AMSA Annual Convention: Largest Gathering Of Medical Students Celebrates 58 Years Of Student Activism

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 12 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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More than 1,500 future physicians are expected to attend the American Medical Student Association's (AMSA) 58th annual convention, set for March 12-16, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, Texas.

Premedical and medical students, international medical students, residents and interns, physicians and other activists from across the country will assemble for "healthcare (r)evolution," a five day conference of innovative workshops and organizational policymaking relating to top health care issues. This year's convention focuses on a new era of physician advocacy-the evolution of physicians-in-training and their impact on the future and the awareness of the profession.

"As the nation's largest independent medical student organization, AMSA holds its annual convention to assemble the largest gathering of physicians-in-training across the nation," says Michael Ehlert, M.D., AMSA's national president. "Attendees will explore hot topics in medicine with real experts in the field. The AMSA annual convention gives students the opportunity to broaden their learning beyond the classroom and to learn about being socially responsible physicians and leaders in medical education and healthcare."

Pre-Conference Symposium

On Wednesday, March 12, AMSA will host an all-day conference on health effects on the environment. Topics will include climate change, environmental justice, occupational medicine, children's environmental health, toxics and the precautionary principle, obesity and the built environment, international environmental health and improving the sustainability of healthcare.

Keynote Addresses

Houston Mayor Bill White will open AMSA's convention on Thursday, March 13 at 11 a.m. On Friday, March 14 at 8 a.m., Dr. Catherine DeAngelis, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association will discuss evidence-based prescribing and the pharmaceutical industry.

On Saturday, March 15 at 9 a.m., U.S. Secretary for Veterans Affairs and former U.S. Army Surgeon General James Peake will discuss his experiences spent in public service. Peake is currently responsible for the health care of all U.S. veterans. On Sunday, March 16 at 11 a.m., former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders will address participants. Elders was appointed U.S. Surgeon General of the Public Health Service in September 1993 by President Clinton. She was the first African American to serve in the position.

Convention Programming

The program includes over 100 workshops and seminars, ranging from topics on pharmaceutical industry marketing, minority health, 2008 election issues, immigrant health, healthcare and the aging population, the AIDS epidemic and mental health. On Saturday, Dr. Gurkirpal Singh will discuss his personal connection with the Vioxx controversy. He was lavished with honoraria from Merck until he found out the truth about the drug and spoke out.

Special events include a rally at Houston City Hall in support of immigrant healthcare access, the annual art exhibit, and the annual poster session, sponsored by the National Health Service Corps and the AMSA Foundation.

National Awards

AMSA will present the prestigious Paul R. Wright Award for Excellence in Medical Education to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for their recently announced conflict-of-interest policy that limits pharmaceutical representatives on its campus. AMSA will honor Dr. Paul Lyons, associate professor from Temple University School of Medicine with its 2008 National Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, for his exemplary teaching achievements.

AMSA, along with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association will present the 10th Annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Health Achievement Award to the students at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. The President's Award is being presented to Dr. Tao Le, M.H.S. for his contribution to student well-being and professional development. And for the first time, AMSA and The Medical Letter will be awarding Pharmaceutical Policy Leader Scholarships to those students who have advanced the PharmFree movement at their schools. This year's recipients are Gabe Silverman, University of Pittsburgh; Lekshmi Santosh, Harvard Medical School; and Jonas Hines, University of New Mexico.

The first annual Raising Our Voices Award and Gala is being held Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 8 p.m. The event will honor distinguished women who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the field of medicine.

AMSA's House of Delegates

As AMSA's official policy-making body, the House of Delegates is a delegation of medical students from each local medical school chapter who meet at the annual convention to vote on AMSA's policies and to elect national officers. You may access the entire convention program online at: http://www.amsa.org/conv/program.cfm.

About the American Medical Student Association

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with more than a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With more than 68,000 members, including medical and premedical students, residents and practicing physicians, AMSA is committed to improving medical training as well as advancing the profession of medicine. AMSA focuses on four strategic priorities, including universal healthcare, disparities in medicine, diversity in medicine and transforming the culture of medical education.

American Medical Student Association

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