Tools you can use

The AMA offers numerous resources for medical students to assist you during your years in medical school and beyond.

AMA Archives
Whether you are writing an article, a paper, or book; producing a documentary film or video; preparing a slide presentation or exhibition; or simply have an interest in knowing more about AMA history, you can utilize the AMA Archives. Composed of more than fifty major collections, the Archives preserves documents, photographs, films, books, memorabilia, and artifacts that cover the full range of AMA initiatives and activities from medical ethics and medical education to clinical research, public health, and scores of other professional issues.

Physicians-In-Training Host Program
(Formerly the Community Welcoming Program)
The AMA Alliance, AMA Medical Student Section and AMA Resident/Fellows Section have joined forces to provide housing opportunities for fourth-year medical students as they interview for residency. The program was created to help students cut down on interviewing costs, get to know the community surrounding their potential residency program, and introduce them to the local medical society and Alliance. Through the Physicians-In-Training Host Program, students can expect a one-or-two-night stay in an Alliance member's home.

Disaster Preparedness
The AMA has put together a web site on resources, FAQs, articles, reference guides, etc. related to bioterrorism and disaster preparedness.

DoctorFinder
AMA DoctorFinder provides basic professional information on virtually every licensed physician in the United States and its possessions, including more than 690,000 doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine (DO). AMA member physicians are offered an "expanded" listing that contains additional information such as office hours, practice philosophy, physician achievements, and other helpful information for visiting consumers.

Educational Resources:

Learn the Brachial Plexus in Five Minutes or Less (PDF, 317KB) - The brachial plexus is a tangle of nerves that can be difficult to master. However, this nerve jumble can be quickly learned with the technique described (PDF, 249KB). Different specialists need to memorize different parts of the plexus.

Spanish Medical Assessments - An AMA medical student member from University of Nevada created this Web site to provide valuable FREE assessment tools to health care professionals who are charged with treating non-English speaking persons in the acute medical setting. These assessments are intended for all levels of Spanish proficiency, but especially for those with little or no Spanish language skills.

Financial Information

FREIDA Online
FREIDA Online is a database with over 7,800 graduate medical education programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, as well as over 200 combined specialty programs. Besides searching for specialty and subspecialty programs, you can also search for training institutions, medical schools, aggregate training statistics by specialty, and workforce information on recent graduates.

Grassroots Action Center
We encourage all medical students and physicians to use the services available at our Grassroots Action Center so that you can watch what is happening in Congress and directly contact your lawmakers and let them know how you feel about current federal issues. Even more than any professional lobbyist in Washington, only you can give your federal legislators the most accurate picture about how the issues really affect you and your daily life!

Health Disparities Toolkit
The AMA recently announced a new resource, "Working Together to End Racial and Ethnic Disparities: One Physician at a Time," which includes tools to help physicians and medical students eliminate gaps in health care based on race and culture. The kit contains a DVD featuring interviews with physicians, nurses, and patients discussing inequalities in health care, and a CD-ROM with facts on the components of health care disparities such as cultural competence and health literacy. It also includes a facilitation guide to help physicians and other health care providers work to improve the quality of care for all patients. This is a great resource for chapters to use for an event on campus. Cost is $10 for AMA members and $15 for nonmembers. Order online or call (800) 621-8335 for your copy.

Health Policy Curriculum
The Harvard/Commonwealth Health Policy Education Initiative (HCHPEI) is a group of students and faculty of Harvard Medical School committed to improving physician literacy of health care policy. HCPEI has developed a clinical case-based curriculum to teach health policy. HCHPEI developed and maintains ImproveHealthCare.org and has the following goals:

• To assess the current state of literacy of American health care policy
• To create interactive resources to stimulate interest in health care policy
• To develop and disseminate a case-based curriculum to educate medical students, residents, and physicians nationwide about health care policy

International Opportunities
The AMA-MSS International and Health Policy (IHP) Committee created a comprehensive database of international health opportunities and resources. The AMA-Resident and Fellow Section also compiled electives and opportunities abroad for students and residents.

Awakening Hippocrates and A Practical Guide to Global Health Service are valuable tools for medical professionals who would like to learn more about global medical volunteer opportunities:

• Awakening Hippocrates: A Primer on Health, Poverty, and Global Service
  This resource takes aim on helping health professionals better understand the reasons for global health disparities. The primer outlines the reasons why health professionals are essential to affecting change in current global affairs and how they can participate in serving those who are in need.
• A Practical Guide to Global Health Service
  This resource profiles approximately 300 organizations that place health service volunteers. The focus is on direct action and how one safely and effectively engages in medical volunteering. Each detailed profile includes concise descriptions, contact information, and practical information about length of service terms, personnel sought, areas served, and availability of funding, training, and room and board.

