Interest Groups

On this page, you will find a list of all currently active interest groups, as well as a second list of inactive interest groups. All active IGs contain the contact information for their c2026 chairs. If you see an error on this list, please email [email protected]. Check out the event calendar for upcoming committee and IG events!

Click here to access the IG Drive (MedPortal access only).

REVIVING INACTIVE IGs

If you are interested in REVIVING an inactive IG, please take the following steps (you can either do this alone, or in a group, but you do not need to fill out all 3 co-chair spots):

Check the Google Sheet to ensure it has not already been filled, and write in your name. This process is first-come, first-serve, and removing other students' names will disqualify you from taking over ANY of the listed IGs.
Send the VP Comms (Alina Pace) an email outlining which IG you hope to take over - [email protected]

Active Interest Groups

ADDICTION MEDICINE IG

The Addiction Medicine Interest Group aims to improve medical student awareness of the unique nature of Substance Use Disorders and the pervasive stigma surrounding those experiencing them. Medical students and physicians of every speciality encounter addiction on a daily basis - whether it be through their personal life or through their interactions with patients. The Addiction Medicine Interest Group aims to provide quality information to medical students about the care of patients with addiction and the community resources that support these patients.

c2027 co-chairs
Rhea Xinxo
Leonardo Ologundudu

ANATOMY IG

The Anatomy IG provides educational (and fun) opportunities (e.g. bellringers) for our classmates to integrate anatomical knowledge with clinically relevant information learned in tutorials and clinical skills sessions.

c2027 co-chairs
Jessica Gu
Cassidy Fu
Kian Zargham Bakhtiari
Taylor Dejong

ANESTHESIA IG

The Anesthesia Interest Group aims to provide medical students with exposure to the specialty of Anesthesiology through lecture series and workshops. Our events are appropriate for both pre-clerks and clerks.

c2027 co-chairs
Ryan Siroosi
Matthew Tse
Ashlyn Chou

Artificial intelligence in medicine ig

The primary goal of this interest group will be to build medical students’ interest in, exposure to, and skills within this rapidly emerging area. Additionally, the IG can serve as a basis for students who have a deeper interest in this space, including by supporting advocacy for curricular or extracurricular opportunities that would prepare medical students to interact with AI in healthcare and by promoting student voice on existing AI working groups and organizations.

c2027 co-chairs
Yar Al Dabagh
David Nguyen
Ryan Siroosi

Black Medical Students’ Association of McMaster

Our mission is to build community, foster diversity, and empower Black medical students at McMaster University, with the aim of improving representation within the healthcare system and creating a legacy of Black excellence within this medical program. We plan to strengthen the Black medical student community at McMaster through various initiatives such as yearly informational events, mentorship programs, wellness events, and socials across all three campuses.

Current Representatives
Danielle Pinder

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Through medical curriculum development, research, and advocacy, CAMSAHT hopes to improve the health outcomes of trafficking victims in Canada. Our initiatives and research focus on all forms of exploitation, including, but not limited to: forced labour, sexual exploitation, and organ trafficking. We believe in an evidence-based approach to educating healthcare providers about trafficking and encourage trauma-informed practice.

c2027 co-chairs
Anushka Goyal
Chyna Steele (senior co-chair)
Praise Christi (senior co-chair)

CARDIOLOGY & CARDIAC SURGERY IG

The Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery IG aims to engage and educate McMaster medical students about key topics and principles in cardiology and cardiac surgery. The IG has a focus on supplementing students' core education with additional resources such as educational events and career exploration opportunities. Ultimately, this IG hopes to foster an interest in cardiology and cardiac surgery, and to help students excel in related clerkship rotations.

c2027 co-chairs
Asim Shaikh
Quentin Tsang
Ragad Abu Fardeh
Sydney Uglow

Clinical Immunology & Allergy IG

The McMaster Clinical Immunology and Allergy (CIA) Group aims to expose students to the field of clinical immunology and allergy, and offer networking opportunities to those that are interested in the specialty. Furthermore, the CIA runs events that supplement the tutorial cases with relevant immunological perspectives.

c2027 co-chairs
Alina Pace
Edward Grimmett

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY IG

Our focus is to supplement McMaster's curriculum through providing learning opportunities and resources that cover pharmacology topics used in routine clinical practice.

c2027 co-chairs
Mobeen Ramzan
Jessie Pearce

clinician scientist IG

The IG is meant to allow students to interact with and learn from individuals along the continuum of a career as a clinician scientist. Specifically, through our programming we hope to demystify the process of attaining the career while supporting student interested in pursuing it.

c2027 co-chairs
Serena Yang
Riya Tangri

communication skill ig

The Communication Skills Interest Group is dedicated to helping students develop communication skills and approaches for having conversations surronding complex, sensitive issues with patients.

c2027 co-chairs
Arianna Davids
Victoria Meng
Alexandra Lawrynuik
Jake Harris

DERMATOLOGY IG

DIG focuses on recognition of common skin presentations, technical skills and procedures commonly used in the diagnosis and management of skin diseases, and underlying disease pathology and mechanisms. Some events from prior years include punch biopsy and suturing workshops, Derm jeopardy, and introduction to common skin lesions.

