Academic Societies

The Academic Societies program began in the School of Medicine during the 1999-2000 academic year.  All current students are assigned to one of the seven Academic Societies. Each society is named after a past leader of the School of Medicine.

• Delp Society - Leigh Eck, M.D., Society Director
• Major Society - Jana Zaudke, M.D., Society Director
• Murphy Society - Michael Kennedy, M.D., and Shelley Bhattacharya, D.O., M.P.H., Society Directors
• Orr Society - Tomas L. Griebling, M.D., Society Director
• Wahl Society - Isaac Opole, M.D., Society Director
• Wescoe Society - George Enders, Ph.D., Society Director
• Jager Society (Wichita campus) - Garold Minns, M.D., Society Director
• Lukert Society (Salina campus) - Scott Owings, M.D. Society Director

The purpose of the Societies is to:

• Enhance student-faculty interaction;
• Enhance student-student interaction, particularly across classes;
• Provide a structure for student advising;
• Promote a sense of community for students and faculty; and
• Encourage the development of professional attitudes and behaviors among students.

Each Society has a Director and 30-35 faculty members who serve as student advisors. Each advisor works with one to two students from each of the four classes. Matriculating medical students are assigned to a Society during orientation week.

Students are matched with faculty advisors based upon interest to the extent that is possible. The mix of students from each of the four classes along with a skilled, experienced faculty advisor provides a forum for academic, personal, professional, and career development for students at all levels.

The Societies also sponsor monthly programs over the noon hour as well as a few off-campus activities for students and their faculty advisors.

The Office of Student Affairs maintains a web site entitled Medical Student Online Service (MED-SOS for short). This web site is designed as a source of information for faculty advisors and students on issues and programs that affect the academic, personal, professional, and career development of medical students.