Message from the COSFA Chair

COSFA is one of six standing committees of the Group on Student Affairs (GSA). COSFA members include:

• The COSFA Chair, who serves as a representative to the GSA Steering Committee.
• The Chair of the GSA Steering Committee.
• A representative from each of the four regional GSA organizations (Northeast, Central, Southern, and Western).
• A representative from the GSA Minority Affairs Section (MAS).
• A representative from the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives (OSR).
• A liaison from the National Medical Fellowships (NMF).

The mission of COSFA is to provide guidance on legislative and regulatory issues regarding type, availability, and delivery of financial assistance to medical students. COSFA achieves it mission through:

• Receipt of regular reports from the Association staff on the status of specific financial aid legislation and national Association data describing the distribution of financial aid to medical students.
• Consideration of educational and support programs and activities to assist schools in counseling medical students regarding the financing of their medical education and the repayment of student loans.
• Development of sessions for the Annual Meeting for consideration by the GSA Steering Committee.
• Identification of special projects related to issues of national importance and interest.
• Participation in the annual Financial Aid Professional Development Conference.

COSFA is an advisory committee to the GSA Steering Committee and makes regular reports to the Steering Committee and seeks approval of the Steering Committee for special projects.

Within the COSFA web pages you will find a myriad of information to assist you in your work with medical students and in your professional development. In addition, COSFA welcomes input from GSA constituents regarding issues of national interest. We look forward to hearing from you.

Carrie Steere-Salazar
Director, Student Financial Services
UC San Francisco SOM
Chair, Committee on Student Financial Assistance
carrie.steere-salazar@ucsf.edu