In addition to the many professionally oriented groups at MSUCOM, a number reflect the diversity of MSUCOM students themselves.

Many of these groups focus on particular communities at MSUCOM and try to create a more diverse student body. These groups bring in speakers, arrange social functions for their members, work to create change within MSUCOM, and encourage their participants to get involved in their community.gnosed with rhumatoid arthritis. By 1996, her condition worsened and she was using a wheelchair and out of work for six months. Eventually she retired, but she still suffers from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis.

Some of these groups focus on gender. The American Medical Women's Association, the National Osteopathic Women's Physician Association, and the Women's Health Interest Group seek to empower women in the osteopathic medicine with information and community. Other groups, such as the Association of Black Osteopathic Medical Students (ABOMS), focus on ethnic identity as well as raising awareness on multi-cultural issues. Spirituality groups, such as the Christian Medical and Dental Society and the Islam Medical Students Association (IMSA), seek not only to educate MSUCOM about their spirituality but also to provide support for those who need it.

One of the newest groups at MSUCOM focuses on the diversity of osteopathic medicine itself. The Medical Osteopathic Student Society (MOSS) seeks to promote osteopathic principles and philosophy in any possible way, and goes to other colleges and universities to educate students about the osteopathic profession. Also, MOSS goes to high schools and gives seminars on osteopathic medicine, seeking to recruit high school students.

IMSA president Masood Siddiqui believes that diversity is a necessity in MSUCOM. "Diversity is a cross-section of public life in the United States, and the college should reflect that," he said.

The challenges that groups face are varied. Groups deal with appropriate representation within MSUCOM, the availability of space, and the stringent demands of osteopathic medical education on membership.

More information on any of the MSUCOM student groups can be seen at http://www.com.msu.edu student-life/toc2.html