Student Organizations

Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants:

 Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants' (SAAAPA) Web site.

The William Beaumont Society

Preamble:

We, the students of the University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Program, realize that only through the formal organization can we best fulfill the purposes of mutual benefit to ourselves, our academic institution and the community in which we live. It is for this reason that we establish the William Beaumont Society.

The purpose of the society is to provide a framework in which to perform while in the University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Program. The objective of the society is to foster academic and clinical excellence in the physician assistant student.

Historical Background:

The William Beaumont Society (WBS) was started with the first class of PA students in 1972 as a chapter of the Student Association of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
The chapter took on the name "The William Beaumont Society" in honor of Dr. Beaumont, M.D. who was a pioneer in physiology and medicine in the late 1700's and early 1800's credited with being among the first American medical researchers. He started his medical career as an apprentice in Vermont. He then served as a surgeon's mate in the War of 1812. After the war, Dr. Beaumont came to Fort Mackinac in Michigan Territory. He began his extensive research on the human digestive process when a Canadian voyager, Alexis ST. Martin, was accidentally shot in the stomach at close range. Beaumont conducted experiments on the digestive tract over several years.

Dr. Beaumont gained worldwide recognition for his observations and tests on the human digestive system which had revealed more about the gastrointestinal process than had ever before been known.

Like Dr. Beaumont, the first students of the University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Program were pioneers, creating a new path of medicine in Michigan.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors are elected by fellow PA students in the first two weeks of the fall semester and will hold office for one year.

Member Activities

The William Beaumont Society is both a service and a resource organization Past and planned WBS activities include:

• Christmas donations to families in need by providing gifts and food.
• Collection for COTS
• Volunteer Cancer screening
• Education and awareness of the Physician Assistant profession in local schools.

In addition, WBS provides services for its members:

• Discounts in purchasing educational books.
• Discounts in purchasing medical supplies.
• A student-faculty forum for student issues to be heard by the faculty

The William Beaumont Society
University of Detroit Mercy, PA Program
4001 W. McNichols
Detroit, Michigan 48221