c2027 co-chairs
Lauren Kim
Christopher Shenouda
Kaitlin See

digestive and gastrointestinal health IG

The Digestive and Gastrointestinal Health Interest Group (GI IG) plans high yield events to approach GI health from a multidisciplinary perspective. Whether it be approach to GI bleeds or imaging for the bowels, we seek to increase knowledge and awareness on common conditions in the GI system. Additionally, there are lots of career exploration opportunities if you love the gut, as we have invited general surgeons, gastroenterologists, and nutritionists to speak about their career path and weigh the pros and cons of medicine versus surgery.

c2026 co-chairs
Urmi Sheth, [email protected]
Sean Lifshits, [email protected]

emergency medicine ig

The Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) aims to: introduce students and increase exposure to the speciality of Emergency Medicine, stimulate interest in Emergency Medicine, inform students of the different pathways and subspecialties within Emergency Medicine, and plan and promote events to deliver career exploration opportunities to students.

c2027 co-chairs
Alvin Lee
Sumner Rajaratnam
Jessica Gu
Sydney Uglow

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT IG

The Otolaryngology Interest Group fosters a community for medical students interested in specializing in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) care. Committed to enriching learning experiences, the group offers insightful events and hands-on workshops. It also provides a platform for networking with otolaryngology doctors/residents, facilitating shadowing opportunities and surgical observations. By organizing conferences and disseminating relevant resources, this interest group cultivates a robust understanding of the field, empowering students to make informed career choices and excel in the realm of otolaryngology.

c2027 co-chairs
Lomesh Choudhary
Ankit Parmar

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IG

Mac Med Environmental Health Interest Group (EHIG) focuses on how climate change impacts health outcomes for everyone and how to take systemic and individual action against it. We advocate for environmental health education in our curriculum, run sustainability-focused events, and share easy tips to go greener!

c2027 co-chairs
Seerat Kang
Alice Wang

FAMILY MEDICINE IG

The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) is in partnership with the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) at McMaster University. The goals of the group are to
1) Stimulate interest in Family medicine
2) Increase student exposure to Family medicine
3) Inform students of the diversity of roles in Family medicine
4) Promote post-graduate training and practice in Family medicine.

c2027 co-chairs
Alessia Pereira
Serena Hollman
Ruthie Zhuang
Arman Afkham (W)

Financial literacy ig

This group is focued on providing financial education and advice to interested medical students, beyond the information offered in the formal McMaster curriculum. This is not limited to: information on incorporation, money management, FIRE for physicians, billing information (and differences between provinces and countries), investing information

c2026 co-chairs
Emma Lessard, [email protected]
Kevin Wang, [email protected]

GERIATRICS IG

The Geriatric Interest Group (GIG) seeks to promote interest in the field of geriatrics and encourage McMaster medical students to learn more about the care of older adults. GIG works closely with the National Geriatrics IG and McMaster’s Resident Geriatrics IG to organize events that raise education and awareness about team-based approaches to caring for elderly patients and their unique healthcare needs.

Our interest group also provides opportunities for students to explore career opportunities within the field of Geriatric Medicine, network with residents of varying specialties, and engage with older adults within their McMaster community.

Through education and outreach, the GIG aims to inspire our fellow medical students to take an active role in improving the quality of life, independence, and health outcomes of older adults as we progress through our training as physicians.

c2027 co-chairs
Michelle Li
Margret Lo
Simran Aujla
Ashlyn Chou

HEALTH ADVOCACY FOR REFUGEES

The mission of Health Advocacy for Refugees Program (HARP) is to promote health and well-being for refugees and newcomers to Canada. Specifically, HARP’s goals are to: provide a service learning experience that seeks to promote health advocacy and opportunities to do so for medical students; raise awareness about and build skills pertaining to the health and social needs of refugee and newcomer populations; and engage with the Hamilton community and build sustainable relationships with local organizations.

c2026 co-chairs
Leigh-Ann Grant, [email protected]
Erin Jacob, [email protected]
Xinye Lu, [email protected]
Sami Alameddine, [email protected]
Sahra Siyad, [email protected]
Kritika Taparia, [email protected]

INDIGENOUS HEALTH IG

Our mandate is to help improve medical student knowledge and awareness of Indigenous health. Cognizant of the fact that Indigenous people in Canada experience a greater burden of illness compared to non-Indigenous peoples, our group will aim to shed light on these inequities through active partnerships with Indigenous communities. In this way, we hope to empower medical students to practice culturally safe care and to provide exposure to careers in healthcare for Indigenous youth.

c2026 co-chairs
Sahaj Puri, [email protected]
Nick Hanson, [email protected]

INTERNAL MEDICINE ig

Our IG aims to enrich students with the type of work, specialties, lifestyle, research opportunities, and knowledge pertaining to Internal Medicine.

c2027 co-chairs
Ruthie Zhuang
Eddie Chen
Asim Shaikh
Riya Tangri

KITCHENER-WATERLOO SOCIETY FOR INNOVATION IN MEDICINE (KWSIM)

The Kitchener-Waterloo Society for Innovation in Medicine (KWSIM) facilitates capstone-MD collaboration projects which aim to link UW engineering capstone groups with McMaster medical students and physicians/faculty interested in QI/applied research. In essence, these collaborations hope to develop novel, clinically relevant solutions by involving both capstone groups with their technical knowledge and medical students/physicians/faculty who will be able to guide the clinical relevance of the project.
Currently, we are actively working with UWaterloo's Biomedical Engineering program and members from eHealth Ontario and the GreenHouse incubator to set up capstone groups for medical student onboarding.
For medical students, this represents an opportunity to work on a real-world clinical problem from a research/QI approach with technical support from UWaterloo Biomedical Engineering and guidance from physicians/faculty in the area of interest.

