A note from the MSS chair
December 2023
From MSS Chair Natasha Topolski
This month's update covers news from the 2023 MSS Interim Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, as well as other MSS projects and initiatives.
Policy discussion & adoption
The MSS Assembly discussed 26 items of business in person and adopted a total of 29 new policies. These topics included American Indian/Alaskan Native policies, opposing the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, and firearm availability and safety.
The MSS also transmitted 27 items for consideration by the AMA House of Delegates at the Interim Meeting.
Training & education programs
The MSS hosted four educational programs:
- Sexual Assault Survivor: What Happens in a Forensic Evaluation and Exam?
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, An Overview
- Stepping Outside the Four Walls: Understanding Street Medicine
- Talking Trans Advocacy
The MSS and Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP) co-sponsored the “B.E.S.T” Training―Boost, Energize, Sustain, Together. In this training, local campus section leaders came away with strategies and tactics to greater engage their peers in chapter recruitment, engagement and community service events.
Elections
The MSS Assembly elected Anand Singh as chair-elect and Aliya Siddiqui as student member to the Board of Trustees at the Interim Meeting. Congratulations to Anand and Aliya!
Awards
- Transformative Advocacy: Sarah Mae Smith
- Outstanding Policy Involvement Individual: Shreya Mandava, Ishaan Richie, and Andrew Norton
- Outstanding Policy Involvement Chapter: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Outstanding Service Project Individual: Nataliyah Tahir, Mira Dani
- Outstanding Service Project Chapter: Anne Burnette Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University
Mentorship Convention Committee
Thank you to the members of our first ever Mentorship Convention Committee. This committee hosted a virtual social hour prior to the Interim Meeting and initiated an assembly-wide Bingo game for attendees.
Are you interested in participating in our year-long mentorship program? Email Abby Willgruber, the MSS at-large officer, at mssatlargeofficer2324@gmail.com.
USPATH conference
Our MSS DEI Officer, Charlie Adams, attended the U.S. Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH) conference in November. He participated in countless sessions to expand his knowledge on the latest research regarding all things gender-affirming care. Over many days and numerous conversations, he worked on increasing trans student participation in the AMA through talking directly to students and physicians, as well as planning with leadership how to do this on a larger scale.
Standing committee spotlight
The MSS Standing Committee on Bioethics and Humanities (CBH) hosted the second ever Bioethics Grand Rounds on Nov. 18. It was a successful virtual event with two presentations:
- Bioethical Considerations of Transgender and Gender Diverse Healthcare: Transforming Research, Medical Student Perspectives, and Curriculum, by Anderson McNeil and Mitchell Hanson
- Juggling Scalpels: The Ethical Debates Surrounding Overlapping Surgeries, by Alyssa Reese
CBH hosts Bioethics Grand Rounds to showcase outstanding medical students who are passionate about ethics in medicine and who want to engage in bioethical discussions that shape the future of health care.
Congratulations to the fall 2023 presenters!
Contact us
Interested in getting more involved? Join the MSS Updates GroupMe to keep up with opportunities and email us with questions at mss@ama-assn.org.