CMA Committees and Councils
CMA has medical student representatives on many CMA committees and councils. Serving on CMA committees is an invaluable experience that allows participants to network with other CMA members and plays a role in the development of CMA policies and positions. Nomination forms are distributed every February with elections taking place in April.
The time commitment varies depending on the council or committee, which usually meets two to four times per year, sometimes by conference call.
CMA reimburses meeting-related expenses, such as round-trip coach airfare, parking, and mileage. The student office term on any CMA committee is one year, beginning after their appointment. Student incumbents are eligible for reappointment provided they are still enrolled in school and they submit a nomination form. They are ranked, however, along with all new nominees. Qualified students are encouraged to apply for any committee, even those with incumbent representatives.
Please be advised that students appointed to a committee must be a member of the CMA and their local county medical society by the commencement of their term.
For information on nominations and to be added to the leadership distribution list, please contact Shannon Lujan at slujan@cmanet.org or (916) 551-2056 or contact your chapter campus representative at your medical school for information on becoming the official medical school delegate to the California Medical Association.
Below are details of the committees and councils with medical student representatives.
Fill out and submit your application by March 20, 2010.
MSS Executive Committee
Chair
Presides at all meetings of the Governing Council and represents the section on all matters of policy. The chair works with staff throughout the term to ensure agendas and minutes are developed and work projects and tasks are monitored in conjunction with the Vice Chairs.
CMA Board of Trustees, Student Position
Although the House of Delegates at its Annual Meeting sets policy of the California Medical Association, the Board of Trustees has the responsibility for seeing that this policy is implemented throughout the year and dealing with many interim policy issues which arise between Annual Meetings. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, receiving and acting on reports and recommendations of Councils and Committees appointed by the House of Delegates, as well as reports of Committees of the Board of Trustees. The Board meets about 6 times a year and usually on Fridays. Service on the CMA-MSS Governing Council is helpful and/or prior relevant experience.
2 Vice Chair Positions
The Vice Chair of Chapter Development works with campus chapters on developing opportunities for students to become involved with organized medicine. The Vice Chair of Legislation educates the MSS on legislative issues directly impacting medical students.
Communications Officer
Help staff make decisions on the most appropriate media for publication of articles, and provide feedback and advice on overall public outreach efforts
.
Delegate and Alternate, CMA Delegation to the AMA
The Delegation's principal purposes are the representation at the national level of the California members of the AMA, and to support the policies of the California Medical Association. Delegates and alternate delegates are expected to be present at all meetings of the AMA House of Delegates, to take part in Reference Committee hearings and to be present at all Delegation caucuses. The Delegation shall be active in all functions of the AMA House of Delegates, including the appropriate presentation of candidates for various AMA offices, both elective and appointive. Member must commit to attend the annual AMA meeting for six days in June and the interim meeting for five days in December. Service on the CMA-MSS Governing Council and/or prior relevant experience is helpful.
Council on Legislation
To submit recommendations concerning CMA policy positions on federal and state legislative, regulatory and administrative proposals based on review of information made available through CMA committees, specialty organizations and CMA staff. Other related or relevant experience recommended.
EMOS Representative
To represent medical student views as the purpose of EMOS is to extend the mission of CMA, by reaching out the myriad ethnic organizations and recruiting more ethnic physicians
CALPAC Board of Directors
CALPAC is the voluntary, bipartisan political action arm of the CMA. Its purpose is to educate physicians for greater effectiveness in state and federal politics. CALPAC supports candidates for California State Senate and Assembly offices, and recommends AMPAC (American Medical Political Action Committee) support for California Congressional candidates, based upon their personal philosophies and records of support of organized medicine's interests. There are two positions (1) for the CALAPC Board of Directors and (2) Executive Committee. Service on the CMA-MSS Governing Council is helpful and/or prior relevant experience.
CMA Foundation Representative
CMAF is an independent non-profit, tax exempt research and educational foundation and a subsidiary of the CMA. CMAF will fund and undertake community health care programs, provide loans and awards for medical students, recognize current and future health care practitioners for outstanding community service and professional leadership, and build new collaborative efforts to address critical health care issues. The Foundation meets 3-4 times a year.
Council on Ethical Affairs
Responsible for investigating and supervising the ethical deportment of the membership of the Association and making recommendations for improvement of professional conduct and interpret the meaning and application of the Principles of Medical Ethics. In addition, the Council is responsible for studying and making recommendations about evolving scientific, technological, social and philosophical trends and issues which are immediate or long-term concerns to the medical professional, with emphases on medical ethics, bio-ethics and attendant areas.
Committee on Professional Liability
To identify, review, and make appropriate policy recommendations on all issues related to physicians' civil liability for professional conduct, including indemnification and operation of the civil liability system.
Council on Information Technology
To identify, review, and make appropriate policy recommendations on all issues related to Health Information Technology. |
