Action Committee (AC) & Interest Group (IG) Programs

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ACTION COMMITTEE (AC) ORGANIZATIONAL TIME

Each action committee will hold their own organizational time. This time is planned to hear about this year's committee projects, suggest new projects for next year, hold elections and brainstorm for the year ahead.

COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH (CPH)

The Community and Public Health Action Committee has a lot of amazing programming scheduled for Convention this year! Be sure to check out our interactive disabilities workshops, as well as a groundbreaking panel on community-based healthcare and organizing around disparities. Finally, come to convention a day early to be a part of our first-ever Pre-Convention symposium on Environmental Health. We can't wait to see you there! Visit the CPH webpage for more details.

GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION (GHAC)

As global citizens, we all have the responsibility to work for global health justice. Activism can take many forms, and this year's Global Health Action Committee is proud to sponsor programming that not only lets you learn about global health, but also gives you concrete actions to do something about it.

Join us at our workshops, which focus on issues including access to medicines with MSF (Doctors Without Borders), female genital mutilation, and HIV in commercial sex workers in Thailand. For networking, world music, and fun, check out the GHAC-sponsored mixer Friday night or stop by our table to meet current GHAC coordinators and AIDS Advocacy Network Leaders (AAN). Finally, don't forget to attend organizational time on Saturday, where you'll hear an action-packed update of GHAC and AAN activities for the past year. This will also be your chance to run for a GHAC position for the 2008-2009 year. Go global--get involved! Visit the GHAC webpage for more details.

HEALTH POLICY (HPAC)

Health policy is a dynamic way to improve the healthcare system and environment through targeted community and government interventions. Our convention programming will focus on improving access to healthcare by expanding coverage, improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare provided, improving evidenced-based medicine and reducing the influence of corporate profits, and addressing healthcare disparities. Finally, we will discuss our next year's priorities and ways to improve the effectiveness of HPAC's organizing, educational programming, and legislative efforts as we elect next year's coordinators. Please come regardless of your health policy and legislative agendas, we'll have a great time and make change in the progess! Visit the HPAC webpage for more details.

HUMANISTIC MEDICINE (HuMed)

Check back soon.

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER HEALTH (LGBTHAC)

The LGBT Health Action Committee is planning convention programming filled with "coming out and advocating for ourselves, our patients, and our community." Join us for exciting collaborative events about the US Military policy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (with the Military Medicine Interest Group), prison sexual violence (with the Women's Health Action Committee), LGBT people of color (with the Minority Health Action Committee), real sex education (with the Women's Health Action Committee), and healthy sexuality (with the Women's Health Action Committee). We also have three fabulous nights of fun things to do - let us welcome you at our mixer on Thursday, inspire you at a film on Friday, and mingle with you and GLMA physicians on Saturday. (We'll also be dancing the night away - every night, including a drag king show on Saturday! - so check out the details at our website.) Finally, make sure to join us at our organizational time to get involved! Visit the LGBT webpage for more details.

MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACME)

The Medical Education Action Committee is a welcoming home to any medical student who a) thinks that there's room for improvement in Medical Education and b) wants to help make those improvements at a local or national level. At this year's convention, we'll be hosting two sessions, along with Organizational Time. The first session (Thursday 4-4:50 pm) will introduce you to the PharmFREE movement as it discusses the negative influences of pharmaceutical advertising tactics that have been shown to impede evidence-based care. The second session (Friday 1-1:50 pm) will focus on "How to Be a Stellar Resident Teacher," recognizing that we are the medical educators of the future and providing skills to help you create a strong learning environment. Visit the ACME webpage for more details.

MINORITY HEALTH (MHAC)

Check back soon.

WOMEN'S HEALTH (WHAC)

Join us for the conclusion of the inaugural year for the Women's Health Action Committee! Our great speakers will cover topics that range from reproductive health care and sex education to prison violence to HIV/AIDS to human trafficking. Additionally, we're delighted to unveil the first annual Women Leaders in Medicine Award to be given at the Women's Leadership mixer! Help us to honor the many amazing women in medicine who mentor and guide us. We'll also be hosting a movie screening (Not for Sale) and a Rape Aggression Defense Mini-Training. See the program for more details - we can't wait to see you there! Visit the WHAC webpage for more details.

INTEREST GROUP PROGRAMS

Child and Adolescent Health (CAH)
Check back soon.

