One of AMSA’s most successful initiatives in the past five years has been the creation of the Global Health Network, and the formation of Global Health Groups at every medical school. The GHGs and GHN represent how shared passions and interests of medical students, linked into a national framework, can lead to a highly successful initiative that benefits all AMSA members.

Global health is just one of many areas popular among medical students. There are many other interests among enthusiastic AMSA members in a wide variety of areas such as surgery, military medicine and music. AMSA Interest Groups (AIGs) will provide the necessary structure, support and resources to facilitate and encourage member-driven grassroots activity which may develop into a national initiative.

The AIGs initiative encompasses a wide range of projects including individual events, formation of ‘special interest groups’, and establishment of national networks. It is in no way intended to be a one-size fits all solution, but a flexible framework that can be tailored to best meet the requirements of an individual grassroots project.

Our aim is to promote student endeavours and niche interests by creating pathways to access support and guidance, and networks to connect them to others in their field. AIGs will be promoted on National Tour, Convention, on our website and in our mail-outs and publications. Interested students can submit applications to apply for limited funds that will aid in running events, access AMSA’s professional networks for speakers and also, if appropriate, support and guidelines on how to establish and run an interest group at their university.

Once interest groups that have similar aims are established at a number of medical schools (eg surgical societies), AMSA will provide a network through Huddle workspaces, teleconferences and direct communication. It will link individuals and groups together in a similar fashion to the GHN and provide better opportunities for sponsorship, social and professional networking, policy development and project sharing. In networking like-minded groups and individuals, AIGs will connect members across the country.

We are aware that some medical societies already have a similar scheme, or run quite a number of events that fall in the ‘niche interests’ category. AIGs will in no way detract from the current activities of medical societies and their autonomy; rather, it will be another resource that medical students can access, and AMSA executive will work in conjunction with individual medical societies to empower them and meet their member’s needs. For both smaller and larger medical societies, AIGs will lend a helping hand to better serve individual members.

The Membership Officer and the Community Liaison Officer will oversee the implementation and progress of AIGs over the next year, furthering AMSA’s role and mandate in enriching the student experience.