Students from a group in GW’s School of Medicine and Health Science are assisting pre-health undergraduates by giving them advice on a number of issues.

At a Monday meeting of pre-health students, undergraduates proposed to start their own Student National Medical Association/Minority Association of Pre-Health Students chapter on campus.

The focus of MAPS is to assist minority undergraduates with the difficulties of the pre-medical program through mentoring and special events.

MAPS is designed to help students through each of their four years. One freshman said she was most interested in networking, while a senior said she was excited when SNMA president Yvette Drake offered advice for the Medical College Admission Test.

Drake said medical students can relate to undergraduates.

“We understand the challenge ahead of you,” Drake told the undergraduates. “We want you to have a close relationship with us.”

“There was a lot of information we didn’t have (when we were undergraduates),” Chandra Varner, MAPS co-coordinator said. “Summer internships are so important. With (the National Institutes of Health) right here, there are a lot of programs available.”

One upcoming event, organized by SNMA, is Domestic Violence Training Day. The event is designed to help members of the medical community deal with victims of domestic violence, including knowing what to say to a patient being abused in the home and how to recognize it, Drake said.

The Oct. 2 workshop will be taught by a staff member from My Sister’s Place, a shelter for abused women.

While the organization has a serious purpose, members said they had fun too.

Interested students can contact the group at [email protected].