AAMC Organization of Student Representatives (OSR)
The OSR is the student branch of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC is comprised of, and represents undergraduate and graduate medical education in the U.S. The OSR is comprised of representatives from each of the 125 allopathic medical schools in the United States. The sixteen medical schools from Canada are also invited to participate in OSR activities, though they do not have voting privileges.
The OSR is charged with the representation of the undergraduate medical student body of the U.S. to the academic medicine community. Unlike other student organizations (e.g., AMA-MSS, SNMA, or AMSA), who represent their membership, the OSR's constituency comprises all medical students. The concerns of the OSR lie exclusively within academic medicine and medical education.
The AAMC is dedicated to the improvement of the nation's health through the advancement of academic medicine. The OSR, therefore, works in conjunction with the AAMC to strengthen the quality of medical education and training. Additionally, the OSR provides an excellent route of communication among students from medical schools all over the country. At national and regional conventions, students (with faculty members) discuss topics such as student advising and career counseling, sexual harassment, various curriculum options, financial aid, multi-culturalism and health care reform.
The goals of the OSR are to first become aware of student issues locally. The next step is the sharing of ideas and concerns with the OSR representatives from other schools. The final crucial step is to work actively to transform this newly acquired information into action and change. Student representatives are chosen via an application and interview process by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Dean of the College of Medicine with input from current OSR representatives.
For more information, visit:
http://www.aamc.org/members/osr/start.htm.
Louisa Bechtel, M4
Primary Representative
louisa.bechtel@utoledo.edu
Zach Adams, M3
Alternate Representative
daniel.adams@utoledo.edu
Ricci Sylla, M2
Alternate Representative
ricci.sylla@utoledo.edu
University of Toledo AAMC OSR representatives Zach Adams, Louisa Bechtel, and Ricci Sylla
Ricci Sylla, Director of Student Life Della Croci, and Zach Adams in Omaha, Nebraska for the 2007 OSR/GSA AAMC Central Region Meeting.
National AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award
The Association of American Medical Colleges (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. Criteria for the award include:
- Positive Mentoring Skills
- Involvement in Community Service
- Compassion/Sensitivity
- Collaboration with Students and Patients
- Modeling Ethics of the Profession
Each academic medical center is able to nominate one clinical faculty member annually. Previous nominees from The University of Toledo College of Medicine include:
2008: Dr. Lawrence Elmer (Neurology)--see complete nomination here.
2007: Dr. Richard Paat (Internal Medicine)--see complete nomination here.
For further information regarding the Humanism in Medicine Award, please visit:
http://www.aamc.org/members/osr/humanism/start.htm or contact any of UTCOM's OSR reps.
