The Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) The Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) is a student organization that represents underrepresented future medical students. The main interest of MAPS is to create more socially and culturally competent physicians by educating undergraduate pre-health students about social justice issues that underrepresented communities face in healthcare. MAPS also offers mentorship, pre-health workshops, volunteer opportunities, and education about relevant healthcare topics.
About the necessity of the organization, MAPS President Jarious Avery stated, "It is important for us to understand that every patient is not the same and learn how we can provide adequate services that best suits the patient's circumstances. Being a part of this organization has really shown me that there are a lot of social issues in healthcare, especially when it comes to underrepresented groups. However, we as an organization and as a part of the Student National Medical Association are working and learning each day to resolve said issues and provide equitable healthcare to the patients of today and tomorrow."
MAPS Member Jada Ashford highlighted the community built through MAPS. "MAPS has given me the opportunity to meet other minority students with a strong interest in medicine and serving their community," she stated. "Diversity is a very important aspect of medicine that needs to be improved, and my membership in MAPS has given me the tools to be successful in my future career as a medical professional."
The three main goals of MAPS include:
(1) To provide undergraduate pre-health students with knowledge, skills, and experiences that are both prerequisite & concomitant to professional participation in health care fields.(2) To improve students of diverse backgrounds' matriculation into all professional health related programs.
(3) To encourage culturally-conscious physicians by increasing awareness of social justice issues that underrepresented communities face in healthcare.
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If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to forward them to
Jarious Avery, MAPS President: jja0025@auburn.edu
Past Events
Dr. Leslie Farrington: Racial Disparities in Healthcare: Causes and Solutions
Dr. David Chae: The Importance of Diversity in Healthcare
Fresh Fridays: Talk to a Medical Student
Dinner with Dr. Mary Flemming
AND MORE!