American Medical Student Association

Pharmaceutical Policy Leadership in Medicine Institute (PPLMI)

January 6-8, 2012
AMSA National Headquarters, Reston, VA

Presented by: AMSA’s PharmFree Campaign

Application Deadline: November 15, 2011

Want to learn how to design and implement a campaign that advocates for patients? Interested in learning about drug development and access to medicines, or how pharmaceutical marketing and conflict of interest affects patient care?

The American Medical Student Association is implementing a 3-day institute to train undergraduate, graduate and medical students to become advocates of change for pharmaceutical policy. Through the speakers and curriculum presented at the Institute, participants will learn to use a range of transparency tools and advocacy tactics to strategically design and implement campaigns centered on current pharmaceutical policy issues.

Apply now and AMSA will cover food, lodging, and tuition costs courtesy of a grant from the US Attorney General's Office and Pew Prescription Project.

Learning Objectives

The objectives of the Institute are for participants to understand:

• The ways in which non-transparency, conflict of interest, and undue pharmaceutical industry influence affects provider prescribing and consumer access to medicines and how to safeguard the public’s and patient interests
• Current pharmaceutical policy debates, such as those surrounding gene patenting, biologic drugs, open access, and antibiotic resistance
• How to identify key intervention points on these issues
• How to generate strategic objectives from these intervention points
• How to develop and operationalize effective campaign strategies to achieve these objectives in a way that leverages the position of students

The Institute will feature training and breakout sessions on the following advocacy skills:

• Creating Institutional Change – improve your school by implementing lecture disclosure, a curriculum on conflict of interest, or advocating for better policies on conflict of interest
• Congressional and White House advocacy
• Campaign strategy and recruitment
• Developing a strategically sound theory of change
• The FDA’s Bad Ad Campaign
• The AMSA PharmFree Scorecard – How does your school stand?

The Institute will be taught by experts in pharmaceutical policy and advocacy as well as by students experienced in developing and implementing health advocacy campaigns. Instructors will lead students through a series of workshops designed to give participants the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to be leaders in the movement to provide better pharmaceutical policies for patients. 

Program Fees

Applicants who are selected to participate will be expected to pay tuition fee based on the following fee schedule:

• Members & Non-Members: $0 - The tuition and fees for this institute are waived due to grant funding received.

Tuition includes breakfast and lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as 3 nights of hotel accommodations (up to 4 same-gender persons to a room). Program fees will also be used to offset the cost of developing the educational program, including resource materials, video recording of teaching encounters, and administrative support. Please be aware that the Institute organizers have worked hard to provide participants with a unique, enjoyable, and educational experience while keeping costs to a minimum.

Participants will be responsible for all other meals and travel expenses, including airfare and/or ground transportation.