These publications have been developed in response to member needs so we encourage you to use them as tools to assist you in reaching your personal and chapter goals. The publications are broken down into four main categories:
- AMA/AMA-MSS Policy
- MSS Chapter, State, and Region Development
- Professional and Public Education
- Legislative Initiatives
AMA Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions with Annotations
This publication from the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) provides the most current opinions on what constitutes our fundamental ethical principles as physicians. The presentation of these opinions includes the specific application of these principles to over 125 examples of ethical dilemmas in medicine. Each example is referenced to the specific areas of the Code that apply, as well as citations from applicable case and administrative law. The Association-s written code of ethics (the Principles of Medical Ethics) is supplemented by the Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship, Patient Responsibilities and applicable Reports of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. These sources should be consulted together for the most complete coverage of particular ethical issues.
AMA Policy Compendium
After each House meeting, the speakers of the AMA House oversee the process of updating the AMA policy database to reflect the actions taken by the House and any modifications that CEJA has made in its Current Opinions. Once the AMA policy database has been updated, the speakers oversee the process of updating the Association’s PolicyFinder programs. PolicyFinder is available as a Web-based application and as a stand-alone version that can be installed on a PC. PolicyFinder is the principal mechanism through which the AMA distributes information on its policy positions.
AMA-MSS 2004-2007 Strategic Plan: Committee on Long Range Planning Report A (A-04)
This report provides a detailed examination of the keys to the continued growth and viability of the AMA-MSS: Advocacy, Membership, and Leadership. It also serves as an excellent guide for discussion of how the MSS should set and pursue its strategic goals over the next three years.
COLRP Report A (A-04): AMA-MSS 2004-2007 Strategic Plan (Word, 83KB)
AMA-MSS Digest of Actions and Internal Operating Procedures
In addition to compiling MSS policy since the Section's inception in 1979, this online publication also features relevant sections of the AMA Bylaws, the MSS Internal Operating Procedures, and maps for the seven MSS Regions. The Internal Operating Procedures are your guide to the machinery which governs the MSS. The Digest of Actions is your guide to internal MSS policy and to those policies initiated by the MSS and adopted by the AMA. The Digest provides an invaluable history of MSS policy and should be referred to when writing resolutions for the MSS assembly. Both of these publications are available online only. (PDF files - Adobe Acrobat reader required.)
- Digest of Actions (PDF, 1508KB)
- Internal Operating Procedures (PDF, 82KB)
- AMA Bylaws (PDF, 86KB)
AMA-MSS Resolution Writing Guide
Authoring a resolution can be a wonderful way to get involved in the MSS, and to begin to raise issues that demand attention from the AMA. This guide (PDF, 60KB) is intended to help students understand when a resolution is appropriate, and how to navigate successfully through the resolution-writing process.
Brief Guide to Parliamentary Procedure
The MSS created this brief pocket guide to parliamentary procedure. This guide is useful to attendees of the Annual and Interim Meetings.
Parliamentary Procedure Guide (Word, 992KB)
Guide to AMA-MSS Assembly Meetings
The Assembly is the AMA-MSS's principal policymaking body. At its two meetings each year, the Assembly acts on numerous reports and resolutions and establishes policy to guide the MSS and its members. This guide provides information about the Assembly’s policy development process. It is designed to help new delegates, alternate delegates, and non-voting participants understand and participate in the policy process. This guide is available in hard copy or you can download the Microsoft Word (.doc) file below.
Guide to AMA-MSS Assembly Meetings (Word, 121KB)
Regional Delegate Handbook
To assist new Regional Delegates/Alternates, the MSS Governing Council created this handbook, which includes responsibilities of Regional Delegates/Alternates and the House Coordination Committee, as well as tips on providing testimony at the HOD reference committees.
Regional Delegate Handbook (Word, 88KB)
Section II: MSS Chapter, State, and Region Development
AMA-MSS Brochure: There's more to being a medical student than earning a degree
This brochure provides an overview of what the MSS is, what we stand for, our accomplishments, resources, and how students can get involved. This is a great guide to use at your chapter meetings or to hand out to colleagues interested in joining the MSS!
