, and any ex-officio members appointed by the Council.

StuCo Executive Committee

The Council Executive Committee leads all activities of the Council, and includes the following officer positions

President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Interest Group Chair, Social Chair, Interdisciplinary Education Chair, Aesculapian Chair, and Research Chair, Research Chair-Elect and PA Program Representative.

Qualifications for Executive Committee

No person will be eligible to run for the President’s post that has not, prior to his/her filing for office, served on the Council as a bona fide member.
Upcoming MS4 students are not eligible for a position on the StuCo Executive Committee.
All other students who are in good standing with the Dean’s Office shall be eligible to run.
The Aesculapian Chair and Research Chair-Elect shall be elected by the newly elected Student Council Executive Committee.

Terms of Office

Officers shall assume office and responsibilities immediately after Commencement of the 4th Year Class. Their term of office shall extend from that point in the academic year until the next year’s 4th Year Class Commencement.
The Research Chair-Elect will be appointed in December at the OUCOM Research Symposium, and their term shall begin on January 1. The Research Chair Elect term will last for 12 months, at which point the Elect shall rise to the position of Research Chair on January 1 of the subsequent year, where they shall serve as the Research Chair for 12 months.
The Aesculapian Chair will be elected in the Fall semester by the Executive Committee and serve a term commencing on the date of their appointment until the next year's 4th Year Class Commencement.

Election Rules

No person will be eligible to run for the President’s post that has not, prior to his/her filing for office, served on the Council as a bona fide member.
Upcoming MS4 students are not eligible for a position on the StuCo Executive Committee.
All other students who are in good standing with the Dean’s Office shall be eligible to run.
The Aesculapian Chair and Research Chair-Elect shall be elected by the newly elected Student Council Executive Committee.

Immediate Past Executive Committee

2023-2024 StuCo Executive Committee

Thank you to the 2023-2024 StuCo Executive Committee members!

President – Grace Mendros-Ruffner, Class of 2025
Vice President – Erin Barnes, Class of 2025
Secretary – Paul Lasiter, Class of 2026
Treasurer – Taylor Niznik, Class of 2026
Interest Group Chair – Brandon Holler, Class of 2026
Interdisciplinary Education Chair – Grace Townsend, Class of 2026
Research Chair – Kelsey Allen, Class of 2025
Research Chair-Elect – Jordan Zimmerman, Class of 2026
Social Chair – Marianne Kimmell, Class of 2026
Shadowing Chair – Evie Mitchell, Class of 2026
Aesculapian Chair – Maddie Gregston, Class of 2027
PA Program Representative – Laureli Simpson

COM Student Life Advisor

Danielle Henry
Sr. Student Program Coordinator
405-271-2316 ext. 48513
danielle-henry@ouhsc.edu