The GSA National Committee on Admissions (COA) provides guidance on national policy and procedural issues regarding the admission of students to medical school, and the admission of transfer students or candidates with advanced standing. The Committee receives regular reports regarding two services of the AAMC: the American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS) and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Committee Charge
The Committee discusses issues of national interest that are brought to its attention by GSA constituents or AAMC staff. The Committee may identify projects, such as a national survey or the development of a brochure, where an issue is of national importance and interest. The Committee is advisory to the GSA Steering Committee, and, as such, makes regular reports to the Steering Committee and seeks approval of the Steering Committee for special projects.
Message from the Chair
I am honored to serve the national medical school admissions community and the AAMC as the chair of the Committee on Admissions (COA). COA is one of five national committees of the GSA and as with all of these GSA National Committees, we are advisory to the Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Steering Committee and to the AAMC. Our Committee is comprised of the COA chair, four regional representatives, the Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA) representative, the President of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP), an Organization of Student Representative (OSR) Liaison and the GSA National Vice-Chair.
At this time in history, as we face a myriad of unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, it is more important now than ever that we work together to understand and to address the multitude of challenges that all constituents- including applicants, pre-health advisors, and admissions officers- face in these difficult and unpredictable times. COA will work to ensure that our charge, to provide guidance on national policy and procedural issues regarding the admission of students to medical school, is fulfilled in collaboration with all stakeholders, and as these unpredictable times unfold, stand ready to move forward with flexibility and creativity.
We welcome your interest in the efforts of COA. With engagement of our admissions community and its diverse voices, we will be able to more effectively help to shape and to guide medical school admissions, and we encourage you to contact us with any admissions-related questions, ideas or proposals.
Sincerely,
Lina Mehta, MD
National Chair, GSA Committee on Admissions
Associate Dean for Admissions
Professor of Radiology
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Member Resources
Handbook for Admissions Officer
The Handbook for Admissions Officers updated by the Committee on Admissions in 2015 compiles key information, examples of best office practices, and general wisdom based on decades of experience. This handbook is included within the GSA Member Handbook in order to reflect the important relationship between admissions and student affairs. In an effort to go green, this handbook is not available in print. However, you may download the entire handbook (PDF).
Resources
(Sign In Required for Some Resources)
The AAMC offers members access to a wide range of resources. Please select the sign in link located at the top of this page to access member-only resources and all their features:
- Institutional Considerations for Contingency Planning Guide (Sign-in Required)
- Social Justice and Advocacy in Admissions Sample Secondary and Interview Questions (PDF)
- AAMC Covid-19 Response Dashboard: Admissions (PDF) (Sign-in Required)
- AAMC Ongoing Impacts of Covid-19 Medical School Admissions survey (Winter 2022)Â (Sign-in Required)
- COA Statement for 2022 Medical School Applicants (PDF)
- Best Practices in Admissions Processes for LCME Accredited Medical Schools (PDF)Â (Sign-in Required)
- Admissions Resources
- Application and Acceptance Protocols - Admission Officers
- Application and Acceptance Protocols - Applicants
- Best Practices for Recruitment and Retention of a Diverse Student Body Webinar
- Clinical Experiences Survey Executive Summary (PDF)
- Effective Practices for Using Socioeconomic Status Indicators in Medical School Admissions (PDF)
- Guidelines for Clinical Shadowing Experiences for Pre-Medical Students (PDF)
- Guidelines for Pre-Medical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care (PDF)
- Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs
- Using your Secondary Application to Assess the Impact of COVID on 2021 Applicants (PDF) (Sign-in Required)
Associations
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP)
COA Committee Roster
Chair
Lina Mehta, MD (April 2020 – November 2023)
Associate Dean for Admissions
Professor of Radiology
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
GSA National Vice-Chair
Joel Maurer, MD (November 2022 – November 2023)
Assistant Dean for Admissions
Associate Professor
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University
Clinical Center
Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA) Representative
Dimple Patel, MS (November 2021 – November 2024)
Associate Dean for Admissions
University of Minnesota Medical School/Twin Cities CampusÂ
Central Region (CGSA) Representative
Brian Steele, EdD (December 2022 – November 2023)
Associate Dean for Admissions; Assistant Professor, Family Medicine
University of Kansas School of MedicineÂ
Northeast Region (NEGSA) Representative
Liesel Copeland, PhD (November 2020 – April 2023)
Assistant Dean of Medical Education and Admissions
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Southern Region (SGSA) Representative
Judianne Kellaway, MD, MEd (November 2020 – November 2023)
Associate Dean for Admissions & Outreach
Professor of Ophthalmology
The Long School of Medicine
UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Western Region (WGSA) Representative
Leila E Harrison, PhD, MA, MEd (April 2019 – November 2023)
Vice Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Alumni Engagement
Clinical Assistant Professor
Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) Liaison
Michael Deibel, PhD (June 2020 – June 2023)
Interim Dean of the Faculty
Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Professor of Chemistry
Earlham College
Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) Liaison
Kia Smurawa (May 2021- May 2023)
MD Candidate, Class of 2023
Medical College of Wisconsin
AAMC Staff Liaison
Irena Tartakovsky, MD, MS
Director, Constituent Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges