Student Equity & Belonging

The Border Health Student Interest Group at the School of Medicine is a non-profit student organization that was founded in 2006 under the principal that everyone deserves access to basic health care. The Border Health SIG strives to provide first-line access to primary medical care for one of the most underserved and marginalized populations in San Diego County: migrant workers. Our patients live in outdoor camps, work labor intensive jobs, and attempt to support themselves on inexpensive and nutrient-poor diets. As a result we treat a range of illnesses ranging from repetitive stress injuries to chronic disease.

The mission of the Disability and Chronic Illness SIG is to raise awareness of all forms of (dis)ability, advocate for integrated disability education within the medical school curriculum and promote inclusion of persons living with disability in care, medical settings, and systems.

Fade Hypertention's goal is to build genuine, respectful partnerships between UCSD SOM and San Diego community organizations (including but not limited to barbershops, nail salons, religious groups, etc) with the goal of raising awareness about cardiovascular health, teaching community members about its long-term harmful effects, and actively foster trust between these communities and the school of medicine.

We aim to connect Filipino American medical students, a historically underrepresented group in medicine, with other Filipino students, faculty and physicians. Our hope is to create a supportive community and network for those involved in FAM. This is done through community events, panel discussions, film screenings, and our annual meryenda.

The mission of First Generation in Medicine (FGiM) is to support and empower medical students who are the first in their families to pursue a career in medicine. We aim to foster a strong sense of belonging through community-building events, mentorship across all levels of training, and professional development opportunities. By partnering with undergraduate programs like Tritons First, we also work to strengthen the pathway to medicine for first-gen students at every stage. Our organization is committed to advancing equity, celebrating resilience, and creating a space where first-generation voices are seen, heard and valued.

The Korean American Medical Student Student Association strives to connect medical students of Korean heritage and create a community that supports and challenges one another. We want to engage with the local San Diego Korean Community as well.

Our mission is to build an inclusive home for our Middle Eastern North African (MENA) students, spread awareness about our unique cultures, and support the community inside and outside campus. We hope to create a safe space for our students to share their experiences and bring new insights to mitigate the barriers that MENA populations, specifically refugees, face in navigating their healthcare.

The Refugee Health Initiative Interest Group provides space for students interested in refugee and immigrant health to come together.

The mission of South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA) is to foster a community and support system for South Asian medical students and address the needs of the South Asian community in San Diego. We aim to do this by hosting social mixers, networking events with South Asian physicians, and community outreach events.

The purpose of the Vietnamese Medical (VietMed) Student Association is to promote Vietnamese diversity within the UC San Diego School of Medicine community, and provide both outreach and mentorship for students and undergraduates within the UC San Diego community.