The AMA has found that certain aspects of its business are best addressed by Councils focusing on specific areas of medicine. At present, there are seven AMA Councils, each of which has a medical student representative who is responsible for providing the student perspective on topics discussed by the Council. These student councilors are also responsible for reporting back to the MSS on Council actions and activities.

Members of the MSS are also appointed to other organizations and groups that work closely with the AMA. These students serve as liaisons between these organizations and the MSS. The liaison’s role is to represent the AMA-MSS's position regarding certain issues and to keep members informed of changes involving our education.

Applications for AMA Student Councilors and and most other Student Representatives are due in January of each year. If you are interested in applying for any of these these positions, please contact the undersigned Councilor/Representative or the Department of Medical Student Services at (800) 262-3211, ext. 4746 or e-mail mss@ama-assn.org

• AMA Student Councilors
• Other Student Representatives
• Reports of Councilors and Liaisons

AMA Student Councilors

Council on Constitution and Bylaws (CC & B) (1 year term)
A fact-finding and advisory committee that recommends changes in the AMA·s constitution and bylaws as determined to be appropriate by the House of Delegates. (10 members)

Trace Fender
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
trace.fender@gmail.com

Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) (2-year term)
CEJA has original jurisdiction in all questions involving the Principles of Medical Ethics of the AMA, as well as the constitution, bylaws, and rules of the Association. The Council investigates unethical behavior, conflicts, or complaints from the AMA, specialty societies, and state societies. (10 members)

Kavita Shah
Jefferson Medical College
kavita.shah@jefferson.edu

Council on Legislation (COL) (1 year term)
Reports to the Board of Trustees and reviews federal legislation to ensure consistency with AMA policy. In the case of conflicts, the council recommends changes to legislation or policy. This group also reviews AMA legislative issues. It anticipates future federal legislative needs and develops model legislation for states. (14 members)

Jessica Nguyen-Trong
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
jessica2nt@gmail.com

Council on Long Range Planning and Development (CLRPD) (1 year term)
Serves as the focal point for the study of the environment of medical practice, organizational structure and government, and the AMA·s policy-development system. (10 members)

Justin Mahida
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Justin.mahida@osumc.edu

Council on Medical Education (CME) (1 year term)
Ensures that undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education will equip physicians to meet the ever-advancing scientific and clinical challenges of health care. This Council also reviews and develops educational policy for the Board of Trustees and House of Delegates, proposes nominees for appointments to national governing bodies, and maintains active liaisons with these groups. (12 members)

Timothy Craft
University of Virginia School of Medicine
craft.tim@gmail.com

Council on Medical Service (CMS) (1 year term)
Studies and evaluates the social and economic aspects of medical care policy to enhance the practice environment for physicians. (12 members)

Rachelle Klammer
University of Colorado School of Medicine
rachelleklammer@gmail.com

Council on Science and Public Health (CSPH) (1 year term)
Advises the AMA on biomedical and clinical research and medical technology issues, and helps formulate policy on relevant scientific and public health issues. It also proposes activities the AMA can undertake individually or with medical societies to advance the science of medicine and the public health. (12 members)

Aaron Kithcart
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Aaron.kithcard@osumc.edu

Other Student Representatives

National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Advisory Committee for Medical School Programs
Alyce Belonis
Drexel University College of Medicine
avb23@drexel.edu

National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Liaison
Sandeep Krishnan
University of Missouri - Kansas City
xsandeepx@gmail.com

American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC)
Board of Directors
R. Jay Widmer
Texas A&M Health Sciences Center
rjwidmer@medicine.tamhsc.edu

AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) Governing Council
Busayo Obayan
Boston University School of Medicine
bkobayan@bu.edu

AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC) Governing Council
Meltem Zeytinoglu
Indiana University School of Medicine
meltemzey@gmail.com

Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
Cathleen (Katie) Greenzang
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Cag2117@columbia.edu

AMA Foundation (AMAF) Board of Directors
Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge
The Ohio State University
christopher.alvarez-breckenridge@osumc.edu 

Advisory Committee on Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Issues (GLBT)
Jesse A. Levin
New York Medical College
jesse_levin@nymc.edu

AMA Initiative to Transform Medical Education (ITME)
Peter Ragusa
University of Minnesota Medical School
peter@peterragusa.com

Reports of Councilors and Liaisons

Students appointed to Councils and other bodies are asked to provide brief monthly reports on their activities.  Read the latest Councilor and Representative updates.