Medical School Life

Medical student leadership opportunities

UPDATED . 6 MIN READ

At the local or national level, the AMA is your ally in providing you with student leadership roles to develop your skills and advocate for patients and the profession. Join the AMA and get access to leadership opportunities for students, training to increase relevant skills and chances to network with peers. 

Half the dues, all the AMA benefits!

  • Exclusive education programs & key study guides to help you thrive.
  • Access to JAMA Network™, ClassPass gym discounts & more!

Supporting you today as a medical student. Protecting your future as a physician.

AMA Board of Trustees—student member

The Board of Trustees guides the activities of the AMA and ensures that the AMA remains focused on its essential reason for being: to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024. 


Medical student leadership series

Develop the leadership skills you need in medical school with five, 20-minute interactive modules.

AMA Foundation Board—student member

The AMA Foundation (AMAF) is the philanthropic arm of the AMA. The AMAF Board of Directors is composed of at least 13 and no more than 20 members, including a medical student representative.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024. 


AMA Medical Student Outreach Program—Outreach Leader

Through the Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP), outreach leaders lead peer-to-peer AMA recruitment efforts at their medical schools to strengthen the voice of the AMA and help shape the future of medicine. 

Learn more about this position


AMPAC Board—student member

The American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC) supports the AMA’s advocacy agenda by making campaign contributions to medicine-friendly candidates for Congress.

AMPAC Board student member application (DOCX, members only)

Application deadline: Aug. 15, 2024.


Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Issues—student member

The Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Issues provides an advocacy forum for addressing the unique issues of LGBTQ physicians and patients.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024.


Minority Affairs Section Governing Council—student member

The Minority Affairs Section (MAS) addresses the issues and concerns of underrepresented minority physicians and improving the health of minority populations.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024.


Women Physicians Section Governing Council—student member

The Women Physicians Section (WPS) furthers issues related to women’s health and works to accelerate the professional progress of women physicians through leadership development, training and advocacy.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024.


Appointments to AMA councils—student member

One of the most powerful advocacy tools the MSS employs is to appoint student members to the AMA Councils.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024.


MSS Governing Council

The Medical Student Section (MSS) Governing Council directs the programs and activities of the section on a national level.

Learn more about the governing council (PDF)

Learn about the responsibilities of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer (PDF)

2024 MSS Speakers' Ruling (PDF)

Dean's letter of endorsement (DOC)

MSS Governing Council application

Application deadline: May 5, 2024.


Medical student regional delegates

Elected by the MSS regions at each Interim Meeting, medical student regional delegates and alternate delegates represent the interests of medical students in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD).

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024. 


MSS standing committees

Appointed annually by the MSS Governing Council, the MSS standing committees support the mission of the MSS by performing various tasks as requested by the governing council.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in spring 2024. 


MSS convention committees

Convention committees are small, representative groups that expedite the conduct of business at meetings of the MSS Assembly (each June and November).

Learn more about this position (PDF)


The AMA Government Relations Advocacy Fellow (GRAF) offers medical students a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the intersection between organized medicine and the federal government as it relates to advocacy and policy-making.

Learn more about this position (PDF)


Each medical specialty society, Federal Service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Health Service, Department of Veterans Affairs) and professional interest medical association represented in the HOD and that has established a medical student component is entitled to representation in the MSS Assembly at a rate of one voting representative and one non-voting alternate representative per organization. Credentialing is completed in advance of each AMA Annual/Interim Meeting and is separate from credentialing for representation in the HOD.

Federation organizations that have already been granted representation in the MSS Assembly should credential their representatives by following these guidelines:

  • Students selected as representatives should register themselves for the MSS meeting and indicate that they will represent a national medical specialty society, Federal Service or professional interest medical association.
  • These students will subsequently receive a credentialing form via email, which must be submitted by the deadline noted for voting rights to be granted at that meeting.

Federation organizations that have not already been granted representation in the MSS Assembly must apply for representation at least 90 days before the first MSS Assembly meeting at which they wish to be represented. Contact Shane McGoey at [email protected] to learn more and to request an application.


Liaison Committee on Medical Education—student representative

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the joint Committee of the AMA and the Association of American Medical Colleges that serves as the nationally recognized accrediting agency for U.S. allopathic medical schools.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024.


National Board of Medical Examiners Advisory Committee

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) governs the licensing exams taken by all medical students and physicians.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

National Board of Medical Examiners Student Roundtable

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) governs the licensing exams taken by all medical students and physicians. 

Learn more about this position (PDF)

NBME Roundtable application (DOC)

Application deadline: April 21, 2024 at 1:59 a.m. Central.


National Resident Matching Program Board of Directors—student representative

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) coordinates the residency match process for applicants and residency programs.

Learn more about this position (PDF)

Application will be available in fall 2024. 

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