Student-Led Initiatives
Whether you are looking for a place to flex your creative muscles, a way to give back to the community, or an opportunity to expand your network and learn something new; the UNC MD-PhD Program has a student-led initiative for you.
These groups are founded and operated by MD-PhD students, and speak to a wide array of passions and goals. Consider expanding your connections by joining one today!
UNC-Duke MD-PhD Collaboration
The UNC-Duke MD-PhD Collaboration is a Kenan-Biddle partnership initiated in 2013 by Chris Dibble and Patrick Taus of the UNC MD-PhD Program, and Melodi Whitley and Matthew Kan of Duke MD-PhD Program. 
This collaboration persisted through a 2015 Kenan-Biddle Partnership of UNC and Duke AMPWIS leaders Audrey Verde, Kate Hacker, Melodi Whitley, and Amy Wisdom. The 2015 grant supported monthly meetings of the two AMPWIS groups, which featured article discussions, mentor panels, undergraduate mentorship opportunities, career development workshops, and book clubs. The funding also supported the second annual Southeast Symposium for MD-PhD Women in Science, which was hosted at Duke.
Mini Med School
Stage IV: Actin’ Out
UNC School of Medicine’s Drama Club
Stage IV: Actin’ Out was founded in 2011 by Chris Giardina and Patrick Lang.
Stage IV provides an avenue of creative expression and an opportunity for cathartic release to otherwise high-strung and overworked medical students. The organization puts on regular performances for an intended audience of the students, faculty, staff, family, and friends of the School of Medicine and Graduate Schools. The Stage IV mission is to inspire a greater appreciation for art, drama, and theatre.
MedUNCedoos
The UNC SOM a Capella Group
The MedUNCedoos were founded by Perry Tsai and Brittany Johnson in 2009. The group has grown from just four people at their first rehearsal to its current size of more than 15 members. They rehearse once per week for two hours, typically on Thursday evenings. The MedUNCedoos perform about 10 times each year, at banquets, parties, the Cadaver Memorial Service, skit night, and impromptu performances in the hospital and on campus.
Click here for more information about the MedUNCedoos.
IRIS
The UNC School of Medicine Art and Literary Journal
Iris is an online literary and arts journal designed by medical students to encourage and celebrate the humanities in medicine. Iris features works of photography, poetry, prose, drawing, painting, video, music, and other forms of creative expression. Submissions are open to UNC SOM faculty, staff, and students. Lee Hong started the online version of IRIS in 2012.
You can read the latest edition of IRIS here.
UNC MSTP Newsletter
Keeping you in touch with student and alumni news
The inaugural publication of the MSTP Newsletter was spearheaded by Andrew Morgan and Christian Parobek in 2011. Since then, our students have collaborated to publish the newsletter annually.
In 2021, we have started putting together a Program Bulletin for applicants who interview with us, to learn more about our program.