OUR HISTORY

SAMA Holds its first Annual Convention at Chicago’s Sheraton Hotel.

SAMA (now AMSA) officially becomes financially independent from AMA — a check is presented to repay start-up costs.

House of Delegates is added at fifth Annual Convention

SAMA Foundation is launched to promote better public health, bolster med-ed and research activities and help students finance education.

AMSA leads the fight against the American Medical Association’s ban on student involvement in political and social issues, which was eventually overturned.

Medicare and Medicaid: AMSA was instrumental in advocating for the passage of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.

Stanford Chapter starts a movement by withdrawing from AMA

Independence Day (from AMA): SAMA splits from AMA, announcing its philosophical as well as financial independence.

National Student Health Project founded to support rural and Native American communities in Appalachia and beyond.

AMSA played a significant role in the formation of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) in the US to address healthcare disparities.

AMSA involved in Physician National House staff Association to advocate for improvements in working conditions and rights of medical students and residents.

Helps Establish the Physician National Housestaff Association — nation’s first professional organization for medical interns and residents

AMSA begins publishing The New Physician, a quarterly magazine that provides information and resources on a range of medical and public health issues.

AMSA Foundation establishes the Center for Physician Development at the University of New Mexico to augment the development of socially responsible physicians

Name changed officially from SAMA to AMSA at the 25th Annual Convention

The Chinese Medical Association invites AMSA members as 1st delegation of medical students to come to the People’s Republic of China

AMSA launches the PharmFree campaign, which aims to eliminate conflicts of interest between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.

The AMSA Foundation launches the National Health Service Corps Health Promotion Disease Prevention Project

Sharon Scanlon is appointed the first legislative affairs director

Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA): AMSA helped advocate for the passage of EMTALA, which requires hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In collaboration with Pew Memorial Trust and the “We Are the Word” Save Africa rock group, AMSA develops its first international consortium of medical schools for exchanging and training physicians in Nigeria and Ghana.

The AMSA Health Education Assistance Loan “HEAL Deal” provides medical students the first discounted loan rates.

In collaboration with Pew Memorial Trust and the “We Are the Word” Save Africa rock group, AMSA develops its first international consortium of medical schools for exchanging and training physicians in Nigeria and Ghana.

The Washington Health Policy Fellowship Program launches — offering students unique health policy learning opportunities

AMSA launches the Gender Equity Task Force to address issues of gender discrimination and sexism in medicine.

AMSA’s Generalist Physicians-in-Training Project is introduced — aimed to fortify a community-responsive, primary care physician workforce

AMSA goes grassroots to save the National Health Service Corps

AMSA involved in advocating for reform of Residency Match Algorithm to a more student friendly residency selection process.

AMSA appeals to the National Resident Matching Program to change the Match algorithm in favor of students

Mental Health Parity Act: AMSA supported the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act, which requires insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

AMSA develops the Training Future Physicians (TFP) program, which provides medical students with opportunities to learn about health policy and advocacy.

AMSA plays a key role in writing and introducing The Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act of 2001 that limits resident work hours.

Jack Rutledge Fellowship for Achieving Universal Health Care and Eliminating Health Disparities is established, in honor of a past, inspiring AMSA president.

AMSA advocated for Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act and then advocated for ACGME to adjust its own requirements.

NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine awards $1.2M grant to AMSA to advance the path of alternative medicine in medical education.

AMSA launches its nationwide PharmFree campaign to educate medical students on the influences of the pharmaceutical industry and empower them to make unbiased, informed decisions

In response to AMSA’s advocacy efforts, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education adjusts requirements to include tougher standards on resident work hours

AMSA releases its first PharmFree Scorecard, a first-of-its-kind ranking of medical schools according to their pharmaceutical influence policies.

AMSA launches the Protect Our Patients campaign, which advocates for better patient safety practices and medical error reduction.

AMSA establishes the National Primary Care Week, an annual event designed to raise awareness about the importance of primary care in healthcare.

AMSA releases the Race, Ethnicity and Culture in Health (REACH) toolkit, a resource designed to help medical students and healthcare professionals address issues of health disparities and cultural competence.

Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA): AMSA supported the passage of CARA, which aimed to address the opioid epidemic by providing funding for addiction treatment and recovery programs.

Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act: AMSA supported the reauthorization of the Conrad State 30 program, which provides visas for foreign physicians who agree to work in medically underserved areas of the United States.

AMSA brings in close to half a million dollars and establishes the Reproductive Health Project.

AMSA supports and works to pass the Inflation reduction act.

AMSA reestablishes Pharm Free Scorecard Campaign.