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AMSA Academy is a training ground for physician leaders, established by and for students. The Academy strives to empower medical students to effect change in medicine. Combining didactic with experiential learning, AMSA Academy courses take medical students through the core competencies of leadership and project implementation, while building on key principles of important topics in medicine.
Each program fosters the value of health care must be patient-centered, effective, efficient, safe, equitable, and timely, as identified by the Institute of Medicine. We see our mission as training physician leaders in order to transform the face of medicine.
Why train physician leaders?
Recognizing the changing face of medicine, medical students of the 21st century need an entirely different skill set than their predecessors. The modern healthcare system needs physicians with a broader understanding of their patients, the ability to draw on multiple disciplines outside of medical science, and the ability to effect change in an imperfect healthcare delivery system.
Why AMSA?
AMSA has been providing progressive education opportunities for medical students since its establishment in 1950. AMSA leadership recognized that the organization has developed considerable expertise in areas such as peer-to-peer teaching, grassroots organizing, advocacy, and strategic planning. In July 2008, AMSA's executive leadership approved the formal adoption of the organization's long-standing educational opportunities into the AMSA Academy in order to work toward expanding capacity and improving course offerings, promoting cross-pollination of scholarly work, and improving networking possibilities for participants and alumni.
Who is eligible?
AMSA Academy programs are open to premedical and medical students from both domestic and international medical schools. Specific applicant criteria are set by individual programs. Applications are reviewed for demonstrated interest and leadership potential. Special consideration is given to premedical students so that they are not held to the same standards as medical students.
What are the costs?
Some programs charge fees to cover special speakers and/or other arrangements. Students should not consider costs as an obstacle to applying. Arrangements are frequently made for financial assistance, when sought out in advance.