Welcome to the MSS Chapter Resources page, your one-stop-shop for all your MSS chapter needs. Please contact the MSS with any questions or suggestions to improve this page.
- News and Information
MSS News, MSS Calendar, State of the MSS, MSS Leadership contact information - Chapter Opportunities
Community service, advocacy, and other opportunities - Chapter Resources
Educational materials, Funding, Chapter Web sites - Leadership Resources
Chapter Guide Book, Chapter Chair Kit - Membership Resources
Membership services, Medical Student Section Outreach Program
News and Information
MSS Calendar of Events and Deadlines
State of the MSS
In order to foster awareness of local, state, regional, national MSS, and AMA initiatives, the MSS Communications Task Force has developed monthly State of the MSS Presentations that chapter officers can customize for presentation at chapter meetings. These presentations are also helpful in raising awareness of available resources.
MSS Policy
The MSS Assembly is the policy-making body for the Medical Student Section. Policy adopted by the Assembly provides a framework for the priorities and activities of the Section. Although often complimentary, MSS policy is distinct from the official policy of the AMA, which is set by the AMA House of Delegates.
Chapter, State, and Region Leaders (PDF, 1.4MB)
National Leaders
Learn more about the MSS leadership structure.
More sources of information
- MSS listservs - The MSS offers e-mail discussion lists for sharing information on a wide variety of current topics.
- MSS Chair's Column - Learn more about current AMA-MSS Governing Council activities. Updated monthly.
- Medical Student Insider - Medical Student Insider (MSI) is a monthly column written by the AMA Government Relations Advocacy Fellow (GRAF). MSI provides updates on the legislative issues most relevant to medical students.
- AMA eVoice- AMA eVoice is a weekly news summary that highlights the latest and most concise medical news and information available as a service to physicians and medical students nationwide.
- American Medical News- The AMA's award-winning American Medical News is the nation's leading newspaper for physicians. Each week it provides the latest news about government and medicine, professional issues, practice management, and the latest developments in public health.
- Morning Rounds- Offered exclusively to AMA members, Morning Rounds is a tightly written weekday e-briefing of the most important news and studies affecting physicians and their patients.
Chapter Opportunities
Community Service
National Service Project
Every two years, the AMA-MSS chooses a new National Service Project (NSP) around which to focus its community service activities. The current NSP, selected in 2006 and running through the 2008 MSS Annual Meeting, is "Covering the Uninsured and Protecting Access to Care." All MSS chapters are encouraged to hold at least two NSP-related events each academic year.
Cover the Uninsured Week
The AMA-MSS is a proud National Supporter of Cover the Uninsured Week (CTUW), April 27 - May 3, 2008. In 2007, more than 50 MSS chapters across the country organized CTUW events.
Student-run free clinics
Medical student-run free clinics provide services to underserved and indigent populations and give students the opportunity to work within a clinical setting with physicians and foster a learning environment. The MSS has compiled information to help you get your school's free clinic up and running.
Doctors Back to School
Doctors Back to School is a program that aims to raise awareness of the need for more minority physicians and to encourage children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option. Through Doctors Back to School, physicians and medical students across the country visit schools and community organizations to help young minority children realize they, too, can follow the same path.
Advocacy
Medical Student/ Resident and Fellow Lobby Day
Lobby day is an excellent opportunity to increase your awareness of legislative issues affecting medicine, to foster relationships with legislators through political involvement, and to gain real-life education in the practical aspects of physician advocacy. Lobby Day activities include educational sessions on effective advocacy and lobbying techniques, briefings on legislative issues currently before Congress, and a full afternoon on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators and their staffs.
National Meetings
The MSS meets twice each calendar year (in June and November). These meetings give students the opportunity to participate in shaping the future health care environment through the creation of policy on national health care issues. National meetings also offer educational programs to complement your medical school curriculum, the opportunity to make a difference in the community by participating in the National Service Project event, and the chance to see old colleagues and make new friends.
Regional Meetings
Each of the seven MSS Regions comes together once a year for an educational and social program designed to increase regional cohesiveness and the visibility of the MSS.
Other Opportunities
Chapter of the Year Award
Awarded annually at the MSS Annual Meeting, the Chapter of the Year Award seeks to recognize the true strength of the MSS, the local school chapters. The winning chapter, selected according to membership, active membership, community service, advocacy, chapter growth, innovation, and collaboration, receives a $500 grant for chapter activities.
Opportunities for individuals
The AMA offers many opportunities for medical students, including leadership positions; grants, awards and scholarships; and internships and fellowships.
Chapter Resources
Educational Materials
The MSS and AMA have developed Issue Briefs and Presentations on a wide range of health policy and other issues of interest to medical students.
Funding
Chapter Involvement Grants
Chapter Involvement Grants (CIG) provide an opportunity for medical student chapters to educate students about the AMA and provide an opportunity for students to get more involved, to help put AMA policy into action by providing a service to medical school campuses or communities, and to engage in activities that focus on the AMA's top priorities. Each chapter is eligible to receive up to $1,000 per academic year for its chapter activities, with a maximum of $500 per event.
MSSOP Recruiting Incentives
Chapters earn commissions based on a tiered plan tied to individual recruiting efforts. The more members recruited above the chapter's previous year's total, the more commission dollars the chapter receives. Or, if a chapter attains or maintains a 70 percent or greater share of first-year medical students, the chapter is automatically awarded the highest payout tier (40 percent of dues collected).
Fundraising ideas
The MSS has developed a fundraising module to help chapters raise money for charity and for funding chapter events. The module contains fundraising project ideas divided by fundraising technique.
Chapter Web sites
If your chapter is considering building or improving its chapter Web site, we encourage you to check out examples of excellent AMA-MSS chapter pages:
If your chapter has developed a successful Web site and would like to help other chapters build their sites, please contact the MSS , and your chapter Web site could be highlighted here.
Leadership Resources
Chapter Guidebook (PDF, 192KB)
The Chapter Guidebook is intended to help you create a strong AMA-MSS chapter at your medical school – one that will be visible on your campus and in your community, with the organization and motivation to maximize your involvement in the AMA. The Guide provides easy-to-use ideas and resources to help coordinate chapters, and there are many ideas that might help even the most established chapters.
Chapter Chair Kit (PDF, 45KB)
The Chapter Chair Kit outlines valuable MSS Web-based resources to help your chapter plan its agenda.
Leadership contact information
Membership Resources
Membership services
Learn about the benefits of joining the AMA Medical Student Section and how joining the AMA gives power to the voice of medical students.
Succeeding in Medical School
The AMA's peer-based Succeeding in Medical School (SIMS) program sends an AMA student leader to selected schools to provide first- and second-year students with an overview of the AMA. Following the overview, a panel discussion led by third- and fourth-year students from your school will focus on local/chapter involvement opportunities, career tips and how to manage life during medical school. The AMA provides SIMS events with lunch (all expenses paid), an AMA student leader, and event promotion and planning guidance.
Medical Student Section Outreach Program (for chapter recruiters)
Content provided by: Medical Student Section