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2011 AMA-MSS Interim Meeting

AMA-MSS Interim Meeting
Nov. 10-12, 2011

Policy Highlights
The assembly considered more than 50 items of business and, drafted a preliminary Reference Committee report utilizing testimony presented online in a virtual reference committee. We continue to encourage medical students to join the Medical Student Online Community to participate in discussion of important issues throughout the year. Programming Highlights
More than 830 medical students attended the MSS Interim Meeting. Nearly 20 educational programs were held on a range of topics including disaster preparedness, leadership development, writing a research paper, public health, health care reform and much more. Keynote speaker Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Commissioner of Health and Senior Health Policy Adviser to the Mayor, City of New Orleans presented on health system rebuilding in New Orleans, post-Katrina. In an impromptu talk, Dr. Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General of the United States, addressed the Assembly about the importance of being involved and the differences we, as students and future physicians, can make in actual policies through the AMA, as well as patient care as an advocate for our patients.

National Service Project
As part of their National Service Project on Friday afternoon, fifty medical students hosted a health fair for those in need at the New Orleans Mission. Dozens of community members, many homeless or otherwise without health care, took the opportunity to meet with students for basic screenings, education, and discussion. They learned about the AMA Healthier Life Steps™ Program which focuses on four key health behaviors: poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use. With upper year students teaching first and second years, and New Orleans community members sharing personal experiences, the student volunteers had a truly engaging program that supported the community.

Research Symposium
The 9th Annual Research Symposium was held in conjunction with the Resident and Fellow Section. The event was a great success with over 180 student presenters. The MSS awarded poster winners in the following eight categories:

  • Biochemistry/Cell Biology— Garth Brandal, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Cancer Biology— Kelsey Pendleton, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
  • Clinical/Epidemiological/Health Care— Angela Johnson and Juan Montoya, University of Toledo College of Medicine
  • Immunology/Infectious disease/Inflammation— Devin West, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
  • Neurobiology/Neuroscience— Kathleen Kassouf, The Ohio State University
  • Organ Systems— Jennifer Mytar, Touro University – College of Osteopathic Medicine, California
  • Radiology/Imaging— Jensen Hart, University of Tennessee
  • Surgery/Biomedical Engineering— Haritha Reddy, University of Michigan

The overall winning poster was presented by Angela Johnson and Juan Montoya, University of Toledo College of Medicine. Allison Dubner, Georgia Health Sciences University and Huy Nguyen, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons tied for first place of the podium competition. Congratulations to these winners and all who participated for their impressive research. A special thanks to our judges from the AMA Sections and Special Groups and local medical schools.

Governing Council and Board of Trustees Elections
We are pleased to announce the election of the MSS Chair-elect, LeAnne Roberts, UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, and AMA Trustee Malini Daniel, Stanford University School of Medicine, whose terms commence after the 2012 Annual Meeting.

Save the Date
The 2012 AMA-MSS Annual Meeting will be held June 14-16, 2012, in Chicago. Subscribe to the AMA-MSS Announcements listserv to be notified when more information becomes available. We hope to see you there!