I AM A LOOKING TO GO

“It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes…”

For over 20 years, the AMSA Humanistic Elective in Activism, Reflective Transformation, and Integrative Medicine (AMSA HEART-IM) has provided fourth-year medical students with a unique and rewarding way to enrich and conclude their medical school experience and prepare for their future work as care providers, advocates, and activists.

After several years of transition, precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to offer in Spring 2026 a re-imagined AMSA HEART-IM program in collaboration with the AMSA Reproductive Health Project. This accredited, four-week, in-person, non-clinical elective will maintain integrative medicine at the core (heart!) of HEART, while also exploring the interconnections between integrative medicine, holistic reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, and the movements for reproductive health, rights, and justice (RHRJ). The new AMSA HEART-IM/RJ is designed to support physicians-in-training in making sense of and co-creating meaningful responses to this particular moment of time in which bodily autonomy, agency, and other human rights are threatened by authoritarian and fascist political movements.

Applicants should have a strong interest in and curiosity about integrative medicine, holistic reproductive healthcare, and exploring paths of justice-making and social transformation through the Reproductive Justice framework leading to healing, thriving, and flourishing for all.

About AMSA HEART-IM/RJ

Students will expand their knowledge on a number of important topics not typically emphasized in medical school curricula. Students will dedicate the majority of their time during the day immersed in the curriculum. Didactic and experiential sessions will be facilitated by inspiring physician mentors and experts on a variety of topics.

Specific sessions will be focused on integrative medicine, holistic reproductive healthcare (including abortion care and family planning), the Reproductive Justice movement, cultural somatics, intentional community building, reflective transformation including meditative practices, and personal growth skills such as communication and intention.

The experience is designed to cultivate each participant’s vision of what it means to be a healer and support a plan for maintaining that vision throughout residency and beyond. Students will leave AMSA HEART-IM/RJ with an enriched knowledge base in integrative medicine, holistic reproductive healthcare, and reproductive justice advocacy, preparing them for a lifetime of justice-oriented patient care and advocacy.

Location &
Accreditation
A Day in the Life
of a HEART-ie
Fees, Timeline &
Application
The HEART-IM
Planning Team
HEART-IM
Perspectives
Support
HEART-IM

Location & Accreditation

For many years, AMSA HEART-IM has taken place at the Quaker Center in Ben Lomond, California, where students spend the month in a cooperative living and learning environment, cooking and cleaning together, teaching and learning from each other.

AMSA HEART-IM/RJ 2026 is again being planned as an IN-PERSON experience at the Quaker Center*. The elective will take place Sunday, March 29 – Friday, April 24, 2026. Participants should plan to arrive on Sunday, March 29 and depart on Friday, April 24.

*Note: The COVID-19 pandemic is on-going and continues to evolve, as do the conditions contributing to the increasing likelihood of a bird flu (H5N1) pandemic. Plans for in-person sessions are subject to change based on current local conditions and restrictions; the program may be altered and/or additional protective measures taken.

 Accreditation for AMSA HEART-IM/RJ is offered through the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. Please contact Dr. Jeff Koetje (jkoetje@amsa.org) and Dr. Aliye Runyan (arunyan@amsa.org) for more information and assistance. 

A Day in the Life of a HEART-ie

The In-person AMSA HEART-IM/RJ Experience

Specific learning sessions will vary year to year based on student feedback and speaker availability, but examples of workshops in past years include advocacy in community mental health and in times of political change, healing in nature, how to stay healthy in residency, nutrition and cooking demonstrations, and yoga as medicine.

Example Schedule
7 – 8 AM
MORNING FREE TIME

Reflection, meditation, walks, yoga, extra sleep, etc.
9 – 12 AM
LEARNING SESSION 1
Sessions are on a variety of topics with wonderful guest speakers and include workshops, activities, and experiential learning
12 – 1 PM
LUNCH
1 – 2 PM
REST HOUR
2 – 5 PM
LEARNING SESSION 2
5 – 6 PM
FREE TIME
6 PM
DINNER
EVENINGS
Evenings are often free, with time for peer-led discussions, sharing of hobbies/activities, fellowship, campfires, etc. Some days there will be optional planned evening activities.
WEEKENDS
Free for exploring and taking on adventures of the beautiful surrounding area! Welcome HEART alumni returning for a weekend reunion, or participate in camping trip to Big Sur.

