PharmFree Fellow Description
The PharmFree Fellowship is a unique position for a physician-in-training to spend a year augmenting their formal medical education training with the opportunity to delve deeply into critical issues relating to the impact and influence of the pharmaceutical and device industry on health care practices and decisions. The PharmFree Fellow (PFF) will complement the work of the PharmFree steering committee by providing leadership support and focusing on the implementation of those components of the campaign which align with prescriber education. Additionally, the PharmFree Fellow will be AMSA's official representative in the Partnership to Advance Conflict-Free Medical Education (PACME) working alongside Pew Charitable Trusts, Community Catalyst, and National Physicians Alliance. PharmFree is a national campaign recognized among academic medical centers, media, and the prescriber education network as a respected catalyst for change from the students up. The PFF will work closely with the PharmFree Steering Committee, AMSA leadership and membership, AMSA staff, and outside partners to accomplish the job duties of the position.
Candidates must be passionate about these issues and can use the fellowship as an opportunity to become an expert in these areas while gaining new skills in leadership and education. Ideally, the candidates will have experience working with the PharmFree campaign’s steering committee or with local PharmFree events.
The PharmFree Fellowship is sponsored by the AMSA Foundation through a subcontract with the Pew Charitable Trusts, Community Catalyst, and National Physicians Alliance through a grant from the State Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program funded by the multi-state settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin. The objectives of the fellowship include learning and refining the fellow’s skills in prescriber education, leadership development, strategic planning, and collaboration building.
Specific responsibilities include:
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Community Collaboration - The PFF will work with AMSA Foundation staff to manage the relationship with community partners, including Pew Charitable Trusts, Community Catalyst, and the National Physicians Alliance, along with schools and other organizations throughout the country.
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Technical Assistance and Outreach - The PFF will work with the PharmFree Steering Committee to design and implement a National PharmFree Week. This will include providing technical assistance to AMSA chapters as they plan their own events for the week. The PFF will develop and disseminate tool kits and other materials to assist chapters in their own programming. The PFF will work with the Steering Committee to increase awareness about the PharmFree campaign and to expand participation among chapters and members.
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Conventions, Conferences, and Institute Programming - The PFF will plan and execute high-quality, relevant, and timely Pharm-Free related leadership and educational trainings for and with the PhamFree Steering Committee, AMSA membership, and the greater physician-in-training population. This includes the annual Pharmaceutical Policy Leadership in Medicine Institute (PPLMI). The PFF will help identify steering committee members who will serve as institute coordinators and assist them in programming this event.
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Web-Presence - The PFF will work with AMSA staff and the PharmFree Steering Committee to improve the online/web presence of the AMSA PharmFree Campaign and its work. This will include working with the AMSA social network, Inspiration Exchange, as well as other social media and websites.
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PharmFree Scorecard - The PFF will assist AMSA Foundation staff and the PharmFree Scorecard Director in the work necessary to update and release the AMSA PharmFree Scorecard, which scores conflict of interest policies on a range of domains. The PFF will also sit on the Methodology Working Group in revising the scorecard and expanding it to teaching hospitals.
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AMSA Intern Program – The PFF has responsibilities, along with the other fellows for mentoring and assisting in the management of the AMSA Intern Program. This includes orienting interns to the office and their roles, delivering a basic curriculum to enhance their understanding of education, advocacy, and professionalism, ongoing evaluation of the program, and making recommendations for enhancements. The PFF works closely with the other AMSA fellows and staff to manage and guide the interns, while providing them with an engaging and positive educational experience. The PFF will have direct responsibility to manage a PharmFree Intern.
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