c2026 co-chairs
Bonnie Lu, [email protected]
Julia (Yu Jia) Guo, [email protected]
Donna Gao, [email protected]

LIFESTYLE IN MEDICINE IG

The Lifestyle in Medicine Interest Group was the first of its kind amongst all the Canadian medical schools! We provide events, workshops and an annual conference that are all aimed towards equipping future physicians with the knowledge needed to treat and prevent chronic disease using lifestyle-based interventions, from whole-food plant-based nutrition, to exercise, mindfulness and much more!

c2027 co-chairs
Gabriella Moraes Rae
Alessia Pereira
Billy Armstrong
Harmanvir Dhaliwal
Matthew Ho

2SLGBTQ+ HEALTH IG

The 2SLGBTQ+ Health IG is intended for McMaster medical students to discuss and advocate for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, and queer health issues. Our goals include enhancing 2SLGBTQ+ health content in the curriculum, collaborating with allied health students across Canada and interest groups within McMaster, and promoting awareness about multiple aspects of queer health.

c2026 co-chairs
Madeline Hubbard, [email protected]
Jack Lawrence, [email protected]
Alex Huynh, [email protected]

Mac med chess club (MMCC)

The Mac Med Chess Club (MMCC) is an interest group for anyone who enjoys chess or would like to learn. The goal of this group is to provide medical students with the opportunity to play chess with others in the program by facilitating regular gatherings and hosting tournaments. Life can get stressful in medical school. The MMCC seeks to alleviate some of that stress by bringing people together around the most popular board game in history.

c2026 co-chairs
Satya Kotipalli, [email protected]
Sean Lifshits, [email protected]
Cameron Louie, [email protected]

MAC MED FRANÇAIS IG

Who we are:
A chance for students to learn French lingo for medicine, as well as allow general French vocabulary to be worked in with students of all levels! Our IG will offer an opportunity for students to explore language barriers in medicine and broaden their appreciation of the French community.

Qui nous sommes:
Une chance pour les étudiants d'apprendre le jargon français pour la médecine, ainsi que de pratiquer le vocabulaire français général avec des étudiants de tous niveaux! Notre groupe offre une opportunité pour les étudiants d’explorer la barrière linguistique en médecine et d’enrichir leur appréciation pour la communauté francophone.

c2027 co-chairs
Adam Steiner

MAC MED MURAL PROJECT

MMMP is a group of McMaster medical students with interest in designing and executing public art projects
within local healthcare settings to improve patient and healthcare provider wellness, while allowing students an opportunity to destress and express their creativity.

c2026 co-chairs
Felix Hu, [email protected]
Amanda Black, [email protected]

MAC MED MUSICAL

Students from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University will write and produce a musical in support of the McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation.

c2026 co-chairs
Praise Christi, [email protected]
Isabelle Keng, [email protected]
Ainsley Johnstone, [email protected]

MCMASTER GLOBAL HEALTH COMMITTEE

The Global Health Committee (GHC) is a group of McMaster medical students committed to global health equity. We represent McMaster in the CFMS Global Health Program, and are involved in numerous local, national, and global initiatives and campaigns.

c2026 co-chairs
Global Health Liaison: Jenny Hu, [email protected]
Co-Chair: Alysha Church, [email protected]
Co-Chair: Nupur Krishnan [email protected]
LOGHE: Mariam Mahboob, [email protected]
LOE: Sahil Mohammad, [email protected]
LOSRH: Hanna van Dierdonck, [email protected]
LOGHA: Jeslyn Chen, [email protected]

MCMASTER MEDICAL GENETICS IG

The McMaster Medical Genetics IG believes it is important for all students to have a basic foundation in genetics, regardless of what specialty they ultimately chose to pursue. As such, we look for ways to integrate the emergent field of medicine and genetics into other areas of clinical practice. We provide students with: Opportunities to learn learn about various genetic disorders and how to educate/counsel patients and families affected with these genetic diseases; Networking opportunities within medical genetics; Opportunities to learn more about what is involved in a residency in Medical Genetics; Social activities to explore the field of Medical Genetics.

c2026 co-chairs
Adam Ptack, [email protected]
Emma Sullivan, [email protected]
Jenna Hussein, [email protected]

MCMASTER MEDICAL RESEARCH IG (MMRIG)

The McMaster Medical Research Interest Group (MMRIG) aims to increase students' understanding of medical research and expand access and opportunities for current research and scholarship. We work closely with Dr. Constantine Samaan, the Director of Research and Scholarship for McMaster's Undergraduate Medical Education program in order to achieve this mandate.

c2026 co-chairs
Faisal Khaleel, [email protected]
Eddie He, [email protected]
Phuong Huynh, [email protected]
Manthan Dhruv, [email protected]

MCMASTER MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH DAY (MMSRD)

The McMaster Medical Student Research Day (MMSRD) is an annual conference that highlights the importance of research in medicine by providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, critical appraisal and crucial research networking. Our upcoming conference will be one of the largest online conferences EVER at McMaster, with over 100 attendees including medical students, physicians, and clinician scientists.

c2027 co-chairs
Thomas Haidl
Michelle Li

MCMASTER POLITICAL ADVOCACY IG

The McMaster Political Advocacy Committee (Mac PAC) IG seeks to provide ongoing advocacy training and opportunities to McMaster medical students. Although advocacy is one of the core CanMEDS competencies, our current curriculum provides students with limited exposure to and formal, practical training on advocacy, lobbying, and forming community partnerships. The Mac PAC hopes to equip students with the tools to successfully advocate for their future patients, the healthcare system, and our profession as a whole.

