For Medical Students

Cultural competence vital for med students: report

New recommendations from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Association of Schools of Public Health aim to ensure that the nation's medical students and public health students are educated in ways that help them become more culturally competent practitioners.

The recommendations are detailed in a report, "Cultural Competence Education for Students in Medicine and Public Health," the two associations issued July 20. The report offers guidance on the core cultural competencies that both medical students and public health students need to deliver appropriate, culturally competent clinical care and population health services.

The report features links to background materials, supporting resources and examples that can be adapted for instructional use by faculty in medical schools and graduate schools or public health programs to standardize curricula, benchmark student performance, and prepare graduates to work in culturally competent practices. The recommendations are unique in that they bring together for the first time resources from both medicine and public health.

"This report is an invaluable resource for institutions as they educate and train tomorrow's health professionals," AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD, said in a news release.

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

Apply by Aug. 1 for student spot on AMPAC board

Make a difference in the nation's capital by serving on the American Medical Association Political Action Committee (AMPAC) Board of Directors. The deadline to apply for the medical student member position is Aug. 1.

AMPAC supports the AMA's advocacy agenda by making campaign contributions to medicine-friendly candidates for Congress. AMPAC also focuses on educating and expanding the political participation of physicians and medical students. The board of directors evaluates, updates and guides these efforts to maximize the AMA's effectiveness in the nation's capital.

One seat of the board is reserved for a medical student, who serves a two-year term. Only students graduating in the spring of 2014 or later are eligible to apply.

Visit the AMA's Web page on student leadership opportunities to download an application and to learn more about this and other positions.

Next AMA-MSS meeting set for November in Hawaii

This year's AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) Interim Assembly Meeting will take place Nov. 8–10 in Honolulu as part of the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. View the section's Meetings and Events Web page for a list of deadlines related to the AMA-MSS meeting. Also, subscribe to the AMA-MSS Announcements listserv to be notified when more information becomes available.

In addition, the section is looking for meeting programming ideas. Visit the section's online programming ideas submission form to provide your input.