North American Medical Student Association

1. North American Medical Student Association AGM September 5th, 2007

2. First Things First • Membership Sign-up • $20/lifetime • Access to privileged content on website

3. Since Last AGM (1/2) • International Orientation • Instrumental in the appointment of International Sub-Dean • Increasing Electives Opportunities • Travel Concessions • Web Forum for entering students (Intl & Local) • 3 USMLE study/info sessions • 2 MCCE info sessions • Robertson Event

4. Since Last AGM (2/2) • Electives Night • Developed website (Continually updated) • Alumni Database • Electives Database ( & Map) • Electives Guide • CV Template • USU Membership

5. What has the society done so Far…. • Charity Events • Survival Manual for American Residency Training (SMART) • Research into North American Alumni connections, Elective opportunities, and Steps towards entering Residency • Provided a platform for the North American students of GMP to lobby their cause. • Website: www.namsa.med.usyd.edu.au

6. Next Years Agenda • Elections for new Executive committee and representative chairpersons. • Continue to keep up-to-date on entry requirements back into North America, the whereabouts of our Alumni, access to elective terms, and information on the website • Forge a connection between Sydney Med and a US school • Better the communication between the Faculty, Med Soc’s international arm and us.

7. What is NAMSA? • MISSION STATEMENT • The North American Medical Student Association is committed to improving health care and healthcare delivery to all people; promoting active improvement in medical education; involving its members in the social, moral and ethical obligations of the profession of medicine; assisting in the improvement and understanding of world health problems; contributing to the welfare of medical students, interns, residents and post-MD/DO trainees; and advancing the profession of medicine.

8. Election Positions • President • Vice President • Treasurer • Secretary • IT • Electives • Education • Residency • Alumni

9. Election Time • President: • Plan the Society’s activities in consultation with the Executive. • Liaise with the Executive and any Committees formed by the Society. • Ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.

10. Positions • Vice President • Deputise for the President.

11. Positions • Treasurer • Maintain the Society’s finances in accordance with the Treasurer’s Handbook produced by the Clubs and Societies Office of the University of Sydney Union • Present to the Annual General Meeting of the Society a report detailing the financial activity and status of the Society. • Ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.

12. Positions • Secretary • Conduct the correspondence of the Society • Book meeting rooms for the Society. • Keep minutes of the proceedings of all Society meetings. • Maintain a list of current Members, in accordance with University of Sydney Union Guidelines. • Maintain the Society’s registration with the University of Sydney Union.

13. Positions • IT officer • Develop and maintain the website of the society • Gather and comply all information pertaining to the society or website.

14. Chairpersons • Electives: Research and up date possible North American Electives, work with President • Education: Organize info session for required exams, Collect and organize study material, work with VP

15. Chairpersons • Residency: Research and provide outline and/or timelines, work with Secretary • Alumni: Up date Alumni database and work to establish a relationship with other schools, work with IT officer

16. Timelines for USMLE Exams By Ali Raza

18. What is the USMLE? • Step 1 (Basic Sciences) • – Basic mechanisms and principals • 350 q / 7 blocks, 8 h • Step 2 Clinical Knowledge • – Diagnosis and pathogenesis • 400 q / 8 blocks, 9 h • Step 2 Clinical Skills – Taken back home • Step 3 (Clinical Mgmt) – During Residency • - 500 q 10 blocks 2 d, 16 h

19. USMLE Application • Need following: • The Medical School Dean, Vice Dean, or Registrar must certify your current enrollment status - Certification Statement (one for each exam). Will change to Certification of Identification to remains valid for five years. • Also supply a letter of good standing. • Two passport style photos • Give yourself 6 weeks for processing of application • Receive a Scheduling Permit, with a 3-month window • Get scores back in 6 weeks (recently started sending them by e-mail ~ 3 weeks)

20. Residencies (1/2) • ERAS(Electronic Residency Application Service) acts as the dean’s office for all FMGs • Matching Cycle (NEED the following by JULY of the year before residencies) • Submit following to ERAS to Request Token #: • CV • Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs) • Medical school transcripts • Letters of recommendation to ECFMG • Once your ERAS packet is complete  provided an ECFMG certificate • Apply to programs in September

21. Residencies (2/2) • Interviews take place from Oct – Jan • It is possible to push all the interviews to Jan • USMLE Step 2 (CS & CK) should be taken by Jan at the latest • The scores are required by 2nd week of Feb • Receive residency responses inMarch • If nothing works  2 days of post-match scramble period, where you try to find out which programs still have an unfilled residency spot. • Residencies start in July

22. Exception – SF Match • For following specialities • Child Neurology • Neurosurgery • Ophthalmology • Plastic Surgery • Interviews in Oct - Nov • Find Match results inJan (except for Plastics – in March)

23. Step II CK • Best to take in middle of GMP4 • Important to have Obs & Gyne and Paediatrics as the first two rotations. Heavy emphasis in Step II CK. Material is more difficult to pick up independently. • Psychiatry is not as critical because it is represented less & easier to refresh.

25. Strategies for tackling the MCCEE By Jibran Sharif