For more information about the goals/mission of the Mac PAC, please visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uc4U70wfKd3EBSRnLf3foiy4oyc0KlcuTlxMJyFcsho/edit?usp=sharing

c2026 co-chairs
Zackariyah Hassan, [email protected]
Claire Adams, [email protected]
Sarthak Singh, [email protected]
Sahra Siyad, [email protected]

MEDICAL EDUCATION IG

The Medical Education Interest Group focuses on enhancing the educational experience for MacMed students. This includes mOSCEs, highlighting medical education research, and preparing students for a successful transition to clerkship.

c2027 co-chairs
Manuela Morgan
Ola Hamid
Alexandra Grudzinski
Margret Lo

MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES IG

MID aims to help medical students gain an appreciation for specialties related to medical microbiology and infectious disease. We hope to help students develop a network within these specialties to facilitate their future professional development. Through our events and initiatives, we plan to help students gain a better understanding of the day-to-day workings of these specialties and expose them to practical clinical skills and techniques that are often used.

c2026 co-chairs
Riley Dow, [email protected]
Adil Haider, [email protected]
Harkaran Dial, [email protected]

MINDFULNESS IN MEDICINE IG

We’re focused on mindfulness, teaching medical students how to incorporate mindfulness into their lives and future practice. We aim to share resources with students to learn mindfulness and run events to help them practice mindfulness.

c2027 co-chairs
Alex Grudzinski
Sophie Pulumbarit

NARRATIVE MEDICINE IG

Everyone carries a story with them; patients and medical professionals are no exception. The Narrative Medicine Interest Group strives to highlight and explore the stories that surround and influence interactions between patients, trainees, and health care professionals. As an interdisciplinary field, narrative medicine emphasizes the creative and reflective practice of writing and other forms of expression. The Narrative Medicine Interest Group (also called “McMaster Narrative Medicine” on our social media) is a platform to engage students in introspection and the exploration of narratives beyond their own. Our events will encompass reflective writing sessions, fiction and non-fiction book clubs, and conferences on academic research in the health humanities.

c2027 co-chairs
Lauren Kim
Hana Sharifi
Anushka Goyal

NEUROLOGY INTEREST GROUP

SIGN aims to provide medical students with early exposure to the field of neurology (the branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the nervous system), as well as supplement the preclerkship neuroscience curriculum.

c2027 co-chairs
Talia Rocca
Polly Ou

NEUROSURGERY INTEREST GROUP

The Neurosurgery Interest Group is here to provide exposure, learning, and networking opportunities for the McMaster medical school community. Our aim is to facilitate exploration of the neurosurgical specialty for all who are interested in it.

c2027 co-chairs
Rhea Xinxo
Michael Jin

NEPHROLOGY AND UROLOGY IG (NUIG)

The Nephrology and Urology Interest group aims to increase awareness, exposure, and education in the fields of nephrology and urology. As both a medical and a surgical interest group, we offer career exploration, didactic teaching, and hands on learning experiences. With a focus on anatomy, common presenting complaints, and interventions of the entire urogenital tract, this IG provides resources and support to all students with interests in these diverse fields.

c2026 co-chairs
Caris Tin, [email protected]
Praveen Nadesan, [email protected]

OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY IG

The Obstetrics & Gynecology Interest group (Obs/Gyn IG) is a community of McMaster medical students committed to women’s, trans and nonbinary persons health. We aim to give students an opportunity to learn more about the Obs/Gyn specialty as well as engage with a variety of salient women’s, trans and gender non-conforming health issues that are relevant to both Obs/Gyn and many other specialties as well.

c2027 co-chairs
Sophia Pourmatin
Akanksha Guleria
Ryley Fowler
Deniz Bosnali

ONCOLOGY IG

The Oncology IG is an interest group for all McMaster medical students who are interested in oncology. Oncology is an exciting and inspiring field of medicine with many different subdivisions, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology. Our IG plans events that educate medical students on these different areas of oncology, as well as general cancer-related topics.

c2027 co-chairs
Michelle Li
Allyson Moore
David Nguyen

OPHTHALMOLOGY INTEREST GROUP

The Ophthalmology IG seeks to promote awareness of the specialty to Mac Med students and provide resources and support to students pursuing a career in ophthalmology.

c2027 co-chairs
Lele Xiao
Zuhayr Khan
Areeb Jafrani

ORTHOPaEDIC SURGERY IG

McMaster's Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group seeks to educate and increase exposure of medical students to the field of orthopaedic surgery.

c2027 co-chairs
Thomas Haidl
Krishnateja Narayana
Sebastian Kolde
Michelle Cruickshank

PAIN IG

The Pain IG focuses on providing students with exposure to different areas of pain including analgesia, psychosocial factors of pain, differences in the pain experience among marginalized groups, aetiologies of pain from different areas of medicine, and more. The IG intends to educate on all aspects of pain management, including addressing the underlying inequities that make marginalized populations more likely to experience pain and less likely to have their pain taken seriously by the healthcare system.

