Osteopathic Student Leaders Elected as SNMA and ANAMS National Presidents
Published July 22, 2021
AACOM would like to recognize two distinguished osteopathic medical student leaders who have recently been elected to lead national medical student organizations.
Chantel Thompson, a fourth-year Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) DO/MPH dual-degree candidate, has been elected as the 58th president of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). She previously served as co-president of the PCOM chapter of the SNMA. Her past accomplishments include advocating for increased cultural competency in medicine by creating the PCOM Cultural Competency Program and founding the inaugural Cultural Humility and Medicine Symposium.
The SNMA represents over 6,000 members nationwide and in the Caribbean and is the oldest and largest student-run organization. It seeks to support current and future underrepresented minority medical students, address the needs of underserved communities and increase the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.
Brandon Postoak, MS, a third-year medical student at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM) and proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, has been elected as the president of the Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS). He previously worked with Native youth in Osage County raising awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics fields. Through this work, he hopes to inspire future generations to obtain the confidence and resources to become physicians.
As president, Brandon says he will “bring Native American undergrads, medical students and physicians together to network and provide opportunities such as rotation sites, residency opportunities, career advice and so much more.”
The ANAMS is a student organization representing Native American graduate health professions students throughout the US and Canada. The goals of ANAMS include providing support and a resource network for all Native Americans currently enrolled in various allied health professions schools. ANAMS strives to increase the number of Native American students in medicine and other health professions. Exposure and recognition on a national level throughout the medical community is what we continue to promote.
AACOM congratulates these two inspirational medical student leaders.