The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is a national, not-for-profit osteopathic medical organization founded to ensure a high quality of education for osteopathic medical students, to promote unity within the osteopathic medical profession, and to improve the delivery of healthcare by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) SOMA is the student affiliate organization of the American Osteopathic Association and works with all chapters to foster communication between government at the local and national levels and the osteopathic medical profession.
The organization also awards scholarships annually to osteopathic medical students who demonstrate leadership, compassion, or exceptional dedication to addressing the medically underserved, political activism, international medicine, or public health. Pre-SOMA is a branch of the organization dedicated to the education of undergraduate pre-medical students about the osteopathic medical profession to aid them in the medical school selection process.
History
The association was founded in September 1, 1960 as the Student Osteopathic Medical Association after a motion was made to establish a national student organization.
In July 1965, representatives from the student bodies of five osteopathic colleges were invited to attend the January 1966 meeting of the AOA Board of Trustees.
In December 13–14, 1969, students from the osteopathic medical schools met in Des Moines, Iowa to establish a National Student Osteopathic Medical Association, and in July 1970, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association was approved for affiliation with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
March 27–29, 1970 the first SOMA convention was held at Drake Hotel, Chicago. The purpose of this convention was to formulate plans for the role that SOMA should play in regards to 1) Osteopathic education, 2) community service, 3) public relations, 4) and the Osteopathic profession.“There were 6 osteopathic schools at that time. 2-3 students from each school came to Chicago during these years and there were 2 from Kansas City. We met on the top floor of the Drake Hotel. There the 10-15 students stayed up late into the night and organized and started SOMA. We went back to our schools to keep organizing the students to have a voice in their chosen profession.” - Al Faigin, DO - KCCOM Class of 1972.September 30, 1970 SOMA was incorporated under the general Not for Profit Corporation Act in the state of Illinois. SOMA was organized and is operated exclusively for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes.
Programming & Initiatives
Publications
In May 1963, a newsletter for students at osteopathic colleges was created after a motion was made by the American Osteopathic Association. This newsletter, prepared and distributed by the AOA, would be distributed to students in osteopathic colleges. The newsletter Reflection was prepared by the executive department for student distribution. Edition I was mailed May 1963. SOMAP was later created as the “official publication” of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association. SOMAP was published nine times yearly, September through May, by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association. In 1977-1979 Emely Karandy was the editor of The Student Doctor - the first SOMA Magazine. These publications went through multiple revisions and by 2010, the Inside SOMA publication was created.
As of 2023, SOMA’s major publication is The Future DO a biannual magazine dedicated to research and essay content from medical students.