Southern california

Medical Student Summit 2026

A cover page or poster with a tree illustration at the center, with roots and branches, and a caduceus symbol within the tree. The text reads: "The SNMA Chapter at USC Presents: Rooted in Purpose, Rising in Medicine. The Next Generation of Physician Leaders."

Hosted by Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Chapter at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Registration

Exhibitors & Sponsors Info

Group of ten people posing outdoors in front of a sign and trees, smiling and wearing casual clothes.

For the 2026 summit, we aim to expand on the work of the inaugural team by increasing student outreach and providing new professional development opportunities, such as the research symposium. With these changes led by the established planning committee of twenty-three (23) medical students, we anticipate a significant increase in summit registration and turnout. Our objectives for the summit are as follows:

The summit aims to uplift, empower and celebrate current medical trainees on their journeys in becoming future physicians, while creating structured opportunities for cross-institutional networking and peer connection.
Recruit and host ≥ 120 attendees representing all 11 medical schools in Southern California, with a focus on underrepresented students in medicine.
Create structured opportunities for cross-institutional networking, mentorship, and peer connection among medical students, residents, and physicians.
Deliver educational programming that increases participant understanding of health disparities, structural determinants of health, and strategies to address inequities in clinical practice.
Showcase student-led research addressing health disparities and disparities in medical education through a poster session, promoting scholarly engagement.
Connect students with residency programs and organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to support long-term workforce diversification.