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 (GSA-MAS) National Chair, a representative from the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) and the GSA-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, 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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