New York Medical College Students to Lead Largest Student Organization for Medical Students of Color
Student National Medical Association names Reba Gillis as the national vice president and Kamilah Evans as the National External Affairs Committee co-chair
Jennifer Riekert, M.B.A.
Vice President of Communications
New York Medical College
(914) 594-4552
jennifer_riekert@nymc.edu
Valhalla, New York – Reba Gillis and Kamila Evans, both fourth-year medical students at New York Medical College’s (NYMC) School of Medicine, were appointed to leadership positions with the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the largest, student-run organization focused on the needs of medical students of color. Ms. Gillis and Ms. Evans were named National Vice President and National External Affairs Committee Co-Chairperson, respectively.
The positions were announced at the 2020 Virtual SNMA Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), on April16 - 19. The event was attended by more than 1,500 pre-medical and medical students, physicians, administrators and government officials.
“Representation in all avenues, specifically medicine, is a vitally important part of building up communities of color,” says Jerry Nadler, M.D., dean of NYMC’s School of Medicine. “We are extremely proud of the dedication and commitment of both Ms. Gillis and Ms. Evans, in and out of the classroom, and know they will do great things in their positions and careers.”
Reba Gillis will serve as the 57th national vice president of SNMA. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in Biomedical Science from Rutgers’s University. Upon graduation from NYMC in 2021, Ms. Gillis hopes to pursue a residency in emergency medicine or internal Medicine with a fellowship in hematology and oncology.
“After serving on the SNMA Board of Directors as co-chair of internal affairs last year, I am even more passionate about this association and the positive impact it has on communities of color,” says Ms. Gillis. “In this next year, I hope to improve upon the great strides SNMA has made, as well as grow as a leader.”
Kamilah Evans, a graduate of Chapman University and Charles Drew University, will serve as the association’s National External Affairs Committee co-chair. She is passionate about the health disparities faced by underserved communities and is committed to practicing medicine with a balance of advocacy and research.
“As an African American female, I value the significance of being represented in the field of biomedical research and medicine,” says the newly appointed co-chair, “Throughout my time with SNMA and as I grow as a future doctor at NYMC, I will continue to prioritize understanding the ailments that underserved communities face, and am committed to the service of those at risk.”
In addition to the task of their new roles, both future doctors will ultimately work to increase the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical school as well as aid the eradication of racial and ethnic health disparities, as is the goal of the association.
“The experience that Reba and Kamilah bring to the NYMC community as national officers of the Student National Medical Association is invaluable. We look forward to working with them.” said Camille A. Clare, M.D., M.P.H. '11, associate dean of diversity and inclusion for the School of Medicine.
New York Medical College
Founded in 1860, New York Medical College is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country with nearly 1,500 students and 330 residents and clinical fellows, more than 2,600 faculty members and 23,200 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, a School of Dental Medicine and a School of Nursing. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners. For more information, visit www.nymc.edu.