Any non-traditionals in AMSA?

[booradley5]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Any of you non-traditional pre-meds or med students members of the American Medical Student Association? I've browsed their website and it seems like it could be a big help for traditional pre-meds and med students, but nothing on there about non-trads. It looks like a decent opportunity to network and get involved on health policy issues that I care about. Aside from that, how helpful do you think this is joining as a non-trad pre-med?

Thanks!

 

[Trismegistus4]

Aside from that, how helpful do you think this is joining as a non-trad pre-med?

Probably really helpful if you want to run the medical profession into the ground. Not so helpful if you care about your future as a professional.

 

[booradley5]

Probably really helpful if you want to run the medical profession into the ground.

Pardon my ignorance, but how would AMSA help me run the medical profession into the ground?

This totally sounds like something I could do in my spare time.

 

[Obedeli]

Any of you non-traditional pre-meds or med students members of the American Medical Student Association? I've browsed their website and it seems like it could be a big help for traditional pre-meds and med students, but nothing on there about non-trads. It looks like a decent opportunity to network and get involved on health policy issues that I care about. Aside from that, how helpful do you think this is joining as a non-trad pre-med?

Thanks!

I think what may be eluded to is the fact that AMSA is pro-med student, kinda pro-resident, and anti-physician. Honestly, find out how many of their members are private practice physicians who are not also Howard Dean. I will put it bluntly, AMSA is pinko commie. They are against tort reform, support trial attorney candidates, and basically think that you should work for free (this part is an exaggeration but close to reality). I was an officer in pre-med AMSA and refused to join in med school once I saw all the special "groups" for AMSA (gay bisexual lesbian transsexual bacon lettuce tomato B.L.T.), heard their plank on socialized medicine and their support for Hillary Clinton's health plan (i.e. govt chooses your medical specialty). As a premed, all I wanted to do was get into medical school. I would have never imagined that AMSA was a political unit for democrats. This is what makes them BANK!
Honestly for the pre-med scene, it may work. But if you are like me and do not wish a single penny spent on a liberal Washington lobbyist, I would not join. Some of your classmates will think you're nuts as mine did because I was against such a politically "neutral" organization. Neutral in as much as they didn't even realize AMSA is political.

 

[booradley5]

Thanks for the response! I was aware that are a very politically oriented group and I would like to participate in that aspect of it. What I am concerned about is whether they offer anything that will actually help you get in, i.e. programs, conferences, volunteering oppotunities etc. that are not just political action-oriented. Their website doesn't really do a good job of selling them.

Despite that, I do want to quibble with one statement you made:

their support for Hillary Clinton's health plan (i.e. govt chooses your medical specialty).

The Clinton HSA did not choose your medical specialty. Niether the House or Senate versions HR 3600/S 1757 or the "Mitchell 3" compromise, S. 1775, contain anything remotely like this.

The requirement set forth was that in order to qualify for government support of the costs of GME/IME, "approved physician training programs" must have--as an aggregate--55% of slots available in primary care (FP, IM, OB/GYN). Check out Sec 3011. Nothing prevented a med student from selecting a particular specialty, just made competition harder to go into non-primary care specialties.

Additionally, the bill increases financial incentives to go into primary care, including enhanced Medicare RVU's for "primary care" codes.

The rationale went something like this:

National studies determined there was shortage in primary care docs-->
Studies showed that with increased preventive/routine care, costs are reduced-->The government funds graduate medical education and could steer people toward primary care to save health care dollars and improve health-->you want to be a doc and not fund your own residency? Guess what, some of you are going to have to go into primary health care...

Ironically, some vestiges of the ideas first presented in the Clinton HSA are in place today, i.e. National Health Service Corps.


That aside, I understand that AMSA is "pinko commie." I'm pretty liberal myself, so they are on my side on most issues.

Finally, in the interest of full disclosure....

But if you are like me and do not wish a single penny spent on a liberal Washington lobbyist

I am currently a liberal Washington lobbyist. 😳

Thanks...love the debate!!!

 

[Obedeli]

"approved physician training programs" must have--as an aggregate--55% of slots available in primary care (FP, IM, OB/GYN). Check out Sec 3011. Nothing prevented a med student from selecting a particular specialty, just made competition harder to go into non-primary care specialties.

The last thing needed was to make non-primary care specialties harder to get into, especially by the govt. Having just gone through the match and seeing how tough it can be, the last thing needed is big momma government causing you grief 😉 . You wanted to know more about AMSA and now you do.

As disgustingly smug and proud you are of yourself (typical stinkin lawyer), let me assure you, you are alone in your pride. Your views are not significant to me because I wrote my response with no intent of creating a debate. After many nights of retorts and counters, I learned that you can never change anyone's mind, especially on an anonymous message board 😴 . So what's the point? Besides, the debate usually breaks down into me smeared a racist. An irrevocably damaging and poisonous charge that libs use like a shotgun.

