Membership Involvement in AMSA

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with nearly a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950 to provide medical students a chance to participate in organized medicine, AMSA began under the auspices of the American Medical Association. Starting in 1960, the association refocused its energies on the problems of the medically underserved, inequities in our health-care system and related issues in medical education. Since 1968, AMSA has been a fully independent student organization.

Today, AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With a membership of more than 68,000 including medical and premedical students, residents and practicing physicians from across the country, AMSA continues its commitment to improving medical training and the nation's health.

When you join AMSA, you become part of a vital force of future physicians who believe that health professionals and patients are partners in the management and maintenance of health, and that access to high-quality health care is a right and not a privilege. At AMSA, activism is a way of life. Student idealism is transformed into meaningful public service, innovation and institutional change.

LOCAL CHAPTERS

AMSA provides the opportunity for active involvement at the local level. AMSA is a grass-roots organization with local chapters at almost every medical school in the country and premedical chapters at more than 350 universities. AMSA chapters engage in projects and activities that put philosophy into action, initiating and providing alternative learning opportunities, community outreach programs, medical education reform efforts and local membership services, such as educational films, book and instrument co-ops.

POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

AMSA ensures that policy-makers at both federal and state levels hear medical student concerns. Our full-time student legislative affairs director, a physician-in-training, represents AMSA members on Capitol Hill, coordinates grass-roots activities and educates members on health-policy issues. Hundreds of medical and premedical students participate in the legislative Lobby Day held every other year when the national convention takes place in Washington, D.C. Each chartered AMSA medical school chapter has at least one vote in AMSA's House of Delegates, the organization's policy-making body. Through this democratic process, AMSA establishes the principles that guide its efforts at the national level.

AMSA also gives premeds a voice in the organization. The AMSA Premedical Student Caucus, made up of representatives from each premedical chapter, ensures that the special interests of the Association's premedical members are represented at all levels of the organization. A Premedical Trustee sits on the Board of Trustees as an ex-officio member.

MEETINGS

• National Convention
  Each spring, AMSA's annual convention brings together nearly 1,500 physicians-in-training and leaders in medical education and health policy to share ideas and plan solutions for the future.
  
  
• Kickoff Symposium
  On the opening day of the annual convention each year, AMSA's National President and full-time Student Office Staff prepare a full-day, in-depth look at a particular aspect of becoming a physician.
  
  
• Fall Regional Conferences
  Thousands of students attend AMSA's fall regional conferences, which allow students to explore medical education and health-care issues with both local and national leaders.
  
  
• Chapter Officers Conference
  AMSA provides an annual conference for chapter officers to help them develop the skills required to be effective leaders at their schools.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

AMSA provides meaningful public health experiences beyond the classroom. Students work with their schools and communities and serve as health-care advocates. AMSA outreach projects include:

• Local Project Grants Program
  Since 1977, AMSA has channeled funds to local chapters for student-initiated health promotion projects. Up to $400 is available for each medical project and up to $200 for each premedical project. Grant application deadlines are in August, October and January each year.
  
  
• National Primary Care Week
  NPCW is a community service and public health oriented event focused on the need for primary care in our nation's underserved communities. Student coordinators from all health professions campuses are encouraged to plan events and activities that will expose their peers to the variety of rewarding opportunities in the field of primary care. Additionally, by collaborating with Area Health Educations Centers (AHECs), students have the opportunity to plan and participate in service events such as blood pressure and glucose screenings, and smoking cessation workshops at health clinics or other community centers, all aimed at improving the quality of life in their immediate communities.
  
  
• Achieving Diversity in Dentistry and Medicine (ADDM)
  As part of the ADDM initiative, the AMSA Foundation is collaborating with the National Association for Community Health Centers to identify opportunities for dental and medical students to become more involved in local Community Health Centers. AMSA is also developing a project-in-a-box for students to learn how to identify and plan possible community service projects or activities in collaboration with Community Health Centers.

HEALTH POLICY STUDIES

• Health Policy and Politics Internship
  This internship, available year-round in four- to eight-week blocks, allows students to assist AMSA's legislative affairs director in lobbying Congress, writing testimony, creating policy briefs, planning legislative strategy and researching topics in health policy.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND INSTITUTES

AMSA members have numerous opportunities to spend a weekend with medical students from around the country learning together about issues that shape our profession. From the regional and national Circle of Healers Retreats to our Community and Public Health Leadership Institute, from our longstanding Political Leadership Institutes to our newly-developed Student Leadership Institutes at each Regional Conference -- AMSA leaders develop high-quality programs for members.

In addition to these weekend events, we offer two weeklong leadership programs, a Leadership Training Program (LTP) in our Achieving Diversity in Dentistry and Medicine program and an LTP as part of our Education in Complementary and Alternative Medicine program. And AMSA offers our own accredited, student-run elective for 4th-year medical students (HEART).

MINORITY ISSUES

AMSA offers many opportunities that focus on issues of particular concern to communities of color. Successful not only in promoting the interests of future physicians through lobbying and various support activities, AMSA promotes the needs of minorities through outreach activities and medical-student education efforts. Meanwhile, AMSA has provided leadership opportunities for many minority students, ranging from national presidents to regional trustees to standing committee and program development coordinators.