Membership

CERRITOS COLLEGE

CCM

(click above for application)

In the spring of 2002, Chicanos/Latinos for Community Medicine was initiated at Cerritos College. The students that founded this school’s chapter realized the need for a group that could provide the moral support needed to endure and help persevere the hardships of college life. The Cerritos College chapter is a derivative of the UCLA-C.C.M. club that was established in 1970. In addition, the CCM chapter established on this campus was established with the support of Project HOPE (Health Opportunities & Pipeline to Education) and is proud to join forces in an effort to try to eliminate the health disparities in our communities.

CCM is dedicated to the original cause of providing better healthcare to underserved communities and placing more minorities in health professional careers. Our club goals focus primarily on academic excellence and community service projects.

Why support the C.C.M. cause?

Historically, Chicanos/Latinos and other underrepresented groups have carried a disproportionate share of society’s problems. Even today, in one of the most technologically advanced societies we continue to suffer in all areas including inadequate access to healthcare.

Minorities have a higher rate of almost every disease, and miss more days of work due to illness, and disability than all other groups. Furthermore, Chicanos and Latinos compose more than 27% of the U.S. population, and yet only 2% are physicians. Besides having to compete for limited health services, the Chicano/Latino community suffers the added burden of coping with a monoculture of monolingual health care professionals who are ambivalent to their patient’s language and cultural needs. To change this insufficiency we must produce health care professionals committed to adequately serving these communities.

Ultimately, we are striving to change the healthcare system so that everyone can receive adequate healthcare. In order to achieve progress, we must educate ourselves to become agents of change through clinical work, and healthcare legislation.

How can I help?

If you share our commitment to the underserved, we strongly encourage you to become involved with CCM, by becoming involved, you open up an opportunity to become more aware of current health issues, interact with other individuals just like yourself at institutions of higher education as well as in your community, as well as provide yourself with the support and resources needed to succeed as an undergraduate student.

First step: attend a C.C.M. meeting and visit us on the web at http://www.cerritos.edu/hope/ccm to find out more information about our current events.

Resources and Activities

Bi-monthly meetings that may include special guest speakers on topics that benefit the membership.
Academic support through peer counseling, study groups, and networking with other undergraduate and graduate students.
Access to scholarships, internships, research opportunities, and other academic opportunities.
Access to conference trips.
Community Service opportunities to participate in health fairs and other events.
Participation in fundraising events that benefit the events sponsored for the membership.