Journals of the AMA
The AMA publishes 12 peer-reviewed, medical journals, including JAMA, AMNews, and ten specialty Archives journals. As a member of the AMA, you will receive a weekly subscription to JAMA, and you can access AMNews and the Archives online.

Lobbying Tips
Provided are useful tips for lobbying your congressman, whether it be by phone, mail, or in person. The important thing is that you take the time to contact your elected officials about the issues that are important to you!

Meeting Guides
The MSS has created several meeting guides to help educate attendees at the Annual and Interim meetings about the workings of an MSS meeting. Therefore, when you arrive, you will know how to navigate the meeting, how to decide which sessions you want to attend, and how you can participate in the proceedings of the MSS Assembly.

PDA Information
The MSS Computers and Technology Committee (CTC) put together analyses of available hand-held devices (Word, 87KB) and PDA software (Excel, 24KB) on the market. The CTC also provided tips (Word, 28KB) to use when purchasing a PDA and the accompanying software.

As a member of the AMA, you can take advantage of price discounts on every item in the AMA-sponsored PDA Center at www.pdaMD.com

PolicyFinder
After each House of Delegates meeting, the AMA Council on Long Range Planning and Development (CLRPD) oversees the process of updating the AMA policy database to reflect the actions taken by the House and any modifications that CEJA has made in its current opinions. Once the AMA policy database has been updated, the CLRPD oversees the process of updating the Association’s PolicyFinder programs. PolicyFinder is available as a Web-based application and as a stand-alone version that can be installed on a PC.

Publications
The AMA and AMA-MSS produces numerous publications in the areas of policy, chapter development, professional/public health education, and legislative initiatives. The MSS has compiled a list of publications and we encourage you to use them as tools to assist you in reaching your personal and chapter goals.

Recruitment Resources
The goal of the MSS Outreach Program (MSSOP) is to gain new student members, retain current members, and increase the strength and voice of the AMA-MSS. MSSOP is a collaborative program that involves the AMA, AMA medical school chapters, and state and county medical societies. For your membership accomplishments, we provide financial awards for your chapter to use toward chapter activities, travel to the Annual and Interim Meetings, and more.

Residency Resources
At the 2005 Annual Meeting, the MSS held a panel on "Getting into the Best Residency." The panelists included members of the Resident and Fellow Section from various specialties and locations nationwide. The panelists provided information on the application process, the Match, interviewing tips, and key resources to assist you in getting the best residency for you. As a members-only benefit, you can download the transcripts (PDF, 170KB) from the meeting to learn more.

The AMA published the Graduate Medical Education Directory (aka "Green Book"), which includes contact information for 8,250 ACGME-accredited and combined specialty programs and 1,700 GME teaching institutions.

The AMA-MSS developed an online guide containing a bibliography of sources for information on the medical and surgical specialties for medical students preparing to enter the residency selection process. The purpose of this publication is to direct students to the large number of resources that are already available to help students make informed career choices.

The AMA's Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) developed an online resource for medical students transitioning into residency training programs. The information is meant to provide an overview of the planning, application, and selection process from the personal viewpoints of our MAC colleagues who have successfully gone through the process themselves.

The AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC) published an online residency interview guide for medical students. As medical students prepare for their residency interviews, they can experience stress and anxiety. Learning what to expect from those who have experienced this process can provide a big advantage.This guide will assist medical students by addressing the following topics: how to handle gender-based questions, what to bring with you, traveling tips, information about couples match and shared and part-time residencies, what are common and uncommon interview questions, and generally what to expect from your interview process. The "Recommended Resources" section directs medical students to additional resources that will assist them as they prepare for the Match.

Scholarships and Tuition Assistance
The AMA Foundation has focused most of their efforts on scholarships and tuition assistance. Since the AMA Foundation was established in 1950, they have helped more than 40,000 men and women accomplish their dream of becoming a doctor.

Virtual Mentor
Produced by the Ethics Resource Center at the American Medical Association, Virtual Mentor is an interactive, Web-based forum for analysis and discussion of ethical and professional issues that medical students, residents and young physicians encounter during their educational training.