The AMA Alliance is the volunteer voice for healthy families.  Its mission is to support medical families through advocacy and education.  For more information visit www.amaalliance.org.

AMA Alliance President Nancy Kyler

The AMA Alliance is the largest organization representing the family of medicine in the United States. It is organized in 40 states and more than 400 countries throughout the world, placing it in a unique position to serve the interests of medical families as no other single organization can. The Alliance network of physicians and physicians’ spouses represents all stages of the medical lifestyle, from the training years to retirement. The Alliance’s 2009-2010 President Nancy Kyler, a medical malpractice defense consultant from Stanton, Virginia married to a radiation oncologist recently took time away from her hectic schedule to talk with Student Doctor Network (SDN) about the Alliance’s services and programs.

Who makes up the membership of the AMA Alliance – is it limited to physician spouses/partners and families, or are others encouraged to join?

The AMA Alliance is a membership organization made up of medical students, medical student spouses, residents, resident physician spouses, physicians and physician spouses.  We have the unique perspective of the physician family and can offer support and guidance along the way.  We partner with a number of organizations such as Student Doctor Network,  American Medical Association, American Medical Association Foundation, American Medical Association Political Action Committee, National Council on Violence Prevention, American Psychiatric Association Alliance, Internet Keep Safe Coalition, American Legacy Foundation,  American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Read the full story

By Samir P. Desai, M.D., and Rajani Katta, M.D.
Authors of The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match and
250 Biggest Mistakes 3rd Year Medical Students Make And How To Avoid Them

Roy Ziegelstein, MD

Dr. Roy Ziegelstein is the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. For many years, he served as the program director of the internal medicine residency program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Presently, he is one of the associate residency program directors there.

In 2007, his article ”Rocking the Match” was published. In the article, he offers sage advice “from the perspective of someone who regularly mentors students through this process and as someone with years of experience as a residency program director evaluating prospective interns.”¹ Recently, Dr. Ziegelstein was able to share with us some of the wisdom gained from his extensive experience mentoring students.

Read the full story

By Laura Turner
SDN Staff Writer

The Student Doctor Network, in coordination with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), is pleased to announce the winner of the first annual SDN Scholarship in Community and Preventive Medicine. The inaugural winner is Tamar Nazerian, a first year medical student at Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Scholarship Winner Tamar Nazerian

The scholarship was launched earlier this year to provide support for students that plan to enter the field of community and preventive medicine.

Read the full story

by Laura Turner
SDN Staff Writer

U.S. health care reform is shaping up to be a key activity for lawmakers in 2009. The Obama administration is mobilizing its volunteer base from the campaign to lobby Congress for change. Politicians on both sides of the spectrum are putting forth their vision for the future of medicine.

In order to provide our membership of future health care providers with the latest reform ideas, the Student Doctor Network will be publishing a series of articles on health care policy. These articles will include interviews from policy makers and details on technical and structural innovations aimed at reducing costs and improving outcomes.

Previously, SDN interviewed Dr. John Geyman, author of Do Not Resuscitate, who espoused a need for a single payer nationalized health care system.

Additional articles in the series, to be published in the coming months, will include the following:

• Interview with Dr. David Sundwall, who served as President Reagan’s Director of the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
• The role of health information exchanges in improving health care delivery

We invite our membership to submit ideas for other articles in this area. Please provide your comments below.

by Braluk
SDN Moderator

For St. Patrick’s Day 2009, I’m shaving my head.  And so are many of my friends and classmates.

And no, vast quantities of Guinness have nothing to do with it.

We are participating in a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event to raise funds for childhood cancer research.  Participants will either shave their heads or donate their hair to make wigs for a child in need.

Since its inception in 2000, St. Baldrick’s has raised more than $50 million and grown into the world’s largest fundraising event for childhood cancer. Worldwide 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year and despite tremendous progress, cancer remains the top disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada.

My medical school class at Tulane University School of Medicine has the goal of beating last year’s event, which raised over $63,000. We’re well on our way, but we need your support.

The Student Doctor Network is currently sponsoring SDN membership for those who donate to the St. Baldrick’s foundation.  To get an SDN subscription, you will need to donate that subscription amount or higher to St. Baldrick’s.  For example, Gold status is $45 for one year or $75 for two years, so if you make a $75 donation to St. Baldrick’s, you will get a two year Gold status membership to SDN.

The link to donate is here (click on photo on the page): http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-64188

In order to obtain your SDN membership, please email the receipt you receive from St. Baldrick’s to Anna@studentdoctor.net.  You must request an email receipt at the time of donation.

While battling cancer, children may lose not only their hair, but years of their childhood, and sometimes their lives. In comparison to their struggle, cutting my hair is a small sacrifice, and the money raised will make a difference for children with cancer now and in the future.

Beyond the money raised, my medical school class is banding together for this cause to show solidarity and support for the children and families affected by childhood cancer here in New Orleans and across the country.

So, I am asking you to help me raise as much money and awareness as I can for the foundation to fund as much research as possible!   Please donate now.

By Laura Turner
SDN Staff Writer

There is a growing shortage of physicians entering primary care, especially in the critical field of community and preventive medicine. Over the past 100 years, the greatest advances in human lifespan are due to the efforts of physicians and pharmacists working in the field of preventive medicine.

Recognizing the direct and far-reaching value of community and preventive medicine, the Student Doctor Network (SDN) has committed a portion of its 2009 and future revenues to creation of an annual scholarship program for medical and pharmacy students that plan to enter the field of community and preventive medicine. Read the full story