c2026 co-chairs
Dalraj Dhillon, [email protected]
Angela Huang, [email protected]

PALLIATIVE MEDICINE IG

The Palliative Medicine Interest Group (PaMIG) is a group of McMaster Medical students who are interested in increasing awareness of and in the provision of palliative medicine either as a medical specialty or as a set of skills and approaches that can be incorporated into daily aspects of patient care. This group works to provide students with information and training opportunities surrounding the end of life care.

c2026 co-chairs
Tanvir Chakkal, [email protected]
Caleb Mathai, [email protected]
Nick Hanson, [email protected]

PEDIATRIC MEDICINE IG (PMIG)

The Pediatric Medicine Interest Group focus is to provide an opportunity for career exploration in the field of pediatric medicine, as well as to educate the incoming class on high yield topics in pediatrics throughout the year (physical exams, history taking, high yield presentations, etc.).

c2026 co-chairs
Laila Sheather, [email protected]
Michaela Dowling, [email protected]
Sabrina Mastroianni, [email protected]

PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION INTEREST GROUP

This IG explores the medical field of PM&R, including physician careers, interprofessional structures and supports, and patient populations, to provide holistic insight into rehabilitation medicine. It aims to help facilitate McMaster medical students learning about this lesser known specialty.

c2026 co-chairs
Shenna Dunn, [email protected]
Laila Sheather, [email protected]

PSYCHIATRY IG

The aim of the Psychiatry Interest Group is to promote awareness of the exciting, diverse field of psychiatry, as well as of the numerous lifestyle and research opportunities within it.

c2027 co-chairs
Farseema Delgosha
Yolanda Wang

RECONSTRUCTIVE MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP

The Reconstructive Medicine Interest Group aims to educate and provide McMaster medical students with exposure to reconstructive practices across multiple specialties. This includes surgical procedures, such as post-cancer treatment reconstructions (i.e. mastectomies and neck cancers) as well as interdisciplinary approaches such as grafts, regenerative medicine, and rehabilitation. We hope to increase student knowledge about medically reconstructing the human body through our speaker series, networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops.

c2026 co-chairs
Mohamed Ali, [email protected]
Victor Ripan, [email protected]

RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP IG

Resource stewardship focuses on ways to avoid patient exposure to unnecessary tests and treatments that can cause more harm than good (in addition to costing more).
When it comes to clinical practice, students in 2nd and 3rd year have noted that knowledge of resource stewardship and Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) lists have helped them stand out in clinical practice, as well as provide them with practical knowledge about what tests & treatments to order.
Our mission is to help students become better prepared for working in clinical settings by giving them practical resources & knowledge about when tests and treatments should be ordered, and why.

c2026 co-chairs
Kritika Taparia, [email protected]
Zackariyah Hassan, [email protected]

RHEUMATOLOGY IG

The Rheumatology Interest Group aims to deepen our understanding of important rheumatological diseases that we will see in clinical practice. We will present lectures hosted by internal medicine residents, rheumatology fellows, and rheumatologists. The bulk of these lectures will coincide with MSK/rheumatology tutorial problems, but will also include higher level lectures aimed for clerks. We will feature innovative programs that range from the prescription of biologic agents, rheum-related procedural skills, as well as career exploration. Check out our Facebook page!

c2026 co-chairs
Luigi Del Sordo, [email protected]
Alessandra Carmona, [email protected]

RADIOLOGY IG

The radiology IG (RIG) aims to enhance students’ exposure to radiology through hosting events that supplement the curriculum or reflect current trends in radiology. Events include resident-led “Approach to Imaging” talks which provide an overview of an approach to reading various imaging modalities (e.g. CXR, head CT, abdo x-ray), an AI in radiology talk, a staff-led case walkthrough, a radiology post-match talk, and an interactive radiology Kahoot-style review session prior to entry to clerkship.

c2027 co-chairs
Lomesh Choudhary
Griffin Carr
Jishnu Talukdar

SEXUAL HEALTH AWARENESS GROUP

Sexuality influences both physical and mental health in almost all patients for most of their lifespan, whether they are sexually active or not. However, we live in a society where sex is “taboo”, and education regarding talking to patients about sex is extremely limited in our current medical curriculum. There is particularly very little focus on non-pathological aspects of sex, such as sexual pleasure. We believe that physicians should be well-versed and comfortable talking about all aspects of sexuality, especially when working with patients who are becoming sexually active for the first time, in order to encourage the development of healthy sexuality. Comfort with these conversations only comes with practice and active work to unravel stigmas/biases that we hold, and SHAG is a safe and sex-positive space for learning, practise, and open conversation!

c2026 co-chairs
Claire Verkuyl
Ryley Fowler
Sierra Gaudreau
Annika Bey

SOCIAL JUSTICE INTEREST GROUP (SJIG)

The SJIG has two subcommittees: the Admissions Justice and Curriculum Change subcommittees.

The Admissions Justice subcommittee is committed to the principles of equity and diversity and recognizes the importance of having a health care community that reflects the diversity of Canadian society. This subcommittee represents a collaborative initiative to increase the number of medical students who are Indigenous, Black, Filipino, Latino, economically disadvantaged, or who self-identify with having a disability.

