AMWA Student NewsFlash

AMWA Student Elections

The American Medical Women's Association is now accepting applications for leadership positions. Student elections will be held at the 99^th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on March 14-16th, 2014 at the Ritz-Carlton.

We encourage all our Student Members to apply for leadership positions - this is your opportunity to shape AMWA's future! Our Student Division only grows through your commitment to the advancement of women in medicine and through your continued dedication to the promotion of AMWA. Each national leadership position involves different time commitments and expertise; for a detailed explanation of each position, please visit our elections page. All applications must be submitted through the online application by January 31, 2014 11:59pm PST. Please feel free to contact the current AMWA leaders on our AMWA leadership page to ask them more about their experiences or about the requirements of their positions.

Vote for the President-Elect & AMWA BOD

Take the time right now to vote for the Physician Division President- Elect, who will serve as our President in 2015 -2016,during AMWA’s centennial year. The elected Treasurer and the four Board Directors will assume their post at the end of our 2014 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

To learn about each candidate and their platform, please take the time to visit the AMWA homepage under the Latest News. Voting is open until December 30, 2013 at midnight. Click here to vote for the new President-Elect!

Awards, Scholarships, and Grants

Medical Education Scholarships-- AMWA awards two $1000 scholarships per year to currently enrolled medical students who embody AMWA goals in order to help defray the cost of a medical education. Application cycle is now open until January 31, 2014. For more more information on scholarship requirements and application, click here!
Kaplan Scholarships--AMWA awards a $1000 scholarship to go towards USMLE/COMLEX Kaplan Test Prep. The application cycle is now open until January 31, 2014. For more information on requirements and to download the application, click here!
Linda Brodsky MD Essay Award-- This award honors the women who have mentored, inspired, and encouraged young students to become physicians. In this student essay, you must "identify a female physician who has been a significant role model or mentor to you and discuss her impact on your decision to become a physician". The winner of the contest will be presented with a $500 scholarship provided by Dr. Roberta Gebhard DO at the Annual Meeting and have their essay published on the AMWA website. The application deadline is February 15, 2014.
Young Women In Science Award--The Young Women in Science Award will recognize outstanding student achievement in basic science and research.These awards are given to the first through third place winners of the student poster presentation at the AMWA Annual Meeting. Research posters are evaluated on the basis of basic science, presentation, and commitment to an innovative and significant research project which contributes to scientific and medical knowledge. For more information, click here.
Student Poster Presentations--Abstract submissions are currently being accepted for both case studies and original research. Please apply now using this form. The deadline to submit an abstract for the 2014 meeting will be January 10, 2014.
Travel Grants--AMWA recognizes the additional financial assistance our members need when planning to attend our meeting. We offer extremely discounted attendance fees for our student members to enable them to attend and offer many travel grants to make our conference more affordable. Applications for travel grants are available now and accepted on a rolling basis. Please apply now using this form. The deadline to apply for a travel grant for the 2014 meeting will be January 10, 2014.

Region 4 Update
by Allison Holder, Region 4 Director

Region 4 has been busy this year working on membership recruitment, branch initiation/reactivation and community involvement. First and foremost, Region 4 is happy to announce the start of a new branch at the University of Miami Palm Beach Campus! Congratulations! In addition to new AMWA branches, many of our established branches have been actively involved in the community. A few examples include the Medical College of Georgia branch raising $2,000 for a women’s shelter; NOVA Southeastern volunteering for the Women’s Breast Health Initiative during breast cancer awareness month; and the University of South Florida volunteering their time to teach college-aged women about sexual health. Our region has even been fortunate enough to have an international presence through a mission trip many of the members of the Florida International University attended in Peru. While 2013 has been a wonderful year, Region 4 endeavors to top its 2013 efforts in 2014. As a region out goals for the upcoming year include continued growth, community involvement and a persistent effort to raise awareness of women’s health issues. We look forward to a successful 2014!

2013-2014 Anne C. Carter Global Health Fellows
By Judy Gbadebo & Toni Aluko, Global Health Chairs

Congratulations to Nerlyne Desravines, Stephany Gabaud, Martha Holstein, and Chelsea Williams for being selected as the 2013-2015 Anne C. Carter Global Health Fellows! The fellows will spend their first year of the fellowship planning and implementing local global health projects, and their second year preparing for a domestic or international global health service trip. Get to know our fellows and see how they plan to make a difference in Global Health.

Member Highlight: Allison Silverstein

My name is Allison Silverstein and I am currently a second year student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine pursuing an MD and MS in Genomic Medicine. As an undergraduate student, I remember sitting down with my mentor and discussing my concern about how to best find success as a woman in medicine. From the very moment she introduced me to AMWA, I knew that it would serve as an integral part of both my medical school involvement and future career. During high school, I volunteered for multiple summers at Camp Rainbow, a camp for kids with cancer and other blood-related diseases and disorders. My experiences there showed me how the power of medicine can help give patients back their chance to be kids and served as both an inspiring and motivating factor for my going to medical school. Upon entering medical school, I was fortunate to join AMWA and serve as the Region 4 Director last year and our Local Branch President this year. Whether in the pursuit of a research project about women’s health issues or struggling to fathom how to maintain work-life balance, AMWA serves as an indispensable foundation and support system. I look forward to continuing my involvement in AMWA on both the local and national levels as I grow as an aspiring Pediatrician. AMWA has already given me so much and I hope to have the opportunity to give back to new generations of students trying to find their own way in medicine.

Know of any members who embody the ideals of AMWA? Send your nominations for the Member Highlight to Komal Paladugu!

Opportunities to Get Involved in AMWA

Looking for new and exciting ways to get involved in AMWA? Keep up to date on the newest opportunities here:

National Conference-- We are now accepting travel grant applications and abstract submissions online for the conference. Deadline for both applications is January 10, 2014. Remember to apply early!
Gun Violence Collaboration-Working with Doctors for America, AMWA is supporting a petition to Washington D.C., in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown CT. The petition AMWA is supporting reads, in part "We, the undersigned doctors, nurses, medical students, and nursing students urge you to pass gun safety legislation immediately and present the nation with a comporehensive plan to curtail gun-related violence". Click here to learn more about the petition and to sign! If you would like to lead this effort, contact Marissa Orenstein for more information.
Traveling Exhibit-- Leading up to AMWA's centennial year, help coordinate an AMWA display at various institutions. Contact Marissa Orenstein for more information.
Residency Division-- The RD’s AMWA Resident Quarterly features research, pieces by residents on their experiences, and much more! Contact Elizabeth Berdran,RD Secretary, to get the ARQ and keep up with the rapidly growing residency division!
Don't see anything for you? Peruse our many committees and contact us !

PARTNERSHIPS