The University of Toledo

AMA-MSS Region V Goals 2009-2010

1.  Increase MSI involvement, education, and leadership development - Upon medical school matriculation, many students join the AMA eager to take on leadership roles. .  With a limited number of chapter positions available, those who are unable to attain one often become active in other clubs before being exposed to a national AMA conference. To increase national/regional awareness, networking opportunities, and leadership potential our region hopes to establish and fill leadership opportunities well before Interim.  We will create regional liaison positions meant solely for MSIs from each chapter as well as regional committees (which half the spots are designated for MSIs). With such opportunities in place, we hope to keep early members from losing focus and ambition.

2.  Hold regional community service events outside of annual regional meeting - In creating a community service regional committee, we hope to host community service events outside of the annual regional meeting, foster an exchange of ideas and awareness between chapters, and track growth of community service involvement across our region.

3.  Increase regional funding - In creating a fundraising regional committee, we hope to raise money throughout the year.  We plan to allocate funds for the regional meeting, purposes of reimbursing regional chapters that lack financial subsidies for medical students to attend MSS events, and hosting community service events.

4.  Increase regional involvement in the process of adopting MSS policy -  We hope to utilize the strengths of Region V leaders knowledgeable in health policy to develop future leaders.  We have formed committees that will host a resolution writing workshop at the regional meeting, conduct a region-wide study of regional health issues, and prepare regional testimony regarding MSS resolutions.   These initiatives will increase the involvement of Region V members in drafting and shaping health policy.

5.  Streamline communication across Region V -  We are currently in the process of eliminating excess means of communication across our region.  Instead of sending out information multiple times across different websites and list-servs in order to reach everyone in the region we hope to streamline our means of communication to one effective source.  We hope that the creation of chapter liaisons to the region will aid in this process.

Run for the UTCOM Chapter Region V Laison- This position was formed to help streamline communication across our region.  We feel that disseminating regional information, updates, and achievements across every chapter in the region is dire to the progression of each chapter in the region and national MSS, which is why we want to utilize this position to both increase communication and not overload the current chapter officers.  This position is intended for a MSI who is motivated and eager to increase his/her leadership in the AMA.  Responsibilities of this position include disseminating information and emails from his/her regional contact to his/her chapter.  They will be responsible to ensure all chapter members are members of our region website and will send the regional board updates on what their chapter is currently doing/working on.

Region V Working Committees

1. Community Service - We hope to host community service events outside of the annual regional meeting, foster an exchange of ideas and awareness between chapters, and track growth of community service involvement across our region.  This committee will be building "how to" documents for a variety of service events for chapters to refer to.  These documents will be created based on successful events hosted by chapters in our regions.  The committee will also work towards consulting chapters throughout the year, creating projects for our region to take part in, and help organize the regional meeting community service project.

2. Fundraising - We hope to raise a substantial amount of money throughout the year.  We plan to allocate funds for the regional meeting, purposes of reimbursing regional chapters that lack financial subsidies for medical students to attend MSS events, and hosting community service events.  This committee will work towards developing ways for chapters across the region to raise money including collaboration with the community service working committee.

3. Resolutions - This committee will be responsible for hosting a resolution writing workshop at the regional meeting, conducting a region-wide study of regional health issues, and preparing regional testimony regarding MSS resolutions.   These initiatives will increase the involvement of Region V members in drafting and shaping health policy.

4. Committee on Legislation and Advocacy, COLA -  This committee was formed to increase access and ease of access of health policy and student/physician issues to our regional members.  This committee will be responsible for collecting and reviewing information regarding pertinent and hot topics in healthcare.  The committee will help disseminate this information throughout the region and develop ways for chapters to increase awareness of their members.

Details on how to join these committees coming soon….