News for Academic Physicians

Mistreatment examined during AMA-SMS meeting session

The topic of medical student mistreatment vis-à-vis graduate medical education took center stage as part of an education session held in November during the AMA Section on Medical Schools Interim Meeting. Four presenters provided their own viewpoints on the subject, including Maya Babu, MD, a neurological surgery resident at Mayo Clinic.

"In residency education, abuse is in the eye of the beholder, and there are often shades of gray versus black and white," Dr. Babu said. "Also, there are different dynamics for different fields. Resident learning requires some level of stress and challenge to prepare trainees for the unsupervised practice of medicine.

"Being ‘put on the spot' by an attending can be seen as threatening or as a learning experience. Handling that stress is good when you're still in a learning situation vs. a practice situation. The question is, when do you respond, and when do you let it go?"

Attendees also heard an introduction to the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and a session about the AMA's work to accelerate change in medical education, one of its three strategic focus areas.

View a summary of the education sessions as well as a meeting summary.

New video provides snapshot of AMA-SMS

Want to learn more about the AMA Section on Medical Schools (SMS) in about 90 seconds? A new YouTube video featuring AMA-SMS Chair Maria Savoia, MD, highlights the section's role in serving as the voice of academic medicine to the AMA House of Delegates.

The video summarizes Dr. Savoia's presentation to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at its November 2012 meeting. "The Section on Medical Schools is really the place for academic physicians to have a voice in AMA policy," Dr. Savoia says.

Next AMA-SMS meeting set for June 14–15

The next AMA Section on Medical Schools (SMS) meeting will take place June 14–15 in Chicago in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. Watch the AMA-SMS Web page for more information as it becomes available.

Apply for leadership slots in medical education

AMA members interested in taking on a leadership role in medical education have several opportunities in which to do so.

One opportunity is on one of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Residency Review Committees. There are vacancies on various committees; fill out an online form to apply. Applications are due Feb. 15. Email Evelyn Sherrill of the AMA with questions.

Another opportunity is through service on AMA councils, including the AMA Council on Medical Education. Learn more about the nominations process and how to apply. The AMA is committed to promoting diversity in every facet of organized medicine and encourages recommendation of qualified women physicians, minority physicians and international medical graduates for AMA positions on councils.

If you're not an AMA member, join today.