The Curriculum subcommittee focuses on identifying opportunities within the medical school curriculum to increase students’ learning on systemic oppression and its impacts on the health of populations. This year, we hope to work on providing students with more resources and opportunities for discussion around diverse patient identities both during Pro-comp and outside of the Tuesday sessions. We also hope to plan and collaborate with other IGs to hold events that allow students to practice clinical encounters with diverse populations and hear from physicians belonging to underrepresented communities about their experiences with navigating medical school, residency, and beyond.

c2027 co-chairs
Teanna Rowe
Polly Ou
Sarah Clements
Henry Liu

STUDENTS FOR HARM REDUCTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Students for Harm Reduction and Community Outreach (SHARC) is a group that focuses on learning from and supporting community members who are deprived of housing and/or using drugs. This interest group enables student participation in harm-reduction focused community outreach. Our relationships with community organizations allow for engagement in harm-reduction advocacy within the medical system and broader community. SHARC holds mentorship and interactive sessions with doctors and residents working directly with individuals deprived of housing.

c2026 co-chairs
Aisling Zeng, [email protected]
Maggie Wang, [email protected]

Space medicine ig

The Space Medicine interest group aims to spread awareness in the field of Space medicine, a lesser known area with lots of room for research and innovation. Our goals are to educate students on the careers possible within space medicine and the ways that many different specialities can contribute their expertise to furthering the discipline. We also hope to collaborate with student-led space organizations, industry leaders, and international conferences to run events teaching students about a wide variety of topics such as the effects of zero gravity on the body, innovation in medical equipment and techniques for use in space, and nutrition for astronauts.

c2027 co-chairs
William Feng
Aditya Pandya

SPORTS MEDICINE IG

The goal of the Sports Medicine IG is to connect students to a variety of educational and career resources related to Sports Medicine. Our group strives to run events that will inform students of emerging and up-to-date topics in the sports medicine field, as well as provide beginner level introduction to relevant hands-on clinical skills

c2026 co-chairs
Dalraj Dhillon, [email protected]
Michael Voloshin, [email protected]
Louie Del Sordo, [email protected]
Nick Garbuz, [email protected]

SURGERY IG

The Surgery Interest Group (SIG) is a group run by McMaster medical students to enhance pre-clerks’ exposure to the breadth and extent of various surgical fields, practices, and networking opportunities. The SIG will foster student learning through various hands-on and informative events led by surgical staff and residents, such as: suturing and casting workshops, career panels, surgically-relevant imaging and anatomy bootcamps, and more. We aim to provide a comprehensive and enjoyable exposure to a career in surgery by collaborating with other surgical IGs and hosting meetings with diverse general and specialty surgeons.

c2026 co-chairs
Bianca Rusu, [email protected]
Mohamed Ali, [email protected]
Michael Voloshin, [email protected]
Andy Deprato, [email protected]

Critical Care IG (CCIG)

The Critical Care Interest Group is focused on helping medical students become aquainted with the field of critical care medicine through a variety of lenses. Developing skills related to communication, death and dying, and complex medical physiology are all a key part of critical care. The CCIG is also dedicated to helping students understand the varying paths to critical care, such as internal medicine, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and neurology.

c2027 co-chairs
Annika Bey
Matthew Tse
Manuela Morgan

STEM CELLS IG

We are one chapter of Canada’s Stem Cell Club - an organization of students dedicated to increasing the number of potential stem cell donors in the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) database. We run “stem cell drives” where we recruit individuals into the CBS Stem Cell Registry, in addition to other stem cell focused events.

c2026 co-chairs
Jaya Sharma, [email protected]
Tyler Dalton, [email protected]

Teddy bear clinic - hamilton

Teddy Bear Clinics (TBC) are an engaging initiative for school-aged children aimed at alleviating anxiety around healthcare and promoting engagement in health and medicine. At TBCs, children role-play medical scenarios with plush teddy bears, working through various scenarios. These include x-ray imaging, fracture clinics, and health promotion stations (dental care, mental health, nutrition, etc.). TBC Hamilton holds in-person and virtual clinics in partnership with community organizations in the Hamilton area.

c2027 co-chairs
Claire Verkuyl
Cassidy Fu
Talia Ganz

TRANSPLANT MEDICINE IG

The Transplant Medicine IG aims to: introduce students to and highlight the importance of transplant medicine, stimulate interest in the role of organ transplantation in medicine and its intersection with various surgical specialties, and facilitate events to deliver career exploration opportunities to students.

c2027 Co-Chairs

COMMUNITY HEALTH IG (CHIG)

The Community Health IG explores how neighbourhood factors (e.g. poverty, food insecurity, access to healthcare, transportation) influence health at the community level.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Erfan Ghani Kakhki, [email protected]
Kalina Georgieva, [email protected]
Nupur Krishnan, [email protected]

DESIGNING HEALTHCARE IG

The Designing Healthcare IG fosters an interdisciplinary and collaborative design thinking approach to solving healthcare issues. We help build many transferable skills in problem-solving, innovation and communication and highlight insights from design-thinking experts through our events, including our flagship annual, hackathon-style Design Thinking Conference, innovative collaboration panels, and introduction to design thinking and quality improvement workshops. This is the perfect group for creative thinkers and those passionate about problem solving to improve health systems and outcomes.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Tanvir Chakkal, [email protected]
Julia Guo, [email protected]
Steven Choi, [email protected]

FEDERATION OF MEDICAL WOMEN OF CANADA (MCMASTER CHAPTER) IG

This group aims to raise awareness of various women’s health issues using an intersectional lens allowing students to understand, advocate and learn how to improve management of these concerns in their current role and in their future health care practices, while providing a platform to foster relationships between students and women-identifying physicians through educational and networking events.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Jayden Berdugo, [email protected]
Shagun Jain, [email protected]
Amy Boyle, [email protected]

HISTORY OF MEDICINE IG

History of Medicine Interest Group is a group of students who share an interest in understanding the origins and history of medical practice and innovation, across eras and cultures. We aim to invite interesting speakers from various areas of clinical practice and expertise to share their common fascination with history of medicine, as well as share opportunities for classmates to engage further through community experiential learning and electives.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Junayd Hussain, [email protected]
Abigail Morton, [email protected]
Erfan Ghani Kakhki, [email protected]

MACMED ART IG

As we all know, finding time to wind down and destress can be hard to do with all the competing commitments we as medical students have. Anecdotally, the arts is something we've seen and experienced to be a common destressing tool for many students! Whether it's sketching their cat, playing an instrument while serenading a plant, or channeling their inner Picasso when painting, the arts in its various shapes and forms is something that's served to support, motivate, heal, and connect many within our individual lives, and within those in our program as well! This highlights the importance of the MacMed Art IG. Through our events, we hope to give students the chance to destress; to connect with an old hobby, to take a moment of their day where they're free of their to-do list, and to meet new friends with a common interest. The MacMed Art IG hopes to help foster our Mac Med community through various initiatives, and promote wellness and artistic exploration within all three cohorts:)

c2027 Co-Chairs
Lomesh Choudhary (W)
Chiara Di Scipio
Aisling Martins-Ezeifeaku

MCMASTER HEALTH ADVOCACY SYMPOSIUM

The McMaster Health Advocacy Symposium is an IG dedicated to running a one-day event devoted to exploring various advocacy roles of healthcare providers. Its aim is to foster the development of effective, responsible advocacy skills amongst university students in medicine and other health-related programs and to inspire students pursuing careers in healthcare and related fields to envision their future roles as health advocates, not just for individual patients but beyond, at the community, institutional, societal, and global levels. The event features keynote speakers, student research poster presentations, and opportunities for participant networking.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Nadia Boachie, [email protected]
Carolyn Wang, [email protected]
Amena Ahmad, [email protected]

MCMASTER STUDENTS FOR CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION

A group aiming to raise awareness of concussions and their importance in health. We noticed a gap in the curriculum where concussions are not overtly discussed in tutorials and only touched upon in clinical skills. By running events, we hope to educate the MacMed community on concussions and their multifaceted treatments. We also aim to raise money through sports viewing events and classes for donation to the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

c2027 Co-Chairs
Genevieve Ammendolia Tome
Seerat Kang
Syed Mustafa Nadeem

Practicing in a second language ig

The PSL IG is for students who speak a second language and are interested in learning how to interact with patients in these languages. Our mission is to create a space where students can practice and improve their language skills together, and learn how to apply their skills in a clinical setting. We hope that this will reduce language barriers in the community, and improve access to care.

c2027 Co-Chairs
Chen Yu (Daisy) Sun
Chiara Di Scipio
Jackie Han

NUTRITION IN MEDICINE IG

The Nutrition in Medicine IG is meant to create a space for medical students to learn and share their knowledge about nutrition for both their own health as well as the health of their future patients.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Shagun Jain, [email protected]
Astrid Bradshaw, [email protected]
Jayden Berdugo, [email protected]

PATHOLOGY IG

The Pathology IG is dedicated to helping medical students explore the specialty of Pathology and provide opportunities for learning and career exploration in Anatomical and General Pathology.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Frank Wang, [email protected]
Eric Yu, [email protected]
Michael Wang, [email protected]

PLASTIC SURGERY IG

Our interest group focuses on the diverse and broad specialty of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. We are the only McMaster Medicine IG that is based off of the recognized surgical specialty of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Some of our events include: Gender affirming surgery panels, grafting workshops, interdisciplinary panels, and more!

c2026 Co-Chairs
Victor Ripan, [email protected]
Rachel Beetham, [email protected]
Avery Hart, [email protected]

POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND IG

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Interest Group, is an exciting initiative designed for medical students passionate about enhancing their clinical skills through the dynamic world of ultrasound imaging. Our group aims to create a platform for interactive and educational POCUS learning, empowering students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for real-time diagnostic decision-making at the bedside.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Sean Lifshits, [email protected]
Avery Hart, [email protected]
Izabelle O'Connor, [email protected]

PUBLIC HEALTH IG

The public health interest group (PHIG) hosts events related to public health for medical students at McMaster University. Our aims include widening the breadth of knowledge regarding the social determinants of health, connecting students with future prospects in the health care system and health policy opportunities, and networking with Public Health Hamilton. The PHIG also values cultural safety, equity, and accessibility. Examples of these events include women’s reproductive issues, public health residency panels, etc.

c2026 Co-Chairs
Laura Carson, [email protected]
Mariah Keeling, [email protected]
Kaitlyn Lu, [email protected]

RESPIROLOGY & PULMONOLOGY IG

Respirology & pulmonology IG provides educational opportunities to learn more about the field and engage with current respirologists and residents.

