chapter legacy that you all have set before us!
All of that being said, we’re ecstatic to announce our initiatives for the coming semester! First and foremost, we’re hoping to increase our chapter diversity in terms of pre-health tracks and majors! Not only are we expanding the scope of our resources, but we’re also reaching out to different organizations on campus to prepare for Spring recruitment! Next, we’re looking to increase our philanthropic and volunteer efforts by hosting our own community events. Finally, we’re working to improve communication between officers, active members, and alumni to encourage member retention.
Keep reading to find out all about our initiatives and how you can get involved too!
A
DEM X CAREBOX: RAFFLE FOR PHILANTHROPY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: BLOOD DRIVE, SOCIAL, AND MORE! INTRODUCING OUR OFFICER BOARD
Philanthropy!
To raise money for our philanthropy CareBOX, we hosted a campus-wide raffle and marketplace Tickets were sold for over 10 different prizes, all of which were graciously donated Our marketplace had live-drawings, crochet flowers, and more We’re so excited to help out CareBOX in providing essential resources for cancer patients!
Retrospect: A Look Back at Our Summer
Our organization prides itself on fostering health education and care through our various commitments in volunteering, professional development, and more When our officers weren’t working together towards yet another amazing semester of DEM Sigma, they were working to be the best healthcare professionals they can be across the globe!
Here’s a look at what some of our officers were up to:
Vice President Madeline Pederson began clinical research with the Dell Women’s Health Department in Austin, TX Director of Prospects Sandhya Maddali volunteered at a STEM teaching camp in Morocco, RA
Secretary Annie Fu interned in IT for Dura Software
Social Chair Yasna Khoshbakht was published in the NCBI Genbank Database for DNA Sequencing
A NOTE FROM YOUR HISTORIAN
Welcome to the first Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter! My name is Lizzie Pittman, and I’m stoked to be your Chapter Historian! I’m a second-year Honors Human Development major on the pre-occupational therapy track; I spent my summer volunteering at a camp for children with developmental disabilities (shoutout Sam’s camp)! I’m hoping to implement some changes to make your alumni experience more engaging, so make sure to keep up with your favorite organization!
P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R S M I T H
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023 VOL. 1
DOP SANDHYA MADDALI & ACTIVE MEMBER DENA ANTOWON IN MOROCCO!
SOCIAL & VOLUNTEERING
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
VOLUNTEERING
This September,we had 2 volunteering events! In between our events, we were prepping for our DEM Blood Drive, organized by our Volunteer Chair Sami Khan.
September 10th: LiveStrong Race
September 23rd: Zero Prostate Cancer
Walk & Run
September 30th: St. Jude Walk & Run
WHAT’S COMING UP...
ALL OCTOBER: DEM MARKETPLACE
OCTOBER 6TH - 8TH: TX OU WEEKEND!
OCTOBER 16TH: BLOOD DRIVE
OCTOBER 21ST: AUSTIN HEART WALK
NOVEMBER 2ND: LIGHT THE NIGHT RACE
NOVEMBER 4TH:
DEMLYMPICS
So far, we’ve had two socials and one family social! We can’t wait to keep spending time with our DEM family!
September 9th: Rhyme without Reason Social
September 23rd: ADEM
Sandler Social
September 24th: Sankofa
Potluck
CAREBOX RAFFLE
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023 VOL. 1
President Silpa Penumatcha Biology & Sociology, Pre-Med
Vice President
Madeline Pederson Neuroscience, Pre-Med
Internal Affairs
Katrina Lowther Human Biology, Pre-Med
Director of Prospects
Allie Benson Biochemistry, Pre-Med
Director of Prospects
Sandhya Maddali Journalism, Pre-Med
Secretary Annie Fu Computational Biology, Pre-Bioinformatics
Treasurer Priti Babaria Human Biology, Pre-Med
OFFICER BOARD!
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023 VOL 1
Volunteer Chair Sami Khan Public Health, Pre-Med
Academic Chair
Valeria Trevino Neuroscience, Pre-Med
Professional Development Chair
Sarthak Reddy Biology, Pre-Med
Philanthropy Chair
Jodie Pham
Biochemistry & Sociology, Pre-Med
Public Relations Chair
Celeste Hoang Psychology, Pre-med
National Liaison
Ciera Fontenot Neuroscience, Pre-PA
Social Chair Yasna Khoshbakht Biology, Pre-PA
OFFICER BOARD!
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023 VOL 1
NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH!
Happy October everyone! As we look ahead to this next month, we’re going to discuss National Down Syndrome Awareness Month: how to practice awareness, and how to advocate for your own patients in the future!
In the medical field, Down Syndrome is often looked at as a genetic abnormality and nothing else
Parents of children with down syndrome are often told that their children will be burdens to them, and that they’ll never be able to achieve independence These notions are not true! As pre-health professionals, we need to focus on regarding patients with Down Syndrome with empathy and encouragement In the past, individuals with Down Syndrome have:
Owned bakeries: Collette Divitto, a woman with Down Syndrome, opened her own bakery and serves fresh-made pastries everyday! She also delivered baked goods to frontline workers during the pandemic
Becoming concert players: Sujeet Desai, a man with Down Syndrome, was the first individual with Down Syndrome to play at Carnegie Hall!
Starred in Films: Zack Gottsagen, an actor with Down Syndrome who experts claimed would never walk or talk, has acted in multiple films He even presented an Academy Award aside his co-star Shia Lebouf
Individuals with Down Syndrome are more than capable, especially when working with those who have high expectations of them To read more about misconceptions regarding Down Syndrome, click here! To read more about Down Syndrome in general, click here!
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023 VOL 1
withlove, withlove, withlove, demsigma demsigma demsigma
