ABOUT THE MN PRE-SOMA REGIONAL CHAPTER
The Minnesota Pre-Student Osteopathic Medical Association (Pre-SOMA) Regional Chapter was established in October 2013 by Austin Wetmore, B.A. St. Olaf College '12, under the advisement of Ms. Devangi Patel (OMS-III, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine; Junior National Pre-SOMA Director) and Mr. Tom Grawey (OMS-IV, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University; Senior National Pre-SOMA Director).
MISSION
The mission of the Minnesota Pre-SOMA Regional Chapter is to advocate and promote osteopathic medicine to the state of Minnesota, to diversify membership within National Pre-SOMA by increasing the number of post-graduate and nontraditional members, to increase the availability of pre-medical opportunities and information related to osteopathic medicine for its members, and to increase application and matriculation rates of Minnesota students to osteopathic medical schools throughout the entire United States of America.
CHAPTER CONSTITUTION
This chapter is one of two inaugural regional chapters of National Pre-SOMA. Prior to the establishment of these two regional chapters, chapters within National Pre-SOMA were limited to undergraduate college and university affiliated local chapters. However, the formation of regional chapters for the purpose of providing non-traditional students with access to Pre-SOMA resources was an item on the agenda of the 2014 Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Fall Convention in which SOMA leadership supported and this ultimately led to the establishment of the Minnesota Pre-SOMA Regional Chapter. Although the chapter was created to actively include nontraditional students in Pre-SOMA activities, all pre-osteopathic medicine students (including all undergraduates) from Minnesota are invited to join the chapter due to the very limited number of Pre-SOMA chapters in the Upper Midwest.
