AMSA'S 56th Annual Convention

March 29-April 2, 2006
Chicago, IL

In Chicago, medical students locate their inner activist

The 56th Annual Convention felt right at home in Chicago, the birthplace of the American Medical Student Association. From March 29 to April 2, future physicians gathered to learn more about taking their influence beyond the bedside and clinic.

This year's theme, "Transforming Passion Into Action: A New Era of Physician Advocacy," was driven home by the final keynote speaker, DR. FITZHUGH MULLAN, himself once an activist medical student. Another highlight was the appearance of SUSAN F. WOOD, former assistant commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who related her experience with politics' power over science, and called on students to stand up for their principles, just as she had done.

Physician-legislators and physician-activists led sessions on how to harness political visibility and access key data to bring better quality to health care and better health care to more people.

But the convention wasn't all policy. Students were up to their elbows in clinical workshops, including suturing and intubation. They even got a chance to play patient in a clinical session on casting.

Others helped out at the second annual Special Olympics MedFest, taking histories and performing physicals on potential athletes.

In between sessions, keynote speeches, fairs and a rally, students squeezed in plenty of socializing at the Palmer House Hilton and downtown Chicago hot spots.

New Student Leaders: (l-r) junior trustee-at-large Jennifer Jackson, senior trustee-at-large Lauren Sachs, action committee trustee Davekumar Chandrasekaran, treasurer Carla Marienfeld, vice president Michael Ehlert and president Jay Bhatt

2006 AMSA Loan Consolidation Program $1000 Scholarship Winner Viraj Patel, MS4 at Medical University of South Carolina

Find out more about our conference.

Sessions

Keynotes

Rally

Awards

Poster Session Winners

AMSA Extends a Special Thanks to All of Our Convention Exhibitors