For Medical Students

Medical school curriculum could be altered, AHA says

Preparing physician trainees to meet core competencies in which many new doctors fall short should start with medical school, the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Physician Leadership Forum recommends in a new white paper.

The AHA forum, which aims to evaluate how physician education can be improved to prepare for the next generation of health care delivery, asked its regional policy boards, governing councils and committees to rank how the skills they believe physicians need to practice and lead in a reformed health care environment.

The survey found that new physicians were most lacking in such competencies as communicating effectively, working collaboratively with a health care team and providing cost-conscious, effective medical care in a system-based practice.

The white paper advises that medical school curriculum should be restructured to better prepare future physicians for practice. Among the paper's suggestions was a recommendation to move foundational science courses to the college level and refocus medical school coursework on teamwork, quality improvement, innovation and safety.

The paper also examines ways to cultivate these core competencies in post-graduate training for residents and continuing medical education for established physicians.

The AMA's new strategic direction features a renewed focus on accelerating change in medical education. Learn more about this focus.

Join a convention committee for next AMA-MSS meeting

Help make this year's AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) Interim Assembly Meeting a success by joining one of the section's meeting convention committees. Applications for joining the committees are due Aug. 24. Visit the convention committee Web page for more information and to access an application.

The AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting will take place Nov. 8–10 in Honolulu prior to the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.

Grants available to help local chapters hold special events

Local AMA medical student sections are invited to hold community service, leadership development and recruitment events, and Section Involvement Grants can help them make this possible.

Local sections are eligible to receive up to $1,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $500 to support recruitment and $500 to support community service and education events. Grant awards generally range from $150 to $500 per event, so sections are encouraged to organize several projects throughout the year.

Funding is not guaranteed; each event will be evaluated on an individual basis. Visit the Section Involvement Grant Web page for more information or to apply for a grant.

Encourage your friends and classmates to join the AMA

AMA membership is important throughout all years of medical school—and it's never too late to join. Here's a snapshot of the benefits available to AMA members throughout medical school.

First year

• Free Netter's Anatomy Flash Cards with four-year membership
• Subscription to the Journal of the American Medical Association

Second year

• AMA member-only discounts on the First Aid for the USMLE and First Aid for the COMLEX series and the Rapid Review series
• 30 percent savings on Kaplan Qbank products

Third year

• AMA members-only access to FREIDA Online®, your go-to place to research residency programs
• Print and online versions of Choosing a Medical Specialty Resource Guide

Fourth year

• Access to "Succeeding from Medical School to Practice" online guide
• Hertz car rental savings for traveling to interviews

Don't miss out on valuable resources for AMA members. Renew your membership or join the AMA today to begin receiving these benefits.