Welcome to Saint Louis University and to the study of medicine. All SLU School of Medicine students are supported by a broad network of faculty and staff.
The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are two of the many entry points for students to access and receive importation information and services.
Orientation
The School of Medicine hosts orientation for first-year medical students. Students completing clerkships though various divisions and departments will also have orientations their first day of the course.
View Clerkship Orientation Information
Career Advising
As an initial course of action, students seeking academic, career or personal counseling should contact the dean of students in the Office of Student Affairs for advice and referral. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion serves as a similar resource.
Faculty course and clerkship directors are a prime source for immediate academic assistance.
Additional resources available to you, include our faculty, your fellow students, mentors, counselors, educational specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists who are available to provide information and help.
SLU SOM utilizes several useful AAMC Careers in Medicine programs to assist students in the discernment of their specialty of interest. This longitudinal program is mapped across all four years of the curriculum. After the clerkship year, students are assigned a specialty specific career advisor who assists with navigating the residency application process and advises on applicant strength and program fit.
Dual-Degree Program
Students pursuing an M.D. at Saint Louis University may also choose to customize their education by enrolling in a dual degree program in business, public health or physician-scientist training.
Student Organizations
Interest Groups: With nearly 75 (and growing) student groups covering interests in specialties, community service, advocacy, wellness, and extracurricular pursuits, we are sure to have something for everyone. And if we don’t have it organized yet, students can set up and register a new group!
- Alpha Omega Alpha at Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society
- Election occurs after completion of clerkship rotations by classmates colleagues for demonstration of humanistic and compassionate treatment of patients
- Alpha Sigma Nu – Jesuit Honor Society
- Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society, recognizes students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty, and service. Alpha Sigma Nu encourages its members to a lifetime of pursuit of intellectual development, deepening Ignatian spirituality, service to others, and a commitment to the core principles of Jesuit education.
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
Description: The SNMA is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students and addressing the needs of underserved communities. We aim to increase the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, socially conscious physicians. The mission of the SLU Chapter is to provide advocacy, and community service, celebrate diversity and increase the pipeline of underrepresented minority students who consider and prepare for medical and scientific careers.
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
The Latino Medical Student Association at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, founded in the spring of 2017, unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship, and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.
Queer Med Association
Queer Med Association (QMA) at Saint Louis University, formerly called OutPatient is a student-faculty group raising awareness, advocacy and education around LGBTQ+ issues within the medical community. They host annual sessions to educate members of the community around issues affecting the queer community.
Research Opportunities
Students can take electives in the pre-clinical and clinical space to work on and/or complete research projects. The director of Student Research can meet with interested students to help them navigate projects and find mentors. The Summer Research Fellowship (SRF) program is a six-week summer program between the M1 and M2 academic year. Students develop a project with a faculty mentor and submit a proposal in the winter of their first year of medical school. Applications are reviewed and approximately 30 to 40 stipends are available for summer projects. The Office of Student Affairs has funding available to support student travel for research presentations and scholarly work.
Additionally, the SOM has a number of opportunities available for students to apply locally, regionally, and nationally for summer research programs. Students interested in more in-depth and longitudinal research experiences can complete a research distinction program.
Well-Being Resources
At Saint Louis University School of Medicine, we believe in cura personalis, the sanctity of human life, dignity and respect of all people, devotion to social justice, humility, the multifaceted nature of wellness, and well-balanced relationships.
The SOM offers wellness electives and a wellness distinction for students committed to improving the wellbeing of the community.
Founded in 2023, the Music in Medicine series is an annual concert between the School of Medicine and the Department of Music. Students perform selected works on campus utilizing a grand piano donated by an alumnus of the School of Medicine.
Wellness Space
The rigorous nature of medical school can take a toll on any student, but the Wellness Center at Saint Louis University School of Medicine provides a dedicated haven to alleviate the pressure. The center gives students a sense of place among the comfort and safety of their peers — opening the doors for more shared experiences. Its comfortable chairs, warm blankets and large windows welcome students to make meaningful connections and balance academic rigors with activities promoting positive mental health.