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Check out the October 2013 edition of AMWA Student NewsFlash!
Student NewsFlash
October 2013
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calling all branch presidents: we hope that you'll forward these AMWA Student NewsFlashes to your local branch members!
 

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Komal Paladugu, National Student Secretary

 Hey everyone! October marks the beginning of fall, the NFL proudly sporting pink, costume-clad children hoarding candy like McScrooge, and in recent news, the government shutting down.  The shutdown has affected many aspects of the health industry including the FDA, CDC, and NIH, prompting us to fear the ramifications in the coming months.  Through all of this, we wonder, is it not possible for the key players in the government to work together, offer compromise, and synergistically come up with a solution? The importance of these qualities in our leaders is essential, whether that be in government, AMWA, or in a school project. So, as we wait, I hope that our officials will recognize these values and end their stalemate. AMWA is taking action through mentoring programs, leadership positions, and advocacy activities, to foster these skills and put out strong young women will go on to be involved in multiple leadership roles. Take the opportunity and get involved this month and develop your leadership skills!  Any ideas for improvement?  Feel free to contact me! 
 

AMWA October Advocacy Calendar
 

  • National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • October 19: National Mammography Day







































































 
Anne C. Carter Student Leadership Award

AMWA honors the memory of Anne C. Carter, MD with an annual award for outstanding student leadership.
  • National AMWA medical student member
  • Demonstrated exceptional leadership skills through vision, inspiration, innovation, and coordination of local projects that further the mission of AMWA by improving women's health and/or supporting women in medicine
Must be nominated by an AMWA student chapter
 
Click here to view more details of the various awards and to download a nomination form for the Anne C Carter Award, the AMWA Exceptional Mentor Award, and a number of additional awards available to AMWA members.

The awards ceremony will be March 15, 2014 at the National Conference. Deadline for nominations is November 5, 2013.
 
AMWA National Conference

Save the date: March 14-March 16, 2014! The 99th annual national AMWA conference will be taking place in Washington, DC at the Ritz Carlton. Come out to meet some of the most avant-garde female physicians and medical students as AMWA takes on key topics of "Successfully Facing Future Challenges and Advances".  Access more information here!

National Chair Update

By Yaowaree Leavell, Recruitment Chair

Student AMWA Recruitment has a number of short and long term goals. We have been extremely active and now have 5 new branches, 2 in progress, and 7 reactivated, bringing our total up to 127 branches across the US. We are currently coming out of the most active part of recruitment season. After a flurry of activity, the volume of books, brochures, and other recruitment materials being mailed each month has slowed to a trickle, and is being replaced by a growing number of new member incentives.

Our long term goals are to reactivate inactive branches, expand membership in the Caribbean, streamline the data tracking process/documents, and find creative recruitment methods such as the QR codes that are cost-effective and take advantage of ubiquitous social tech. You can all be of help with all of these goals by spreading the word about joining AMWA, contacting schools without an AMWA branch or Caribbean schools if you have a personal connection to any of them, and of course by shooting me an email with your awesome creative ideas!
 

Member Highlight: Constance Barnes

Constance Barnes is an M2 at University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine.  She became involved in AMWA after speaking with a Regional Director  and an MS3 at Meharry Medical College. Constance is chartering the first AMWA chapter at her school and the chapter’s planned efforts include breast and cervical cancer awareness, women’s global health, health education for adolescents, mentoring students and young girls in health-related professions and collaborating with various undergraduate institutions.  She visited Haiti this past summer on a medical mission trip and observing the lack of resources, she was inspired to give back and make a difference.
 
In the eyes of Constance, AMWA represents the gateway to training a new generation of women healthcare professionals:  women who are not only confident but who recognize the need to support one another and unlock doors for women in the years to come, in hopes of one day eliminating the disparity between the number of men and women leaders in medicine.  In addition, Constance is an aspiring pediatrician and is interested in the idea of whether societal norms for female children correlate with their success as adults.

Region 7 Spotlight
By Jessica Sheth, Region 7 Director

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an important time to take a step back and educate ourselves regarding this important and frighteningly prevalent issue. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Nearly three out of four of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day. Throughout Region 7, many branches are hosting events aimed at raising funds or supplies for their local domestic violence shelters. Of note, the University of Kansas Medical Center’s AMWA branch hosted a “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event to raise awareness and support of Rose Brooks Domestic Violence Shelter. This event, where men walk one mile in women’s high heels, is a fun opportunity to raise awareness in the community about the serious causes, effects, and remediations to sexualized violence. While it may not be easy, events like this provide an important venue for the community to talk about gender relations and sexual violence. Additionally, the University of South Dakota branch will be hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness Luncheon with a speaker discussing how to recognize signs of domestic violence with a special awareness on child abuse in pediatrics. For more information about domestic violence please click here. 
 
Residency Division: Human Trafficking

Kanani Titchen, Residency Division President, is spearheading research in human trafficking, its impact on health, and the knowledge physicians and medical students possess about this topic.  Participate in this short questionnaire to help assess the current level health care professional and student understanding of this clinically important issue!
 
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: 
  • Blog Alert--Did you know that AMWA has a blog? Be sure to check it out here! Our entries highlight medical student experiences in addition to feature stories from physicians. Feel free to send any questions or email any submissions to our coordinator here.
  • Bed and Breakfast-- Be an integral part of AMWA by signing up to be a host for students traveling for conferences and residency interviews!  By doing so, you will be able to meet more of the amazing women in AMWA and will be entered in a raffle for a $100 grant.  Join now by logging on to the AMWA portal. Contact Lauren Nicholls for more information!
  • American Women's Hospital Service--Accepting grant proposals with a focus on: sustainability, community involvement, community impact, interest/potential for mentorship, and more. The clinic grant application is available here.  Applications are being accepted until December 15, 2013.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
  • Undergraduate Expansion-- AMWA is currently expanding to undergraduate institutions in an effort to increase mentoring programs for budding young women interested in the medical profession. Help us reach out by being a point of contact for an undergraduate institution or helping us identify enthusiastic passionate young women who have an interest in chartering an Undergraduate AMWA branch. Contact Parin Patel for more information!
  • Don't see anything for you? Peruse our many committees and  contact us !
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Copyright © 2013 American Medical Women's Association, Student Division, All rights reserved.