The heart of the thread is to learn about AMSA from a non-traditional viewpoint, and you heard that from me point blank. Having been around this forum for 5 years, I know that most are liberal. Despite who you are, I retract none of comments or my feelings. They represent what I believe about liberals, lawyers and lobbyists. 😎

As far as helping you get into medical school:
Be aware that MANY people claim a token membership in a professional society. Being as such, it is probably important that do that at least. As for ACTUALLY helping you out.... probably no big help, unless you present at a national meeting or something. But keep in mind, AMSA's views are well known in the medical community and there are many practicing physicians who don't agree with what they stand for. That is why it is the American medical STUDENT association. Regardless, most adcoms shouldn't let their political views get in the way. I know I didn't, even when interviewing liberal medical student candidates. They had the same chance as a conservative. So don't worry, you can go "active" with AMSA. To be concise, yes it is practically expected now that you belong to them but no, it won't increase your chances. Good luck!

 

[booradley5]

As disgustingly smug and proud you are of yourself (typical stinkin lawyer), let me assure you, you are alone in your pride.

I'm sorry if I came across as disgustingly smug. It was not my intention to. It's just an issue with which I have a lot of passion and interest. Also, I am not a lawyer, nor do I ever wish to become one.

Law firms are pretty par for the course in DC in terms of lobbying. As is the fashion on K st. these days, there are perhaps more "Republican" firms out there than "Democratic" ones. You can thank Tom Delay for that.

But I doubt you would be maligning "conservative" lobbyists who did my exact same job, but for your perspective on issues. I have a lot of respect for my Republican lobbyist colleagues, though I may vehemently disagree. I guess I'm used to separating the personal from the political. I'm sure you and other physicians equally respect someone for the quality of their clinical skills without regard to their personal beliefs.

<soap box>

No, I don't think I'll be changing many (if any) minds with repsect to my comments on the HSA. I just thought that I would correct a common misconception about the GME sections of the bill. Harry and Louise did a great job with spreading misinformation about that and other issues in the TV commercials. Their sponsor, the health insurance industry, did a lot of that too in the medical community.

I understand your trepidation with regard to government in people's lives and in medical education. There's a lot I think that government does that is pigheaded and unproductive. But I had to disagree on the choosing your specialty issue. "big momma government" is paying a substantial percentage of the bills when it comes to medical residencies, including yours, with (relatively) very few strings attached. Without it, I doubt many on this board would be able to afford medical education (to the extent they can now). Medicare pays for it and will likely make up a large share of many physicians' practices down the line. Like it or not, many docs depend on our tax dollars to pay their salaries and it will allow beneficiaries access your excellent care. Good policy and our democratic system of government instituted that program and I have trust that there was a compelling need for increased primary care slots at the time. But, of course, we disagree on that whole "trust" government issue. If the American people decide that a private pay system is the way to go, it's within their power to demand as such.

I think it'd be great to see a major political alternative to AMSA, kind of like the AMA and ACP. Good 'ole democracy at work! On the Hill, AMSA is often dismissed as a liberal group. If there was a more viable conservative group out there and AMSA could team up with them on certain issues, i.e. 80 hour weeks, med students as a group would probably be a lot more successful in their common efforts. That way both R's and D's could have their partisan camps and good, conservative guys like you wouldn't be so distanced from being active.

</soap box>

Sincerely, though, thank you for your input and perspective. Yeah, I'm a liberal, but that in no way discounts to me what you are saying. This wouldn't be a forum if everyone agreed with everyone else. In fact, you brought up a really interesting point about how adcoms and other physicians may view an outspoken AMSA member.

As for people calling you a racist, I won't do that unless you directly prove to me otherwise, i.e. "I hate ____." True, the racist label gets thrown around a lot in the liberal camp, especially when a liberal does not have a rational argument of his own with which to disgree. That is too bad some of us are too quick to jump to using that epithet. You seem very thoughtful and pragmatic and I wish others would accord you the same respect.

As for others reading this thread...still would love to hear your opinions, good and bad, on AMSA and what it offers non-trad pre-meds.

 

[njbmd]

Any of you non-traditional pre-meds or med students members of the American Medical Student Association? I've browsed their website and it seems like it could be a big help for traditional pre-meds and med students, but nothing on there about non-trads. It looks like a decent opportunity to network and get involved on health policy issues that I care about. Aside from that, how helpful do you think this is joining as a non-trad pre-med?

Thanks!

Hi there,
I opted for the AMA (American Medical Association) during medical school because it was a professional organization. AMSA is geared towards medical and pre-medical students but not toward the practicing physician. Through the AMA, I was able to interact with the physican leaders of my area and nationally. The lobbying arm of the AMA has great opportunities for participation. I still maintain my AMA membership though residency leaves me little time for the socializing.

njbmd 🙂