Medical Student Section (MSS) Standing Committees

Each year, the MSS Governing Council appoints AMA medical student members to serve on its standing committees. These AMA committees support the governing council in a number of ways, and responsibilities vary across the committees.

Review the charters (PDF) for each standing committee.

Review the Process for Initiating Recall Decisions for Leadership and Membership (PDF). 

Committee on Civil Rights

The purpose of the MSS Committee on Civil Rights is to consider the legal jurisprudence and feasibility of policy issues taken up by the MSS, including implications of federal policy and AMA advocacy on local, state, territorial and tribal governments. It may also include government entitlement programs including but not limited to Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, the VA and CHIP. This committee shall interface with the AMA Council on Legislation (COL), the student representative to the American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC) and the Governmental Relations and Advocacy Fellow (GRAF).

Committee on Gender and Sexual Health (CGSH)

The purpose of the CGSH is to focus on Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) affairs, women’s health, gender equity and reproductive justice. This committee shall interface with the AMA Women Physician Section student representative, AMA LGBTQ+ Section student representative, and student representatives from the American Medical Women’s Association, Medical Student Pride Alliance, GLMA, Medical Students for Choice and other relevant organizations and groups.

Committee on Health Economics & Coverage (CHEC)

The purpose of the CHEC is to address the intersection of health care economics and management. It is the mission of the CHEC to advocate for systemic improvements in health care delivery and coverage, collaborate to promote understanding of health care economics and management, propose innovative and cost-effective advocacy solutions, and ensure equitable access to quality care. This committee shall interface with the AMA Council on Medical Service (CMS).

Committee on Health Justice (CHJ)

The purpose of the CHJ is to advance equity and address issues that disproportionately affect minoritized groups and historically marginalized populations. Special focuses of this Committee include ethical, social, legal and health concerns affecting these populations. The committee will generally review topics from the Civil Rights and Social Policy forum and interface with National Medical Student Organizations (NMSOs), including, but not limited to: Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS), Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA), Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI), Underrepresented in Medicine Advocacy Section (UMAS), and AMA Disability Advisory Group.

Committee on Humanism & Ethics in Medicine (CHEIM)

The purpose of the CHEIM is to assess state and federal laws, the policies of the AMA and its constituent societies, and clinical practice from the perspective of medical ethics and medical humanities. Special focuses of this committee may include the ethics of reproductive and gender-affirming care, end-of-life care, mental health care, the patient-physician relationship, and professional self-regulation, especially as they relate to communities with unmet health needs. This committee shall interface with the AMA Council on Ethics and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) and AMA Council on Medical Service (CMS).

Committee on Medical Education (CME)

The CME has a scope of interest incorporating undergraduate and graduate medical education (UME, GME). The committee's main areas of concern are curriculum content and structure, evaluating assessment mechanisms (USMLE, COMLEX, etc), and fair practices in UME and GME. CME also educates MSS about current issues commonly discussed in medical education circles.

Committee on Public Health (CPH)

The purpose of the CPH is to address current and emerging public health issues. Special focuses of this committee include infectious diseases, climate change, war, immigration, domestic gun violence, nutrition, trauma and accident avoidance, and substance use. This committee shall interface with the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH). In addition, this committee may also interface with Medical Students for a Sustainable Future (MS4SF), the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and other relevant National Medical Student Organizations.

Committee on Science and Technology (CST)

The purpose of the CST is to focus on scientific and technological advancements as well as the impact of these advancements on academic research, medical education and bioethics. Special focuses of this committee include mobile and digital health applications, health information management, climate change, pharmaceutical development and sports. This committee shall interface with the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA), AMA CSAPH and the student representative from the American Physician Scientists Association. This committee will also take on the tasks associated with the MSS Poster Showcases at annual and interim meetings as well as the AMA’s virtual poster competition.