GSA Student Opportunity, Access and Retention Committee

The Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Student Opportunity, Access, and Retention Committee (SOAR Committee) is open to faculty and professional staff working to ensure all medical students are respected and have an equal opportunity to thrive at AAMC member medical schools. The SOAR Committee provides guidance with respect to student recruitment, admissions, retention, and graduation on a local, regional, and national basis.

Access Student Opportunity, Access, and Retention Resources

SOAR Committee Charge

The strategic priorities of the Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Student Opportunity, Access, and Retention Committee (SOAR Committee) are defined under two overarching themes — developing a physician workforce made up of people of all backgrounds and experiences, and the professional development of its constituency. To meet its strategic priorities, the SOAR Committee advances the full cycle of student engagement and educational support spanning the K-12 through medical school educational continuum. SOAR Committee constituents provide programming and services to engage and support learners in the K-12 pathway, in premedical and postbaccalaureate programs, and throughout medical school. They are involved in outreach, recruitment, admissions, retention, support, and residency application and transition of all students in medicine. The committee is advisory to the GSA Steering Committee, makes regular reports to the GSA Steering Committee, and seeks the approval of the GSA Steering Committee for special projects.

Donna H. Jackson, EdD [she/her/hers]

On behalf of the committee, it is my honor to welcome you to the GSA Student Opportunity, Access, and Retention Committee (GSA SOAR Committee). I am excited to work with you, the broader GSA community, and others who have primary responsibility to support the academic and personal success of medical students. This committee endeavors to continually view all aspects of undergraduate medical education through a lens of fairness that will allow our students to thrive.

The GSA SOAR committee, as one of the five national committees of the GSA, meets regularly to address issues and offer guidance on medical student concerns related to student recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, and graduation.

The acronym SOAR is intentional—it symbolizes growth, momentum, and the journey our students take as they enter and move through medical education.

Our community calls and webinars, for GSA SOAR representatives, serve as a means to disseminate information and to gather feedback. In addition, we work in collaboration with the other national committees on pertinent issues that cross administrative areas, often participating in working groups and joint community calls.

To ensure advocacy and promote opportunities in the medical education space, the GSA SOAR committee also engages and collaborates with several other AAMC affinity groups.

We recognize that the GSA SOAR committee functions in an efficient and effective manner due to the wonderful foundation laid by prior chairs and the efforts of a wonderful AAMC team. Thank you for remaining steadfast in your commitment to the committee’s success.

Finally, we welcome your interest in the work of the GSA SOAR committee. We know that there is value in creating a medical education environment that benefits all students. Please contact us with any ideas, proposals, or comments that might be of interest to the committee’s leadership and membership.

SOAR Committee Roster

Chair

Donna H. Jackson, EdD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
November 2022 – November 2026

GSA National Previous Past Chair

Hilit Mechaber, MD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
November 2024 – November 2025

Central Region (CGSA) Representative

Khalilah Gates, MD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
November 2024 – November 2027

Northeastern Region (NEGSA) Representative

Daniel José Correa, MD, MSc, FAAN
University of Massachusetts T. H. Chan Medical School
November 2024 – November 2027

Southern Region (SGSA) Representative

Natalie G. Johnson, DHA
Medical University of South Carolina
April 2025 – November 2026

Western Region (WGSA) Representative

Erik D. Malmberg, PhD, JD
University of Washington School of Medicine
November 2024 – November 2027

Liaison to the Committee on Admissions (COA)

Robin Clay, MEd
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine
November 2024 – November 2027

Liaison to the Committee on Student Affairs (COSA)

Alden Landry, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
July 2025 – November 2028

Liaison to the Committee on Student Financial Assistance (COSFA)

Ranna Nash, PhD
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
November 2022 – November 2025

Liaison to the Committee on Student Records (COSR)

Laventrice Ridgeway, EdD, ALC
Whiddon College of Medicine, University of South Alabama
November 2024 – November 2027

National Association of Advisors to the Health Professions (NAAHP) Liaison

John Moses-Brownson
Elon University

AAMC Staff Liaison

Irena Tartakovsky, MD, MS
Director, Constituent Engagement

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