Death and Dying (D&D)
The Death and Dying Interest Group (DDIG) encourages students to get more comfortable with death in order to become more effective healers. We also promote discussions on how we can best help our terminal patients achieve a good death. Visit the D&D webpage for more details.

Direct Action (DAIG)
Four years running strong, DAIG has served as a resource for AMSA programming from Toronto to Pittsburgh! We'd love to have your creativity, adventuresome spirit and thirst for health justice be a part of the mix at Convention and throughout the year. AMSA is rooted in direct action, and we are lookin' to keep it that way. There are some rumblings indicating an earthquake of an action during or near convention time, so on Thursday at 3pm, come learn and put your heads together with us! We are proud friends of Health GAP, ACT UP and Patch Adam's Gesundheit! Institute among many others, and those folks will be joining us. Our organizational time is an opportunity to set goals and make plans for the coming year, to select new coordinators for the group, and to serve as a meeting space for like-minded folks to share ideas and inspiration. Visit the DAIG webpage for more details. Visit the DAIG webpage for more details.

Geriatrics
To raise both an awareness and interest in the physiology of aging and the unique treatments needed to care for the increased vulnerability of the elderly. We will also discuss the changes and challenges that this generation will bring to healthcare as a result of their increased diversity from previous older generations (including race and sexuality). Finally, through the discussion of successful models of aging we will to highlight the rewards of caring for older adults as well as future opportunities in the field of geriatrics. Visit the CPH webpage for more details.

Mental Health
AMSA's newest committee, the Mental Health Interest Group, is an organization dedicated to field of mental health and its integral role in all medicine. We are ready to make a grand entrance at this years convention--and we invite you to join us! On Thurday, start fresh with ICAM in Women's Health (8 am). Then attend the MH Interest Group time (3 pm) to set goals, elect leaders, and help plan our event of the year! End the day right with a panel on Community based Mental Health(4 pm). On Friday, take a hard look at a present crisis with a lecture on Veteran's Health (1 pm). Then glimpse into the future with the groundbreaking work of Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, neuropsychiatrist (4 pm). Visit the Geriatrics webpage for more details.

Military Medicine (MMIG)
If you are a member of the military or even thought about combining your passion for medicine with the military, then this interest group is for you. Join us for a Q&A format session to inform you about military medicine. Any perspective student curious about military medicine should come learn about the reality of becoming a military physician rather than the recruiter's sometimes incomplete story. For those in the military, a 4th year medical student will discuss tips for military rotations and resident opportunities. The session is your opportunity to hear the blunt truth about the pros and cons of military medicine or help you adjust if you have already made the commitment. It is strongly recommended that you attend this session if you would like a leadership position in this interest group.
*** Please wear your military uniform on Thursday to show your support for the wounded warriors and our commitment to their medical care. *** Visit the MMIG webpage for more details.

Naturopathic Medicine
The Naturopathic Medicine Interest Group was established in 2005 to educate AMSA members about the profession and practice of Naturopathic Medicine. The Group is also dedicated to cultivating a relationship with the members of the Naturopathic Medical Student Association and to helping naturopathic medical students get involved with AMSA. This year we are proud to present Dr. Lise Alschuler, president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and an expert on integrative cancer treatment, on Thursday at 3 PM. We also invite you to attend our organizational time (directly following Dr. Alschuler's presentation) where we will be electing a new coordinator for the upcoming year. ALL medical and premedical students with an interest in naturopathic and integrative medicine are invited and encouraged to attend these events!

Neurology
The Neurology interest group invites you to learn about the neurological basis of behavior, memory and cognition through the eyes of renowned neuropsychiatrist, Dr. VS Ramachandran on Friday at 4pm. Come here from a physician who has had patients with absent limbs that ache, others convinced that they are dead or that their parents are imposters, and yet others who vividly sense numbers as colors or flavors. In addition, please join us for organizational time where you can get involved in supporting local neurology interest groups as well as help to expand on our own nascent group. Visit the Neurology webpage for more details.

Osteopathic Medicine
Check back soon.

Preventive Medicine
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Primary Care (PCIG)
Are you interested in any of the Primary Care fields? Join a group of fellow students who share your passion for Primary Care to discuss current issues in Primary Care and ways to get involved. Learn about opportunities for leadership at your local chapter and at the national level. You will hear about how to plan a National Primary Care Week at your school. More information will be available during our organizational time Thursday from 3:00 to 3:50 pm. Visit the PCIG webpage for more details.

Surgery (SIG)
Check back soon.