Introduction to the OSR

Organization of Student Representatives

AAMCThe Association of American Medical Colleges is a nonprofit association of medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies: 129 accredited U.S. medical schools 17 accredited Canadian medical schools Over 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 98 affiliated

health systems and 68 Veterans Affairs medical centers 94 academic and professional societies, representing 109,000 faculty members the nation's 67,000 medical students and 104,000 residents

MissionThe AAMC seeks to improve the nation's health by enhancing the effectiveness of academic medicine.

AAMCThere are five core constituent groups of the AAMC

• Council of Deans (COD)

• Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH)

• Council of Academic Societies (CAS)

• Organization of Student Representatives (OSR)

• Organization of Resident Representatives (ORR)

Members elected from each group comprise the Executive Council

• The executive council governs the AAMC

• The OSR has 2 of 30 votes

• Communication from the local to the regional to the national level is essential for the OSR to represent all 67,000 U.S. medical students in this country

Purpose of the OSR

To provide a forum through which medical students can communicate about medical education, research, and patient care

To accurately assess and represent the views and interests of all medical students to the AAMC

To regularly communicate the activities and discussions within the academic medicine community to all medical students

To advance the development of leadership skills among medical students

Mission of the OSR

The OSR fulfills a unique role among medical student organizations: It provides medical students with voting representation in the AAMC – the nation’s largest association dedicated solely to the advancement of academic medicine.

The OSR assures that medical students actively participate in directing their educations, preserving their rights, and delineating their professional responsibilities.

The OSR provides medical students with a voice in academic medicine at the national level and fosters student involvement and awareness at the local level.

OSR Strategic GoalsTo provide medical student input on issues addressed by the AAMC and state and federal governments that will impact student education, quality of life, or professional development.

To facilitate communication between student bodies of different medical schools and between medical student organizations.

To encourage education techniques and objectives that provide medical students with the intellectual skills, professional standards, and knowledge required to meet the needs of an evolving health care system.

To assure a safe, supportive learning environment free of abuse, unreasonable health risks, bias, and inequities.

To assure that all students possess equal freedom and opportunity to pursue the career directions of their choice.

To advance the development of leadership skills among medical students through participation in local and national OSR positions.

OSR National PrioritiesAcademic medical centers and industry conflicts of interest

Input to USMLE comprehensive review

GLBTI guidelines and "effective practices"

Diversity recruitment efforts

ACGME US residency program match data

Student debt and the cost of medical education

Guidelines for use of medical interpreter services

Diversity of representation within the OSR

National Board of Medical Examiners' issues

National Resident Matching Program issues

Humanism in Medicine

Student health insurance coverage

Physician workforce increase

Strategic planning for the OSR

Criminal background checks

Communication with other medical student groups

Assuring the continued strength of the academic environment under health care reform and managed care

AAMC Humanism in Medicine AwardSupported by the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, the AAMC annually recognizes a medical school faculty physician who exemplifies the qualities of a caring and compassionate mentor in the teaching and advising of medical students.

The OSR administers the award and the recipient is announced and honored during a formal awards ceremony at the AAMC Annual Meeting each fall.

For more information: www.aamc.org/members/osr/humanism/start.htm

OSR Membership

OSR Representatives are selected by their medical schools to monitor activities at their institutions, represent student opinions to the OSR Administrative Board (Ad Board), and relay national OSR and AAMC priorities to the students and staff of their institutions.

OSR members include one primary and three alternate institutional representatives from each of the 129 US allopathic medical schools.

What is the role of an OSR Rep?Be aware of student concerns at (your school): know your constituents.

Share these concerns with the OSR / OSR Ad Board

Learn about the OSR/AAMC and the resources available to you and the student population

Promote the initiatives of the OSR: Humanism in Medicine, diversity, Careers in Medicine, student debt, health insurance, etc.

Disseminate information from the OSR to your school’s students and administration.

Elect officers of the OSR who will represent all students to the AAMC.

OSR MeetingsAAMC Annual Meeting

• Held annually every fall 2008 San Antonio, TX 2009 Boston, MA

OSR Regional Meetings

• Held annually every spring

• Each region meets separately or jointly

OSR OfficersNational Officers • Elected yearly

• OSR Chair (3-year position) Chair-Elect (1 year), Chair (1 year), Past Chair (1 year)

• National Delegates (1-year position) Five are elected and take office immediately

o Communicationso Community & Diversityo Legislative o Medical Educationo Student Affairs

OSR OfficersRegional Officers • Elected at the Regional Meetings every spring

• Regional Chairs (1-year position) take office in the fall One Regional Chair is elected from each region

o Centralo Northeasto Southerno Western

• Regional Delegates (1-year position) take office in the spring, upon election One is elected for each area in each region

o Communicationso Community & Diversityo Legislativeo Medical Education o Student Affairs

The OSR Administrative Board“Ad Board”

Central Regional Chair

Northeast Regional Chair

Southern Regional Chair

Western Regional Chair

Chair

Past Chair

Elected by OSRinstitutionalreps

Elected by each region

Chair-Elect

National Delegate

National Delegate

National Delegate

National Delegate

National Delegate

OSR StaffAAMC Headquarters• Washington, D.C.

Ally Anderson, aanderson@aamc.org– Manager, Student & Community Service Programs

Denine Hales, dhales@aamc.org– Senior Administrative Associate

Julie Taylor, jtaylor@aamc.org– Administrative Assistant

Additional opportunities OSR Liaisons• OSR Reps are selected to serve as liaisons to

various committees. Examples: ERAS Various Groups on Student Affairs Committees National Board of Medical Examiners National Resident Matching Program Women in Medicine Coordinating Committee Careers in Medicine

Welcome to theAAMC-OSR!