Which medical organizations are you a part of?

[318038]

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It seems as though once you are in medical school, you get letters weekly from AMA, AMSA, AAMC, and various clubs on campus asking to formally join their organization. Which organizations did you decide to pay dues for and join? I heard AMA is an important one and for $10, I really don't mind paying a yearly fee. Any thoughts on this topic? Is it something I should concern myself with?

 

[phospho]

Is it something I should concern myself with?

not really

Not really sure what the above post is really talking about. I'm a US MD, so personally the only groups I joined were the groups that gave me something for free that would make it worth it, so I joined 2 groups.

1- AMSA because they gave me free netter's flash cards (which I didn't even open and ended up selling for beer money)

2- the american psychiatric association so I could get free access to their journal articles. I didn't really need to join the APA because I already have free access through my school's username and password, but I'm personally interested in psych and thought it would be cool, was completely free, and took about 2.5 minutes to fill out the paperwork.

 

[Ponger]

I thought AMA was worth it because you get a copy of the Journal of the AMA (JAMA) which I don't personally read but my dad (retired doc) loves flipping through.

Also another auxiliary benefit is that you get free access to MerckMedicus with your AMA number. It's a helpful website/iPhone app for looking up clinical stuff. It's pretty clutch for 3rd/4th year and/or if you do a preceptorship in the hospital earlier.

 

[theVster]

I think the only one I ever joined was the ACP organization and it isn't even a mexican medical organization. I don't get bills to pay though though they still sometimes send letters of new expositions in Mexico.

I'd consider jining the mexican GP organization "Medicina del primer contacto" since I've done several curriculuma gaining activities. However, I'm not a member.

You don't have to join organizations if you don't want to. You could however use some of the meetings to gain contacts if you wish to do residency with some doctor that shows up in one of those meetings.

Dude you are the ONLY person from Mexico here. Stop giving advice pertaining to this.

I'm part of the ACP as well (mostly because it's free) but I'm considering joining the AMA in order to get more info for residency matching. That's still a couple years off for me though.

On the other hand, it might still not be worth the money. For first years I know they give you a free Netter's or something so...

 

[Yope]

Stop telling people to stop giving advice about Mexican medical school.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

Stop telling people to stop giving advice about Mexican medical school.

Stop telling people to stop telling people to stop giving advice about mexican food...

wait, what? I'm lost.

 

[olemissbabydoc]

AMA, AMSA, MSMA (Mississippi), American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics.

AAP is the only one I'm really active in.

 

[LordATPSynthase]

It seems as though once you are in medical school, you get letters weekly from AMA, AMSA, AAMC, and various clubs on campus asking to formally join their organization. Which organizations did you decide to pay dues for and join? I heard AMA is an important one and for $10, I really don't mind paying a yearly fee. Any thoughts on this topic? Is it something I should concern myself with?

none

 

[cubssox2000]

Joined the AMA for their 4 year rate (cheaper) and got a free copy of Netter's flashcards for iPod touch. Not too shabby.

 

[LossForWords]

Yeah, I joined the AMA with their 4-year rate. I like reading some of the JAMA articles and I actually used the Netter's flash cards. I also joined the city's medical society. My dad's a member of his local medical society so he paid the $20 or whatever for me to join. That kind of thing was important to him, I guess.

 

[Raryn]

I'm a member of (and rather active in) the AMA. I also joined the ACP, though I've never done anything with that.

And my med school pays for all of us to be members of the Wisconsin Medical Society as well as the Medical Society of Milwaukee County.

 

[SB100]

AMSA and Massachusetts Medical Society

 

[DrDrToBe]

I'm a member of AMA (quite active) and really enjoy it. In addition to the Netter's flashcards and access to JAMA, there are tons of leadership opportunites for students, whether at the local, regional or national level. I attended both the regional and national meeting this year and the experience thus far has been phenomenal.
Also, I'd say check out organizations at your school that may be culturally relevant, such as LMSA, APAMSA, and SNMA; they tend to provide good mentorship/ support network for their students.

 

[plauto]

When AMA/AMSA will stop pushing their political agenda and actually start caring about physicians, then I'll join them. There is a reason why the vast majority of practicing physicians are not members. I would not waste a cent on them.
I've found that the state and county medical associations are actually much more in touch with the needs and problems of physicians and patients.

 

[Dexmed]

When AMA/AMSA will stop pushing their political agenda and actually start caring about physicians, then I'll join them. There is a reason why the vast majority of practicing physicians are not members. I would not waste a cent on them.
I've found that the state and county medical associations are actually much more in touch with the needs and problems of physicians and patients.

That's the rub, they think that pushing their political agenda is caring about physicians.