Community service: Always in season

From medical student-run programs to stethoscope distribution in underserved areas, AMA programs show the joy of giving.

Editorial. Dec. 27, 2004.

When December rolls around, it's human nature to begin considering resolutions for the new year -- commitments to do better, promises to think about others, pledges to give back. After all, 'tis the season.

Of course, these concepts are not new to medicine. They are integral components of its ethics and professionalism -- ideas represented all year long in the form of volunteerism, community service and grassroots involvement. This spirit is a part of every physician's dedication. Nurturing it begins early in medical training, and supporting such efforts is a goal the American Medical Association has long embraced.

Case in point: the AMA's Policy Promotion Grant program. The grants are designed to support projects that increase AMA and AMA-Medical Student Section visibility in a positive and proactive way and provide opportunities for ongoing involvement in communities.

Though modest in investment -- funded at $36,000 this year -- this program makes a big difference by encouraging AMA-MSS chapters across the country to put the Association's policies into action. Specifically, it provides support, usually between $150 and $500 each, to be used for projects to improve the health of a chapter's local community or to provide educational programs for medical student peers.