Three Key Sessions at AMSA’s Annual Convention

Matt Brewster

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the nation’s largest trade group dedicated to the emerging clinician. This network of new physicians in the field allows medical school students and practicing residents to come together to share stories and provide support in a very challenging field. It’s an organization dedicated to nurturing fledgling doctors in a field that desperately needs more talent.

Each year the AMSA offers members, vendors and interested organizations an annual conference designed to give new doctors access to the best tools to supplement their clinical training. It’s a great opportunity for networking and learning. Here are three of the sessions from AMSA’s 2019 conference held in Washington, D.C. March 7 through 10.

1. Crush the Interview

There were several sessions on interviewing for medical students and residents this year.

Interviewing is obviously a skill that is used throughout a medical career, as evidenced by a number of training sessions at the AMSA convention. Conducting a successful interview is crucial for pre-med students seeking to enter medical school, residency candidates, as well as the newly graduated physician seeking a placement.    Understanding what to expect, from what to wear to what questions are typically asked and what questions to ask, is crucial to a new doctor’s peace of mind when participating in any interview, let alone the med school interview, where the pressure is high.

2. Clinical Skills Workshops – Naloxone Training

In addition to training new doctors on soft skills and emotional IQ needed to survive med school and residency, the conference offered clinical skills workshops to help doctors save lives.

One training was on how to handle drug overdoses. Sadly, our country is experiencing a drug overdose crisis; the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says 130 Americans die every day from an overdose. From legally prescribed prescription opioids to street heroin, drugs are exacting a terrible price.

Naloxone is a life-saving treatment that blocks the opioid receptors in the human body, thereby reversing the effects of a drug overdose. When administered quickly, naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose and save lives. Students attending the AMSA workshop learned how to use the medication to react quickly and effectively in the event of an overdose.

3. Hands-On Skills – Washington Advocacy

Interestingly, the AMSA has always had a strong advocacy focus, so attendees at this year’s conference had the opportunity to spend the first day of the conference mingling with state and federal lawmakers in Congress. The session kicked off with a talk on the importance of student activism and why legislative advocacy matters. The session sought to connect medical students with legislators on a variety of controversial topics, such as Medicare for All and gun violence. Participants also spoke frankly with congressional representatives about the need for changes in drug pricing as part of an overall effort to cut healthcare costs in our overburdened system.

Partner with MedSource Consultants today!

Medical students, residents and new doctors should consider continuing their education by speaking with a talent acquisition specialist at MedSource. Our organization offers a variety of resources for those new to the field. Talk with the professionals at MedSource Consultants to discuss best practice interview techniques as well as learning which markets have the best openings for new graduates.