Fees, Timeline & Application

Course Fees

AMSA course fees cover all major expenses for the month, including housing, meals, snacks, lectures, evening on-site activities, and local transportation for official activities. Students pay their own way to the designated airport, and transportation is provided from there. 

  • Participation cost
    • AMSA and MSFC members: $500 program course fee paid to AMSA
    • non-Members: $600 program course fee paid to AMSA
  • Participant travel
    • Participants are responsible for arranging your own travel to either San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC); travel between the airports and the retreat center will be provided

DUE DATES & TIMELINE

  • December 15, 2025
    • Round 1 Student Applications due to AMSA
  • December 16, 2025 – January 5, 2026
    • HEART-IM/RJ Application Review
    • Student selections made & notifications sent out
  • January 26, 2026
    • Course fee ($500 or $600) due to AMSA
    • If positions remain open after January 26 additional applications will be considered on a rolling basis until March 1, 2026. Applicants accepted after January 28, 2026, will need to make their course fee payment to AMSA within 48 hours of acceptance notification to confirm their slot.
  • March 29 – April 24, 2026
    • AMSA HEART-IM/RJ takes place (students arrive Sunday, 3/29 and depart on Friday, 4/24)
Apply to HEART-IM/RJ 2026

HEART-IM/RJ Planning Team

AMSA HEART-IM/RJ is powered by a group of students, faculty, and AMSA staff. Meet the leaders who make this elective a possibility.

The planning team for AMSA HEART-IM/RJ is currently working on logistical planning for this unique experience. We welcome your support and suggestions. To contribute to this effort, please contact Dr. Jeff Koetje at jkoetje@amsa.org.

HEART-IM Perspectives

Support HEART-IM

HEART-IM is an AMSA student project funded by student tuition and donations. If you would like to make a donation to support HEART-IM please visit the AMSA Donation Page and select “Make a Donation.” Thank you for your support!

Donate now!

 

Follow HEART-IM on Instagram @heartim_amsa

COVID

AMSA recognizes the need to provide attendees with a safe experience at our events. Therefore, we will continue to monitor and follow all current CDC guidelines and those of state and local authorities. AMSA events are structured to provide space with sufficient physical distancing and crowd control. Certain cities and states allow fully vaccinated people to go maskless in both indoor and outdoor public settings, but we acknowledge some fully vaccinated people may still choose to wear masks.

Please be aware of restrictions placed on your country of origin for those traveling from overseas, as travelers from some countries are required to quarantine for two weeks. AMSA will not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend in-person events. However, we encourage all attendees to be fully vaccinated and get the flu vaccine to protect themselves and others. If you are not feeling well or test positive for COVID, please do not attend.

Cancellation

All cancellation requests* must be submitted in writing via email to  by March 1, 2026, for consideration. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. Cancellations after March 1, 2026, are subject to a 10% processing fee. If you would like to transfer your registration to another person to attend this event, please email  to allow facilitation of the new registration. In the event that AMSA should need to cancel an event or shift the date/location of an event for any reason, all paid registrants will have the option of receiving a full refund or applying registration fees to a future event. All refunds will be processed within 10-14 business days. AMSA is not responsible for any transportation (airfare, train, taxi, etc.), lodging, or other costs incurred by attendees.

Each individual attending and/or participating in this program/event assumes all risks associated with his/her attendance and participation in all on- and off-site activities that occur during this time. By registering you agree to indemnify and hold harmless AMSA and its governing bodies, officers and employees from all loss, damage or liability arising out of or related to your attendance and/or participation at this program/event.

AMSA has official photographers and videographers for their meetings and events. Photos, videos, and audio taken may be used, without compensation, in future marketing, publicity, promotions, advertising and training activities for AMSA. By registering for this event, you agree to allow AMSA to use the photographs, video and audio-which may include you-in all media formats worldwide.

By registering for this event, you acknowledge that your email address may be included on attendee lists made available to AMSA’s Exhibitors and Sponsors for this event. You will only receive email regarding this event and only during the time-frame leading up to the event.

AMSA
American Medical Student Association
Phone: (703) 620-6600
Fax: (703) 620-6445

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