GSA - Message from COSA Chair
Greetings from the GSA National Committee on Student Affairs Chair.
The Group on Student Affairs (GSA) National Committee on Student
Affairs (COSA) is a committee of the Association of American Medical
Colleges (AAMC) GSA that represents medical school student affairs
officers nationally.
COSA's membership includes a representative from each of the four
GSA regional organizations, the GSA National Chair Elect, the GSA-Minority
Affairs Section (MAS) National Chair, a representative from
the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) and the MAS,
and the Chair.
All GSA national committees are advisory to the GSA Steering Committee
and to the AAMC. COSA's role is to provide guidance on issues related
to medical students, including personal and career counseling and
advisement, health services for medical students, the ethical and
professional development of students, and preparation of students
for the transition to residency. To assist in this role, COSA:
- Receives regular reports from the NBME and NRMP and from AAMC
services and programs (e.g., ERAS).
- Discusses issues of national interest that are brought to its
attention by GSA constituents or AAMC staff.
- Develops programs for the AAMC Annual Meeting.
- Identifies projects on issues of national importance and interest.
- Makes regular reports to the GSA Steering Committee and seeks
GSA Steering Committee approval for special projects.
COSA members representing regional GSA, MAS, and OSR attempt
to provide effective representation of the needs and concerns of
their constituents. Please share with them the issues that you wish
to see addressed at a national level. Projects identified for the
upcoming year include implementing a national survey of student
affairs manpower and staffing, the potential development of a template
for clinical placement affiliation agreements (in collaboration
with the GSA Committee on Student Records and other AAMC Components)
as well as plans for an upcoming Professional Development Conference
addressing issues of mutual concern among student affairs officers
and residency directors. Please contact your regional representative
or feel free to contact me to share your issues of concern.
Sam Parrish, M.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Drexel University College of Medicine
Chair, GSA National Committee on Student Affairs
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