Student National Medical Association

Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians. SNMA chapters based at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools throughout the nation, and some colleges, implement our programs and activities locally. SNMA programs are designed to serve the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color. In addition, SNMA is dedicated both to ensuring that medical education and services are culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations and to increasing the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical. The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) was founded in 1964 as a sub-division of the National Medical Association (NMA), largely through the effort and support of W. Montague Cobb, MD, an NMA member (and, later, NMA President), who spearheaded the initiative to include medical students in the association's ranks. NMA recognized the need to give active support to medical students and encourage them in the pursuit of careers as physicians. The SNMA's founding chapters were Meharry Medical College and Howard University College of Medicine. By 1970 SNMA began to consider becoming an independent organization. Medical students wanted to set a programmatic agenda, legislate and govern funds (obtained through the collection of membership dues and other sources), and determine administrative priorities, which were understandably different from those of the parent organization, whose focus was more aligned to the interests and concerns of practicing medical professionals.