As an osteopathic medical student, one is given very unique opportunities to become involved in medicine.  Some may hold positions in National COSGP or SOMA, while others may participate in their individual State Osteopathic Medical Societies under the direction of the AOA.  What many Osteopathic Medical Students (OMSs) may not know is that there exists a duplication of such representations:  the allopathic counterparts of these organizations, which are associated with the American Medical Association (AMA).  Thus, OMSs have an amazing opportunity to represent and serve both the American Osteopathic Association and the American Medical Association.

Through my position as CCOM Delegate to the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and to the AMA-Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS), I have learned a great deal about medical policy and medical student representation.  Sadly, however, I must report that there was great deficit in the representation of the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs) to the Annual AMA-MSS meeting this past June.  This experience, I must admit, left me a bit stunned.  How could the fastest growing medical profession with such a strong heritage be underrepresented?  After researching this dilemma, I found that half of the COMs did not have an AMA Chapter in which they can report to their respective State Medical Society and the National AMA-MSS.

As your colleague in the osteopathic medical profession I challenge you to show your pride in the profession and work with your COM and/or your student government in helping to establish a AMA-MSS Chapter (or reviving one if it so exists).  Through this type of student involvement, on a State and National level, Osteopathic Medicine will gain more recognition and public interest—things that may only benefit us as we continue to expand as a profession.

For additional information, please contact your COSGP representative or me, Robert Schneidewend