American Medical Association

The Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association (AMA) is dedicated to representing medical students, improving medical education, developing leadership, and promoting activism for the health of America. With nearly 50,000 members, it is the largest and most influential organization of medical students in the country.

Membership and Benefits

There are many opportunities to become involved with the association on the local level (Columbia VP&S chapter), the county level (New York County Medical Society), the state level (Medical Society of the State of New York Medical Student Section, MSSNY-MSS), and the national level (AMA-MSS). At every level, you will interact with physicians and other medical students across the country. Each member receives the Journal of the American Medical Association, AMA News, and the News of NY, as well as discounts on textbooks, car rentals, airfares, and insurance, among other benefits. Multiple-year memberships receive the AMA Drug Evaluation Guide, an invaluable reference for pharmacology in the classroom and on the wards.

AMA-MSS is highly supportive (morally and financially) of student projects and promotes attendance at its conventions.

As an added benefit of membership, AMA helps to provide free housing opportunities throughout the Community Welcoming Program for members who are fourth-year medical students interviewing for residencies. The program was created to help students cut down on interviewing costs, get to know the community surrounding their potential residency program, and introduce them to the local medical community. This program has also been extended to provide housing for students taking the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, Step 2 Clinical Skills. Due to the cost burden of this exam, the AMA is working to alleviate expenses for students by providing an overnight stay in an association member’s house.

Events

Events sponsored by the VP&S chapter of AMA this year include lecture series and debates focusing on pertinent and controversial medical issues, community service projects targeted to combat the increasing incidence of obesity in our society and other social causes, social gatherings, and more. We welcome all VP&S students to join us!

For more information, email ps-ama@columbia.edu