Message from the GSA National Chair

This is an exciting time to become involved in the area of student affairs. Changes in the approach to health care reform from our new administration will impact all aspects of the GSA. Changes across medical education including expansion of medical schools class size, information technology and new methods of teaching. I've described important changes in admissions, student records, diversity, as well as the training of our physicians below. Likely changes in the examinations for licensure offer the opportunity to rethink the standard curriculum of classroom teaching followed by apprenticeship in the clinical setting.

Throughout this time of rapid change we are fortunate to have the services of the dedicated professionals at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Our GSA professionals strengthen our connections to the health care continuum throughout the AAMC. As one of 14 groups within the AAMC, we welcome their support with the activities of the GSA constituent committees, GSA regional groups, and GSA resource documents.

GSA Committees

The Group on Student Affairs is one of 14 professional groups within the AAMC. Established in 1958, the mission of the GSA is to advance medical education and to represent the interests of medical schools and medical students in five areas of practice and expertise: Admissions, Financial Aid, Diversity, Student Records, and Student Affairs.

Each of the five areas has its own committee and detailed information about each of these committees is included on this site. A few of the priorities in each area are summarized below:

Committee on Admissions (COA) priorities include:

• expanding the admissions process by developing methods to assess professionalism among applicants
• developing tools to assist medical schools in performing holistic review of their applicants
• developing a system for submitting letters of recommendation to medical schools electronically

Of note, the AAMC is launching a review of the MCAT examination with a 21-member committee including representation from the GSA. This will be the first comprehensive review in 15 years. There will be a revamped version of the examination within the next few years (no sooner than 2013).

Committee on Student Financial Assistance (COSFA) priorities include:

• comprehensive new Web site FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools) for applicants, medical school students, residents, advisors, and financial aid officers; it was created by the AAMC in collaboration with the medical school financial aid community and the Organization of Student Representatives to help members of the academic medicine community navigate the complexities of student debt
• visiting medical schools throughout the country to help educate the medical community about financial aid services including loan repayment programs

Committee on Diversity Affairs (CODA): This new committee will address:

• recruitment, enrollment, retention, and postgraduate education of medical students of diverse backgrounds

GSA strongly supports this ongoing strong linkage between diversity and student affairs.

Committee on Student Affairs (COSA) priorities include:

• updating the Handbook for Student Affairs Officers
• surveying student affairs officers on the compensation, staffing and funding of their offices
• concerns about issues of mental health in our medical students
• developing a best practices document supporting students during the Scramble

Committee on Student Records (COSR) priorities include:

• revising its Handbook for Student Records Administrators, which will include an effective practices documentation increasingly popular joint/dual/combined degree programs
• developing with the AAMC the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS), an application designed to streamline the application process for senior 'away' electives in the U.S.

These are just a few of the activities of the Group on Student Affairs. Do take this opportunity to visit each of the committee Web sites for additional information.

Regional GSA Groups
In addition to the activities of the GSA committees, the Web site has additional information from each regional student affairs group: Central Region Group on Student Affairs (CGSA), Northeast Region Group on Student Affairs (NEGSA), Southern Region Group on Student Affairs (SGSA), and Western Region Group on Student Affairs (WGSA). Contact information for regional leadership and upcoming meetings and activities is all available on the regional group sites. This input from the local level continues to communicate substantive issues, concerns and recommendations to the GSA steering committee.

GSA Resources
This site offers a wealth of additional information, handbooks and documents including information on student health, chemical dependency, financial literacy, crisis management, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and preparing for the National Residency Matching Program, e.g. "The AAMC Roadmap to Residency: From Application to the Match and Beyond."

Best wishes for the 2009-2010 academic year! If you have questions, do get in touch!

Molly Osborne, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Oregon Health & Science University
2009-2010 GSA National Chair
osbornem@ohsu.edu