AMA-MSS CD/DVD: The AMA Medical Student Section - the Voice of the Future
The MSS created our first video, which provides an overview of the programs and initiatives that our medical student members have benefited from. There are clips of students from schools across the nation participating in MSS activities and talking about why they are part of the AMA. This is an excellent tool to use for recruitment or chapter meetings!
You can either download the video or request a hard copy.
Connection speed: Broadband Dial-up
(a Windows compatible Media Player is required for viewing)
For a copy of the video, e-mail the MSS.
AMA-MSS Chapter Guidebook: Starting, Reviving, Running an Effective AMA-MSS Chapter
This guide is intended to help you create a strong AMA-MSS chapter at your medical school - one that will be visible on your campus and in your community with the organization and motivation to maximize your involvement in the AMA. The guide provides easy-to-use ideas and resources to help coordinate chapters. There are many ideas that may help even the most established chapters. This guide is available in hard copy or you can download the Acrobat Reader (.pdf) file below.
AMA-MSS Chapter Guidebook (PDF, 192KB)
AMA-MSS Idea Book
Compiles educational and community service programs from many student chapters. Some of the sections covered include: Domestic Violence, Community Health, Adolescent Outreach, AIDS, Medical Education, Legislative Awareness, Chapter Life, Medicine Beyond the Curriculum, Organized Medicine, Miscellaneous. Many descriptions provide specific contacts to help guide you in developing your program. An excellent resource for planning chapter projects. This guide is available online only.
AMA-MSS Policy Promotion Grants
This program puts AMA policy into action by funding student sponsored educational and community service projects. The application includes a pamphlet describing how to apply for these funds. An excellent means for expanding the scope of your chapter projects and enhancing your chapter's visibility.
AMA-MSS Recruitment Materials
The AMA will provide these materials to help with student recruiting. Share them with your peers. Distribute them during group meetings or class events. Deliver them to student mailboxes. Use them to educate other medical students about the many ways they'll make a difference when they become involved and informed members of the AMA.
Regional Meeting Planner
The essential Regional Meeting Planner guide covers everything from speaker invitations to registration, publicity, and meeting logistics. These meetings provide a forum where students can network with other MSS chapters , learn about legislative initiatives, and participate in diverse educational programs. Regions are eligible for one grant per academic year in the amount of $1000 to fund their meeting. The guidelines to receive the grant are in the planner, which is available in a hard copy and online.
Region Chair's Guide
This guide provides information on the responsibilities of the region chair. It is to assist new chairs in getting started in their new leadership role.
Region Chair's Guide (PDF, 161KB)
Section III: Professional and Public Education
AMA Adolescent Health Resources
The AMA has developed the numerous materials on adolescent health related issues for physicians and medical students on topics such as youth drinking, obesity, violence, bullying, and much more. Available in hard copy or as a PDF file.
AMA-MSS Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Module
This module gives you all the information you need to get started with a CHIP outreach and enroll project. It contains local, state, and national contacts you can work with to organize a project of your own. The module provides numerous groups in your communities you can coordinate efforts with. Examples of various projects that chapters have implemented are included in the module, as well as the National Service Projects the MSS have held in conjunction with the Annual and Interim Meetings.
AMA-MSS Healthy Lifestyles to Reduce Obesity
The MSS selected "Healthy Lifestyles to Reduce Obesity" as our National Service Project for 2004-2006. This module provides background information on obesity, resources, and numerous project ideas that have been implemented at chapters nationwide. The goal of this module is to help chapters organize their community service efforts and to more efficiently utilize the limited time of medical students.
Healthy Lifestyles Module (Word, 354KB)
AMA-MSS Tobacco Program Module
The MSS selected "No Butts About It...Tobacco Stinks" as our 2002-2004 National Service Project. To help chapters get started with a tobacco project, the AMA Department of Medical Student Services (DMSS) has created the Tobacco Program Module. This module is filled with statistics, resources, project ideas, and contact information to get your project off the ground.
Tobacco Program Module (PDF, 456KB)
AMA-MSS Voice and eVoice newsletters
Each quarter, the MSS mails a newsletter to all of our members to provide updates on issues, events, awards, and projects that are important to medical students. In addition, the MSS sends out a weekly eVoice newsletter that highlights the latest and most concise medical news and information available as a service to physicians and medical students nationwide. For copies of the AMA Voice newsletter, contact the MSS. Join eVoice online.
