mEDICAL student Pride ALLIANCE
About MSPA
Mission and Values
The Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) at Albany Medical College is an activist and social organization at Albany Medical College that is committed to empowering sexual and gender minority medical students and allies, increasing the number of physicians trained in LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare, and addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ communities through research, advocacy, and service.
As an organization, we aim to:
Unite all LGBTQ+ medical students
Serve as a forum for discussion on LGBTQ topics in medicine
Serve as the voice for LGBTQ+ medical students in national dialogue
Increase collaboration among queer medical communities
Promote recruitment of queer students into medicine
Advocate for the rights of LGBTQ individuals in healthcare
Educate medical students on LGBTQ health issues
History
MSPA started at Albany Medical College as LGBTQ+ People in Medicine, a student interest group that promoted the welfare, representation, and visibility of LGBTQ+ students and patients. The group offered interview skills workshops that addressed gender and sexual identity, advocated for admissions policies that valued diversity, and encouraged greater inclusion of LGTBQ+ health in medical education curricula. In 2002, LGBTQ+ People in Medicine was recognized with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Achievement Award from the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). In 2020, LGBTQ+ People in Medicine became a chapter of the Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA), a national LGBTQ+ medical student organization. To reflect this, the group officially changed their name from LGBTQ+ People in Medicine to the Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA).
Membership
Members are individuals enrolled at Albany Medical College or employed by Albany Medical Center who are interested in LGBTQIA+ health issues or identify as sexual and gender minorities, who attend at least one general body meeting and one event and sign up to be on the group’s mailing list. There are no costs such as dues or fees associated with being a member.
Events, Initiatives, & Accomplishments
MSPA hosts events to advocate for social change and to build community. These events and initiatives include:
Monthly general body meetings
Social + Community Building Events
MSPA Halloween Party at Dr. Christie Bialowas's house
Camping Trip
Pride Party at Dr. Benjamin Margolis's house
Scholarly 1-on-1 meetings to provide guidance and mentorship to current, incoming, and aspiring LGBTQ+ identified students
Response to current/political events (rallies, photo campaigns, donation drives)
LGBTQ+ Health Week
Lecture Series/Speaker Invites
Out and ally list creation
Pronoun name badges
Community Grand Rounds: student-led presentations to educate physicians and community members about specific LGBTQ+ related topics.
Monkeypox: What We Know, Who is At Risk, and What is Next?: Travis Curtis, Valerie Bresier, Daryn Nguyen, Ramani A
LGBTQ Health Week: Intersex Patientcare: Kai Xu, Ashna Gupta, Christina Carey, Emily McQuaid, Daryn Nguyen, Kogan B
Vascular Health in Transgender Patients: Daryn Nguyen, Ye Rim Park, Park J, Leinung M, Zeigler G
National events: organize events, campaigns (social media and otherwise), donation drives, rallies, etc. around these and other relevant LGBTQ+ awareness periods:
Bisexual+ Awareness Week
Day of Silence
International Pronouns Day
Transgender Awareness Week
Intersex Awareness Day
National Coming Out Day
Transgender Day of Visibility
Pride Month
Leadership
Our 2022-2023 executive board leadership includes:
President: Daryn Nguyen (He/Him/His)
Vice President: Michelle Shen (She/They)
Treasurer: Emily DeCocker (She/Her)
Secretary: Sierra Vincent (She/Her)
Social Media Chair: Kayleigh Ross (She/Her)
Pride Center Liaison: Jessica Cohen (She/Her)
Past leadership includes: Daryn Nguyen (Class of '26), Kai Xu (Class of '25), Christina Carey (Class of '25), Emily McQuaid (Class of '25), Travis Curtis (Class of '24), Alison Hager (Class of '24), Daniel Rebagliati (Class of '24), John Dinelli (Class of '24), Joseph Araj (Class of '23), Jeslyn Rodriguez (Class of '23), Rory Harte, William Valley, Chiara Lawrence (Class of '22), Adam Recht (Class of '22), Samir El-Sawaf (Class of '22), Tristan Boyer (Class of '20), Alexis Davis (Class of '20), and Cameron Waldman (Class of '19).
Get Connected
Interested in getting involved, learning more about us, or meeting with an MSPA representative when you interview at Albany Med? Reach out to us using our email below and remember to follow us on instagram @AMC_MSPA!
