All About MAPS
Our Mission Statement
MAPS is dedicated to encouraging, retaining, and empowering minority students pursuing careers as healthcare professionals. We strive to break down barriers of inequity and develop leaders of change by engaging in community service and outreach, promoting academic excellence and acknowledging cultural accomplishments.
Our MAPS Story!
Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) is a nationally recognized organization founded from the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). SNMA was established in 1964 by medical students from Howard University and Meharry Medical School as a subdivision of NMA (The National Medical Association). Today, many MAPS chapters exist around the country to support minority undergraduates persuing medicine.
How was MAPS established?
The MAPS chapter at IUB was established in the fall of 2008 by 10 pre-medical students. The inspiration behind the group resulted because as minority students, the founders realized that there are not many other minorities in their classes and oftentimes they felt left out. Thus, they formed their own study groups and one day agreed that it would be best if ALL minorities came together to create a support system. The 10 founders got together with Dr. Catherine Reck and Dan Woodside and started brainstorming. It wasn't until they met Victor Njoku, an IUPUI medical student, that they decided upon MAPS. From that decision, they spent approximately two months drafting a constitution, electing officers, planning events, applying for grants, and performing the necessary tasks to become an official IU organization. After being officially established in November, they started recruiting members and working towards uniting minorities on campus, providing a support system for pre-medical students.