Introducing the New American Academy of Medicine & Surgery Club

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You can follow the AAMS Club on Instagram: @aamswildcats (No Instagram endorsement is implied.)

“I ultimately chose to attend the University of Arizona over my ‘dream school’ because I realized that everything I wanted from a higher education was offered here. I understood that I had control over my academic path, and rather than feeling intimidated, I felt like I was in charge of my future.”

– Sasha from California, a Physiology and Medical Sciences major and W.A. Franke Honors Wildcat

Intrigued by anatomy and physiology since she was a child, Sasha ultimately decided to pursue Physiology and Medical Sciences in college. After attending Admitted Student Day at the University of Arizona, she knew this was the ideal school choice for her. 

“Admitted Student Day opened my eyes to the opportunities given to undergraduate students: courses tailored to our interests, an emphasis on interdisciplinary education, countless research programs, labs, and chances for undergraduates to engage with the College of Medicine … an inherently flexible path to my degree. And what felt most important was the sense of support and encouragement I felt from the students and professors at the U of A.”

While learning and growing through her studies, Sasha is also enhancing her college journey, and that of her pre-health peers, by turning ideas into action with that support. Sasha is the founding president of the American Academy of Medicine & Surgery (AAMS) club on campus. 

AAMS Club

“AAMS is an interactive club that gives students a greater understanding of medicine,” said Sasha, “not only through learning physiology, but through engaging directly with the technical skills and practices of various medical professions.” 

“While AAMS has a strong medical and surgical emphasis, the club engages with a wide range of medical professionals (from family practice physicians to medical device salesmen) who expose members to many aspects of healthcare,” she added. “All pre-health majors are welcome to join if they find interactive, hands-on learning both engaging and valuable.”

The Goal of AAMS

“The hands-on nature of AAMS is intentional and foundational to how the club operates,” said Sasha. “Each meeting is built around an active skill or task rather than passive observation, so members are consistently engaging with the material instead of just hearing about it. Background explanations are there to give students context for what they are doing before they begin practicing themselves.”

“The club provides a low-pressure environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and improve without fear of judgment,” Sasha added. “This approach helps build confidence and familiarity with technical skills that many students do not encounter until much later in their education.”

How Sasha Put Her Idea Into Action

Inspired by the hands-on learning she received from surgeons and physicians through the AAMS Basic and Intermediate Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Sasha wanted to form a club at the University of Arizona for learning hands-on surgical skills of even more specialties.

She did her research and shared the concept with professors, classmates, and friends. She quickly realized that they wanted to see this club happen, too.

“My physiology professor believed that I could make it work and offered real advice and encouragement, which is why I chose him to be the club’s faculty advisor,” said Sasha. “Once I had a team in place, the idea was no longer hypothetical. It became something real that I could build here.”

AAMS Launches with a Highly Successful Suture Training Workshop

The first Arizona AAMS meeting launched in September 2025, and featured a suture training workshop. 

“Members practiced suturing at their own pace while receiving guidance and feedback,” said Sasha. “Beyond learning how to suture, we all got to meet many pre-health students and have a good time with good music, snacks, and conversation.”

Experiential Learning Is Key to the AAMS Club

“Hands-on learning helps bridge the gap between physiology and practice,” said Sasha. “Rather than viewing medicine as something abstract or distant, members begin to understand how scientific concepts translate into real clinical skills. Over time, this structure encourages growth, consistency, and active participation, reinforcing the idea that meaningful learning happens when students are fully involved in the process.”

More Ways the U of A Helps Sasha Work Toward Her Academic and Career Goals

“The University of Arizona has challenged me to take ownership of my education and professional growth,” said Sasha. “Being surrounded by efficient, respectful, and highly invested students and mentors showed me what it looks like to approach medicine with dedication, integrity, and consistency.”

Sasha’s dedication applies not only in starting a club to support experiential learning outside of the classroom, but inside her classroom learning environment, as well.

“This past semester, taking biochemistry taught me to value dedication,” she shared. “I learned that earning strong grades sometimes requires real struggle and persistence. I fought tooth and nail for an A, and that experience was incredibly rewarding. It strengthened my confidence, reinforced my work ethic, and taught me to trust myself when facing difficult material.”

That strong Arizona support system that drew her to the U of A also played a part in her growth. Sasha said she is truly thankful to her board members and U of A faculty and friends.

“Being in such a large and interconnected university helped me recognize that success depends on more than academic performance,” Sasha said. “Learning how to communicate effectively, show mutual respect to faculty and peers, and remain consistent and dependable were skills I developed over time. These are qualities I built through experience, and they have shaped how I approach both my education and my path towards medicine.”

Through the AAMS club, Sasha brings skill development, interactive experiences, support, and teamwork to an extended pre-health community at the U of A, paying forward what she has learned and the support she has received while creating her own meaningful college journey. We asked her:

What advice would you give new students considering coming to the University of Arizona?

“My best piece of advice is to build systems that help you start and stay consistent.”

“When something feels big and overwhelming, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces,” advises Sasha. “Starting a task or project is often the hardest part, but once you break it down into smaller pieces, the momentum will keep you going and your brain will aim to finish what you started.”

Stay organized

“Keeping an agenda or using tools like Google Calendar and Motion helps turn your assignments into clear steps instead of a large mess of work. Having a structured plan allows you to focus your energy on taking the next obvious step forward, rather than feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done at once.” 

Stay focused 

“Staying focused matters just as much as planning. Eliminating distractions, especially staying off your phone when you can, creates a better environment to concentrate. Consistent, focused work is more effective than hours wasted on multitasking (which doesn't truly exist when studying, it’s just task-switching). To learn effectively, you need to engage with the material deeply rather than passively listening to lectures or videos, even though it seems more efficient or convenient (it's not!)”

“Use your online tools with better intentions.” 

“Study tools like Anki can support long-term retention when used consistently, and AI/LLMs like ChatGPT should be used to enhance and support your thinking, not replace it. The goal is to stay actively engaged in your learning and trust yourself to work through challenges.”

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