Help shape the future of the Resident and Fellow Section
The AMA Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) Standing Committees are appointed by the RFS Governing Council twice per year and help advance the section’s mission, strategic priorities, advocacy efforts and member engagement.
Standing committees are one of the best ways to get involved in the RFS, build leadership experience, contribute to policy and advocacy and connect with physician trainees across specialties and regions.
No prior AMA or committee experience is required. We invite all interested members to apply. The RFS strongly values diversity of training year, specialty, geographic location, practice environment and lived experience. We especially encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities in medicine.
Why serve on a standing committee?
Committee service offers members the opportunity to:
- Contribute to national policy and advocacy efforts
- Build leadership skills in organized medicine
- Collaborate with residents and fellows across specialties
- Develop mentorship and professional networks
- Prepare for future leadership roles in the RFS, AMA, specialty societies and state medical societies
Standing committees are designed to be accessible to members at all levels of experience, from first-time attendees to long-standing leaders in organized medicine.
Time commitment
The time commitment is flexible and averages approximately one hour per month, with increased time requirements ahead of the AMA Annual and Interim Meetings. Committee members may have additional opportunities to participate in projects, policy work including report authoring, advocacy efforts, or programming based on their interests and availability.
How to apply
Applications for RFS Standing Committees are reviewed by the RFS Governing Council. Committee appointments are for a one-year term.
Apply now. The deadline for applications is July 20, 2026.
Questions? Contact the RFS Governing Council at [email protected].
Current standing committees
Committee on Legislation and Advocacy (COLA)
The Committee on Legislation and Advocacy (COLA) focuses on legislative, regulatory and public policy issues affecting resident and fellow physicians, patients and the future of medicine.
Committee members assist the RFS Governing Council in writing reports for consideration by the RFS Assembly, educating members on current health policy issues, and expanding opportunities for resident and fellow physicians to participate in organized advocacy efforts. The committee will also integrate business and economics, and a public health lens through their work throughout the year. The committee works closely with the AMA Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) and other advocacy partners to strengthen grassroots engagement and amplify the voice of physicians-in-training.
Committee on Medical Education and Labor (CME)
The Committee on Medical Education and Labor (CME) addresses issues related to graduate medical education, physician training, workforce sustainability and the working conditions of physicians-in-training.
Committee members assist the RFS Governing Council in writing reports for consideration by the RFS Assembly and educating members about issues affecting residency and fellowship training. The committee examines topics such as educational quality, GME funding, physician workforce shortages, resident and fellow compensation, leave policies, workplace protections, wellness, burnout, licensure and credentialing, debt burden, medical training and the intersection of public health, and the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence in medical education and clinical practice.
The committee works to ensure that resident and fellow physicians have a strong voice in shaping both the future of medical education and the future of the physician workforce.
Committee on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)
The Committee on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) focuses on advancing equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging within medicine, graduate medical education and organized medicine.
Committee members assist the RFS Governing Council in writing reports for consideration by the RFS Assembly, and leading initiatives that address health inequities, physician workforce diversity, discrimination, accessibility, and barriers to equitable patient care and physician advancement.
Areas of focus may include racial and health equity, disability advocacy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, reproductive justice, language access, physician workforce diversity, trainee mistreatment, and efforts to foster inclusive and supportive learning and professional environments.
The committee works to ensure that the RFS remains a welcoming and representative community where all resident and fellow physicians can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Please note: Standing committee opportunities may change yearly depending on current issues within the RFS, section priorities and present workload for the committees.
