Our crowdfunding campaign has ended, but you can still support AAMS by clicking here.
Hands That Heal: Building Tomorrow's Surgeons Today
Who We Are
The American Academy of Medicine and Surgery Undergraduate Chapter (AAMS-UC) is UCLA’s first undergraduate organization focused on providing students with hands-on exposure to the field of surgery. Founded and led by undergraduates, with mentorship and direction from surgeons, residents, and medical students, our mission is to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship needed to pursue surgical careers with confidence and clarity.
We offer a range of opportunities, including surgical skills labs, peer-led workshops, guest lectures, and mentorship connections—all designed to help students explore the technical and human sides of surgery well before they reach medical school. AAMS-UC is built on the belief that surgical education should be accessible, inclusive, and engaging, regardless of a student’s background or prior experience.
What’s the Problem
Our greatest strength—offering hands-on training—also presents our biggest challenge. Running a meaningful surgical skills lab requires more than interest and commitment. It requires tools. Without surgical instruments, suture kits, sterile drapes, and anatomical models, we can’t offer the high-quality, realistic practice that defines our program.
As a student organization, we receive minimal financial support from the university and have no guaranteed funding. Currently, we’re operating with minimal equipment of our own—having to unsustainably outsource to other organizations for materials to adequately accommodate our needs.
We’re asking for your help to change that. This fundraiser will allow us to purchase the supplies necessary to expand and sustain our surgical training program—not just for this quarter, but for years to come.
How Donors Can Help
Your donation will directly support the purchase of surgical tools, suture kits, sterile field materials, and anatomical models. With these supplies, we can:
- Run more labs and train more students
- Offer higher-quality instruction with updated, professional-grade materials
- Make surgical education more accessible to all students, regardless of background
This support doesn’t just benefit our members—it contributes to the broader mission of preparing the next generation of medical professionals. These are the students who will one day become the surgeons caring for your families, your communities, and your future.
Your generosity helps build a program that’s sustainable, impactful, and truly transformative.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS
Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.
$10
Scalpel & Sandwich
Your $10 gift keeps our student surgeons fueled with lunch during intensive skills labs—because steady hands start with full stomachs. (Fully tax-deductible)
$20
Suture Starter
Your $20 gift helps us purchase essential tools like needle holders and surgical blades for student training. Thank you for supporting our future physicians! (Fully tax-deductible)
$50
Sterile Field Supporter
Your $50 donation equips one student with sterile pads, gloves, and suture materials for our cardiac surgical workshops. You will receive a social media shout-out and your name on our digital donor wall. (Fully tax-deductible)
$100
Instrumental Impact
Your gift helps us purchase precision surgical tools like Debakey forceps or Mayo scissors for student use in our labs. We will thank you with a social media shout-out and list your name on our online donor recognition page. (Fully tax-deductible)
$250
Surgical Station Sponsor
Your $250 contribution builds a full surgical training station for a student surgeon and assistant. In recognition, we will give you a social media shout-out and dedicate a station in your name. (Fully tax-deductible)
$500
Cardiothoracic Champion
Support a porcine open-heart simulation for a group of students, including tools, sutures, and setup. You will receive all previous rewards plus a personalized thank-you card from participants. (Fully tax-deductible)
$1,000
Mentor in Medicine
Fund an entire surgical skills lab for 10+ students. Your name will be listed as a featured supporter on our donor board and social media, and we will invite you to observe a future skills lab (Fully tax-deductible).
$2,500
Founders Circle
Your generosity allows us to launch new workshops in advanced procedures (e.g., Aortic Valve Replacement, ASD/VSD repair). You will receive all prior rewards and have a lab day named in your honor, as well as a custom thank-you video from our leadership team. (Fully Tax-deductible).