A note from the MSS chair
August 2024
From MSS Chair Anand Singh
Hi everyone! Over the past month, the MSS Governing Council has met with every MSS standing committee, MSS region leaders, MSS caucus and many of our United Leaders in Advocacy (ULA) members.
Additionally, our student trustee, Aliya Siddiqui, had the opportunity to speak at the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Summer Leadership Meeting! This was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our DO colleagues who play such a vital role in our MSS.
Finally, our MSS policy cycle is in full swing. The MSS Open Forum closes Aug. 4, 2024, and the first draft resolutions are due Aug. 25, 2024.
Upcoming events
MSS Engagement Meeting
Aug. 20, 2024, 7 p.m. Central
Learn about the AMA and the various leadership opportunities and ways to get engaged. This event is open to all students. Email Anand Singh at [email protected] for the Zoom meeting link.
Orientation meetings
Region fall orientation meetings for new members are scheduled at various times. Please contact your region leaders for date, time and Zoom link.
Standing committee spotlight: Committee on Long Range Planning (COLRP)
COLRP has been working hard to help the new MSS Governing Council improve our MSS and drive us into a new future. COLRP is working with the region advocacy chairs to set up regional advocacy committees, and students interested in joining these committees can now apply (check your region GroupMe for more details).
Advocacy updates
Advocacy staff has been hard at work in the D.C. office to put our AMA policies into action. These actions may be of particular interest to medical students:
- Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) for Seniors: Stemming from an MSS-authored resolution, AMA sent a letter (PDF) in support of H.R. 8588 creating grants for states to support MLPs.
- Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding transparency: AMA sent a letter (PDF) calling for an annual review of GME funding and specifically how direct GME funds are allocated per resident/fellow.
AMPAC Campaign School student participants
Five medical students from around the MSS participated in the annual AMPAC Campaign School, where they learned winning political strategies taught by political experts from both sides of the aisle. The Campaign School is renowned for its use of a simulated campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Students are placed into campaign teams to apply what they learn through real life exercises in strategy, vote targeting, social media, paid advertising and public speaking. You may see a few of these students run for office in the future!
Students in the image, left to right:
- Likhit Agrawal, Region 3 policy chair, Texas
- Laurie Lapp, Council on Legislation student member, Wisconsin
- Brian Lusby, Washington
- Kaylee Scarnati, Government Relations Advocacy Fellow, Ohio
- Lyiba Malik, MSS IMPACT member, Wisconsin
Contact us
Interested in getting more involved? Join the MSS Updates GroupMe to keep up with opportunities and email us with questions at [email protected].