This full day program seeks to address key issues for female medical students. The program also offers an opportunity for the women at your medical school to have formal contact with established women physician leaders in your community. Your keynote speaker should open with an overview of the special challenges facing women physicians, especially as these relate to medical education (contact Phyllis Kopriva, staff to the AMA's Women in Medicine Advisory Panel, at 800- 262-3211 x4392). Consider the demographics of your community, you may also want a representative of minority women physicians to address your group. A template for other topics to complete your program follow:
Life in Medical School. Ask a fourth year student to present on this topic, her remarks on how to cope in different situations will be especially relevant to the first and second year students in the audience.
Family Life. How does a woman professional balance a family, work, studies and medicine? Many students, especially non-traditional students, already have families and children, so these are very immediate issues for them.
Sexism. How do you handle situations in which you are stereotyped by your peers and others?
Sexual Harassment. How do you handle sexual harassment and where do you go for support? You should refer to the AMA's Guidelines for Establishing Sexual Harassment Prevention and Grievance Procedures, available directly from the DMSS.
Interactions with Other Medical Professionals. Perceived differences between male and female interactions with other health professionals.
Self-Esteem. Assess your self-esteem and develop techniques to improve your self image.
You can secure auditorium space through your medical school and should schedule the program on a Saturday to maximize attendance. You should mail your registration flyers as early as practical so you can gauge your food and beverage costs for the event. If necessary, charge a nominal registration fee. Finally, be sure to invite all the women physicians in your community to participate, that way you can increase informal communication between practicing physicians and women medical students.
Target Audience: The women physicians and medical students in your community.
Participating Groups: AMA-MSS chapter, Special admissions support program, State and county medical societies, Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association
Budget: Food and beverages $500, Registration flyers and posters $100, Presentation graphics and handouts $50, Total $650
Funding Sources: AMA-MSS Policy Promotion Grant, Hispanic American Medical Association (state level), Hispanic Center of Excellence, Upjohn Pharmaceuticals, Mead-Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Ross Pharmaceuticals,
School: University of California at San Diego School of Medicine San Diego, CA
Your school can spearhead a state-wide leadership conference which addresses the following goals:
To introduce medical students to opportunities for involvement in organized medicine.
To introduce (or review) organized medicine's policy making process.
To discuss with the students both state and national system reform plans ("shared goals and shared responsibilities").
To develop medical students' leadership skills for motivation and communication.
You should work closely with your state medical society to develop the program. They will be able to assist you with meeting logistics and identifying or supplying appropriate speakers.
By coordinating the program with leaders at your state's other schools, you will maximize participation and build communication among these schools. Additional information and resources are available through your AMA-MSS States Leadership Steering Committee representative. If you do not know how to reach this person, please call the DMSS directly.
Target Audience: All medical schools in your state.
Participating Groups: Local chapters of the AMA-MSS.
Budget: Morning break $150, Noon luncheon $350, Transportation $250, Advertising and handouts $75, Total $825
Funding Sources: AMA-MSS Policy Promotion Grants, State medical society
School: The medical schools of Ohio: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Medical College of Ohio, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine
This program proposes to bring a cross-section of your community to participate as "interns" in the offices of physicians practicing in your area. These lay "interns" can include legislators, clergy, educators, attorneys, media representatives and other civic leaders. You can develop your mini-internship program most efficiently by working with your county medical society.
To start, you need to prepare a mailing to local physicians whose practice and temperament make them good advocates for the profession. Invite each of them to host one of the mini-internships, with a clear explanation of the process and the time requirements for orientation, the mini-internship and a debriefing session. Enclose a form listing available time slots so that "faculty" candidates can return their preferences.
A follow up letter should be mailed to participating physicians with a schedule for the mini-internship orientation (essential) and additional program details such as keeping one's office staff aware of the program and the need to maintain patient confidentiality. A flyer for office and nursing staff and a patient consent form for the "interns" should be enclosed.
Your county medical society will be able to identify individuals to invite to participate as "interns." Some time after the mini-internship, all participants should gather to discuss the experience, what they learned and how the program can be improved in the future.
How to Start a Mini-Internship Program, the AMA's complete guide to developing this type of program, is available directly from the DMSS.
Target Audience: Local practicing physicians and lay members of your community.
Participating Groups: The AMA-MSS chapter.
Budget: Mailings and handouts $100, Food and beverages (orientation and debriefing sessions) $250, Publicity $50, Total $400
Funding Sources: Your county medical society.
School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Loma Linda, CA
These scholarships offer a way to recognize and groom future student leaders at the state level by funding their participation in the AMA-MSS Annual Assembly meeting at the end of their first year. Depending on airfare and accommodations, each winner will cost $1000 to $1200. In addition to chapter resources, funding can be pursued through your state medical society and pharmaceutical companies.
You need to start early. The first step is to establish your selection criteria. Your applications and deadlines need to be finalized in the fall and then publicized as widely as possible.
The state medical student section officers can handle the selection process. Your deadline should not be later than April in order to give the winners time to plan for the meeting. A letter needs to go to those not selected acknowledging their interest and encouraging future participation.
Award winners are required not only to attend the meeting but further, to promote the role of organized medicine in the professional lives of medical students. By demonstrating this level of commitment award winners will encourage others to get involved.
In addition to developing leadership among all the incoming students, the scholarship can also be targeted to schools with weaker MSS chapters thus building leadership where it is needed most.
Target Audience: The first year students at your medical school.
Participating Groups: The AMA-MSS chapter.
Budget: Scholarships (3 winners @ $1100) $3,300, Develop promotional materials $300, Total $3,600
Funding Sources: AMA-MSS Policy Promotion Grant, State medical society, Pharmaceutical companies
School: The medical schools of Louisiana: Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, Tulane University School of Medicine