Student Osteopathic Medical Association
affiliate of the
Welcome to the Student Osteopathic Medical Association at Touro University Nevada!
Your membership fee to SOMA covers all four years at Touro University Nevada and now comes with the latest edition of Thieme’s Atlas of Anatomy – a required book for Anatomy class FREE! So join SOMA today and be part of the only student organization affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association.
About our National Affiliate
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative member organization for more than 129,000 osteopathic medical doctors and osteopathic medical students in the United States. The AOA’s mission is to advance the distinctive philosophy of and practice of osteopathic medicine.
What is SOMA?
The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is the largest osteopathic medical student organization, and is the affiliate organization of the American Osteopathic Association. SOMA aims to promote osteopathic ideals and unity within the profession and maintain lines of communication among healthcare professionals in an ongoing effort to improve the quality of healthcare.
SOMA has much to offer, from fantastic discounts & membership benefits to virtually limitless leadership opportunities. As an active SOMA member, you will nurture & strengthen your leadership skills, be politically active, take part in numerous volunteer opportunities, and build life-long bonds with colleagues from across the U.S.
Our Volunteer Opportunities
- Soup Kitchen at The Shade Tree
- Noah’s Animal House at The Shade Tree
- HallOVeen and Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
- Joy Prom at the M Resort and Casino
- Charity Miles
- And more!
Attend Conventions!

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto with Touro University Nevada SOMA members on DO Day
Every year National SOMA organizes two main conventions – one during the fall and one during the spring. SOMA members from all Osteopathic medical schools across the nation meet to discuss health issues that affect both patients and us as future physicians.
DO Day on the Hill is the spring convention and is traditionally held in our nation’s capital. This year’s DO Day on the Hill centered on creating more residency slots for graduating physicians (both Allopathic and Osteopathic), as well as restructuring Medicare reimbursement programs. DO Day on the Hill is a great opportunity for Osteopathic medical students to meet face to face with your congressional representatives and discuss issues you see today in American healthcare.
Who We Are
Academic Advisor
Dr. Ronald Hedger, D.O. is currently the President of the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, the Assistant Dean of Clinical Skills Training, associate professor of primary care, the course director for the OSCE course/training facility, Medical Director of the Physician Assistant program, and Medical Director Institutional Student Health. He was the chairman of the faculty senate and executive committee of the faculty senate.
Executive Board Officers 2017-2018
President
Denice Praxidio
DO20.Denicemarie.Praxidio@nv.touro.edu
Vice-President
Ted Chung
DO20.Ted.Chung@nv.touro.edu
National Liaison Officer
Toni Young
DO20.Toni.Young@nv.touro.edu
Secretary
Kyle Choi
DO20.Kyle.Choi@nv.touro.edu
Treasurer
Ivy Dang
DO20.Ivy.Dang@nv.touro.edu
Committee Chairs 2017-2018
Community Service Chair:
Robert Wai
DO20.Robert.Wai@nv.touro.edu
Political Action Chair
Beau Hicken
DO20.Christian.Hicken@nv.touro.edu
Pre-SOMA Chair
Neil Corbett
DO20.Neil.Corbett@nv.touro.edu
Fundraising Chair
DO21 Tentative
DO21.Tentative@nv.touro.edu