Pre-medical studies are a major focus area for undergraduate and graduate students alike at Binghamton University. Although groups and associations do exist for these pre-medical students, University of Pittsburgh transfer student John Zade lamented the lack of a broad pre-medical association that was open to all students.

Within his first semester at Binghamton, he had created one. Now, it is one of the largest groups on campus and is the single largest pre-health student organization on campus.

‘I wanted to develop an organization as an environment for [pre-medical students] to get together, to get peer guidance and advising,’ said Zade, a junior majoring in integrative molecular neuroscience. ‘We had 200 members at our first GIM, and I realized that we were doing a lot more than what I and my vice president had first imagined.’

Zade grew up around medical literature and lifestyles and has had an interest in practicing medicine from a young age. At the University of Pittsburgh, he worked with many professionals in the medical field to advance his own study and help him prepare for a future career.

The Pre-Medical Association is more than just a group for students studying medicine to get together and study. The group has many guests and speakers address the students, including the admissions directors from many major medical schools across the country.

‘We bring medical staff and professionals to give presentations,’ Zade said. ‘And one of the most beneficial activities we hold is when the director of admissions comes by. It gives students contact with the people who are in charge of admissions of medical schools.’

Zade said the group had the admissions director of the University of Antigua come by and give a presentation in April 2010. Following that, he opened himself up to members, met them one-on-one and even gave personalized interviews for his college of medicine, something Zade said would be hard to obtain otherwise.

Zade transferred from the University of Pittsburgh to Binghamton for the first semester of his sophomore year in fall 2009. During that semester, Zade began planning for the chartering of the Pre-Medical Association with Jared Kirschenbaum, the then-executive vice president of the Student Association.

‘John came in very professional, smart and friendly,’ said Jared Kirschenbaum, president of the SA. ‘He knew exactly what he had to do to make his idea what it has become today. Since starting, the group has grown into more than 300 members. They have partnerships with Kaplan and with different professors ‘ it has really become one of the most prestigious groups on campus.’

As of the fall 2010 semester, the Pre-Medical Association has more than 320 members.

According to Zade, the Pre-Medical Association’s goal is to aid students in the pre-medical field in outlining their goals for their future careers by gaining internships, references and guidance.

‘Binghamton needed something like this,’ said Toni Salama, a junior majoring in biological science and secretary for the Pre-Medical Association. ‘I enjoy it because it’s a way for me to meet people with the same interests as me and to get involved in the medical field. It’s a great way to gain exposure to that environment.’

Zade said he is far from finished with adding on to, and improving, the Pre-Medical Association. He and several others are currently in planning stages with Leann Lesperance, an assistant professor in the bioengineering department and a Harvard MD, to attempt to create a class specifically tailored for pre-medical students at Binghamton.

The Pre-Medical Association accepts all students regardless of major or focus of study. Those with an interest or who wish to join can access the association’s PAWS account at paws.binghamton.edu.

‘ Jennifer Newman contributed to this report.