c2027 Co-Chairs
Daniel Botros
Alexis Fang

RURAL MEDICINE IG

The rural medicine IG is dedicated to the provision of high-quality medical practice in rural and remote communities, and committed to achieving health equity for all Canadians. We organize events to help students gain exposure and develop skills in rural medicine.
RMIG is tailored to exploring the opportunities and need for rural medicine. RMIG will allow medical students to address concerns on the provincial and federal level of healthcare access in rural regions of Ontario. This Interest Group serves to provide resources and information not only to those previously interested in Rural Medicine but also to demystify the role, scope and practice of rural physicians.

c2027 Co-Chairs
Raymond Popescu
Kara Walisser
Ankit Parmar

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TRANSPLANT MEDICINE IG

VASCULAR SURGERY IG

The Vascular Surgery Interest Group (VSIG) hopes to stimulate interest and post graduate training in vascular surgery as well as promote medical students’ level of understanding in vascular health. We believe this will benefit our cohort and future cohorts since they will develop an understanding and appreciation for this surgical specialty. This interest group will provide a platform for students to be exposed to the specialty and develop an interest that may have never occurred without VSIG. Likewise, this interest group will collaborate with other interest groups and enrich the learning that takes place during these events. We also want to promote the knowledge and awareness of vascular health, from deep vein thrombosis to varicose veins. This promotion of knowledge will captivate the interest of all students since it is highly applicable to many specialties and thus will benefit all.

c2026 Co-chairs
Rachel Beetham, [email protected]
Lele Xiao, [email protected]
Arul Kuhad, [email protected]

Woolen Hearts IG

WHIG is a student-led group at McMaster dedicated to using our skills in crochet and knitting to make a positive impact on our community. Founded with a goal of bringing together students with a shared passion for crafting, our club focuses on creating handmade items for those in need in Hamilton. Our mission is to combine creativity and compassion, making meaningful contributions through our handcrafted work, and providing warmth and comfort to vulnerable populations.

c2027 Co-Chair
Haleema Ahmed
Heather Gadalla
Polly Ou

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Inactive Interest Groups

ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS IG (AAIG)

AAIG aims to explore how inclusive and accessible environments, practices, and policies can enact positive, impactful, and lasting change in the lives of people with disabilities. As medical students, we know that disabilities impact the lives of those around us in a myriad of ways, but may not know how to best support the individual needs of both our patients and peers, or how to promote inclusivity and equity in the world around us. AAIG aims to raise awareness of these issues, and provide a space for all students to gain knowledge and learn practical skills to use in our everyday and professional lives. We plan to hold a series of events including panels, workshops, and informational sessions to gain deeper understanding of: 1) the complexity of disability; 2) the impact of disability and intersectional identity on health and wellness; 3) how to implement accessibility in clinical practice; and 4) how to be an active ally to those in the disability community. AAIG will achieve the aforementioned goals by showcasing the lived experiences of patients, medical students, physicians, and advocates. Our aim is to integrate inclusivity and accessibility through hands-on, informative sessions that are tailored to the needs and interests of our students.

ENDOCRINOLOGY IG

The endocrinology IG (EIG) aims to expose students to the field of endocrinology, and to educate students on important topics such as diabetes and dyslipidemias. We strive to highlight the relevance of social determinants of health (SDH) in the development of different disorders within endocrinology.

FILIPINO ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS (FAMS) OF MCMASTER

The Filipino Association of Medical Students (FAMS) at Mac aims to: (1) Develop mentorship programs between Filipinx medical students and aspiring Filipinx physicians. (2) Organize events with community and healthcare professionals with experience in Filipinx health. (3) Collaborate with existing IGs to assist in creation of a more inclusive, equitable curriculum, such as the Indigenous Health Interest Group, Global Health Interest Group, Social Justice Interest Group, and the Black Medical Students’ Association of McMaster and (4) Contribute to social-justice, and anti-racist work in Hamilton and throughout Canada.

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MACMED IMPROV CLUB

NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT INTEREST GROUP (NSTIG)

To provide students, especially students who come from non-traditional backgrounds, additional support and guidance throughout medical school through various events and activities.
In addition to keeping the administration accountable to the needs of non-traditional students, the NTSIG will plan key events throughout the year with the aim to specifically support students who come from non-traditional backgrounds. Examples of such events could include: Basic science “tutorials” or “lectures”, social gatherings to build relationships with other students in similar circumstances, panels featuring residents or staff physicians who came from non-traditional backgrounds, events for students with children, and so on. The NTSIG will also create and update a centralized document with a list of supports available to non-traditional students (eg. Childcare, academic supports, student affairs supports, etc.).

PING PONG CLUB

The Ping Pong Club IG offers table tennis enthusiasts of all skill levels a community to engage in friendly competition, improve their ping pong skills, and enjoy the sport in a fun, supportive environment! Join us at any of our events to destress, play ping pong with your peers, and have some snacks. We hope to see you at some of our events!

Trauma informed care ig

Save the mothers

Save the Mothers (STM) is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of women and babies through outreach, education, and advocacy. They believe that universal access to quality maternal care in pregnancy and childbirth is a basic human right. Their vision is that no mother or child should die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. As a McMaster chapter of STM, our mission is to help the broader STM organization achieve its goals of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in a myriad of ways: education, outreach, and advocacy.

MED LAW IG (MLIG)

We are an interest group dedicated to helping medical students understand and navigate medical law.

TECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE IG

Our interest group is interested in exploring how technology, artificial intelligence and computer programming fit into and enhance the practice of medicine. How can technological literacy help us become better physicians? What potential pitfalls exist? What exciting research is happening? Join us as we try to find out!