News in brief - Nov. 7, 2005

Hurricane grant application available online - N.Y. medical school OKs gay group

Hurricane grant application available online

The American Medical Association Foundation has set up an Internet link where physicians can apply for grants to help rebuild practices damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Grant applications may be submitted online (www.ama-assn.org/go/grantapply). Physicians whose practices were harmed or ruined in areas that the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared disaster zones are eligible. Doctors do not need to be AMA members to apply, nor will their AMA membership affect their grant application status.

The money will be awarded from the foundation's newly established Health Care Recovery Fund, which also will be available to doctors affected by future natural or man-made disasters. The recovery fund was started with a $100,000 grant from the AMA.

Donations to the fund are also being accepted. Donation forms are available online (www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/367/katrina_contribution.pdf).

Forms can be faxed to 312-464-4142 or mailed to the AMA Foundation, 515 N. State St., 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610.

N.Y. medical school OKs gay group

New York Medical College, which removed a gay medical student group from campus in 2004, recently approved another organization supported by the gay community.

A spokeswoman for the Catholic institution said the group, People of Every Orientation Protecting Liberty and Equality in Medicine, met new policies established this year for student organizations and clubs.

These policies include that students must demonstrate that their mission and activities are consistent with Roman Catholic moral tradition, must be open to all students and must have at least 12 members. Approved groups have access to the campus e-mail system and may use campus facilities for their meetings, as well as seek funding through the student government.

In 2004 the school denied approval of the group Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender People in Medicine, a move that drew criticism from the Gay and Lesbian Medical Assn., among others.

The goal of PEOPLE in Medicine is to improve the health care delivery to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patient populations. The group said it has 65 members.