Choosing A Medical Specialty Guide
At the 1994 Interim Meeting, the AMA-MSS Assembly adopted a resolution asking the AMA-MSS to develop a bibliography of sources for information on the medical and surgical specialties for medical students preparing to enter the residency selection process. The first edition of "Choosing a Specialty" was a print publication detailing primarily print resources available to students. This online edition reflects the increased availability and use of electronic resources for exchanging information.
Global Opportunities
Awakening Hippocrates and A Practical Guide to Global Health Service are valuable tools for medical professionals who would like to learn more about global medical volunteer opportunities.
Awakening Hippocrates: A Primer on Health, Poverty, and Global Service
This resource takes aim on helping health professionals better understand the reasons for global health disparities. The primer outlines the reasons why health professionals are essential to affecting change in current global affairs and how they can participate in serving those who are in need.
A Practical Guide to Global Health Service
This resource profiles approximately 300 organizations that place health service volunteers. The focus is on direct action and how one safely and effectively engages in medical volunteering. Each detailed profile includes concise descriptions, contact information, and practical information about length of service terms, personnel sought, areas served, and availability of funding, training, and room and board.
GME E-letter
This free monthly e-mail newsletter has become a popular source of news and information for the graduate medical education community. The GME E-letter covers a wide range of issues affecting GME—everything from physician workforce trends, resident duty hours, and pharmaceutical industry access to residency programs to updates on accreditation activities and development of new subspecialties. Subscribe now!
Graduate Medical Education Directory
The AMA publishes annually the official list of residency/fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The Graduate Medical Education Directory ("Green Book") also contains certification requirements for all 24 boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Other useful products for medical students include the GMED Companion: An Insider's Guide to Selecting a Residency Program and the GME Library on CD-ROM.
Health Literacy
To help you coordinate a health literacy event at your school, the MSS Community Service Committee created the following resources:
- Health Literacy Module (Word, 49KB) - This module contains health literacy statistics, a step-by-step guide, a sample presentation, and many other resources to help you create your own health literacy event.
- Health Literacy Presentation (PowerPoint, 920KB) - This can be presented at your chapter to get other students informed and motivated for your health literacy project.
- The AMA Foundation offers: a Health Literacy Toolkit, which is the primary tool for informing physicians, health care professionals and patient advocates about health literacy, AND a video, an effective tool in raising awareness and sparking discussion about patients’ low health literacy skills.
HIV/AIDS
The International Health Policy committee developed reasonable ways in which AMA-MSS chapters and individual members can take steps to make an impact on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Community Service and IHP Committees collaborated to develop:
- community service module for rapid HIV testing (Word, 33KB)
- informational PowerPoint presentation (204KB) for high school students
- pocket-size resource handout (Word, 26KB)
Transitioning to Residency: What Medical Students Need to Know
The AMA's Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) developed an online resource for medical students transitioning into residency training programs. The information is meant to provide an overview of the planning, application, and selection process from the personal viewpoints of our MAC colleagues who have successfully gone through the process themselves.
The Residency Interview: A Guide for Medical Students (members-only)
The AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC) published an online residency interview guide for medical students. As medical students prepare for their residency interviews, they can experience stress and anxiety. Learning what to expect from those who have experienced this process can provide a big advantage.This guide will assist medical students by addressing the following topics: how to handle gender-based questions, what to bring with you, traveling tips, information about couples match and shared and part-time residencies, what are common and uncommon interview questions, and generally what to expect from your interview process. The "Recommended Resources" section directs medical students to additional resources that will assist them as they prepare for the Match.
Section IV: Legislative Initiatives
Expanding Coverage for the Uninsured and Increasing Access to Care
A top priority of the AMA is to work toward a solution to the persistently high portion of the United States population lacking health insurance. The uninsured often defer obtaining medical care and preventive services, jeopardizing their health and the healthy development of their children. The AMA offers publications that present or explain key aspects of the AMA proposal for expanding health insurance coverage and choice. Publications addressing related issues, such as Health Savings Accounts, are also listed.
Content provided by: Medical Student Section
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