* Our committee was formed to exemplify the diversity of AMSSM members:
Specialties (PMR, ER, FP, Peds, IM)
Ethnicities (Asian, Black, Hispanic, Caucasian)
Gender (M/W)
Team physician responsibilities (boxing, football, martial arts, disabled sports, high school, college, national teams, etc)
Career paths and training (military, private practice, academic appt, student health, osteopathic)
Practice experience (in fellowship, recent graduate, in practice >10 years)
IV. Diversity Committee Mission Statement
“AMSSM members bring many distinct characteristics to our organization, including ethnicity, gender, age, and career paths. Increased variety, or diversity, of our members will allow our organization to achieve its goal of representing all sports medicine physicians in all issues and arenas that affect them, including the practice of sports medicine and their ability to offer high quality care to patients.
Our goal is to educate our members on issues related to the diverse athletic populations we serve, as well as promote the integration of our members while still maintaining and respecting each one’s individualism. In that end, our objective is to create an environment that ensures that every member will flourish within our organization.“
V. Specific Goals of Diversity Committee
A. Track and Report Demographics of AMSSM Members (see charts)
Membership information form on website currently asks for: gender, date of birth, ethnic background, degree (MD/DO) - Committee to review the usefulness of tracking other data like specialty training, practice setting, year of fellowship training. Will also discuss with Membership Committee
Currently only 37% of our members have completed the demographic information section on the membership form (gender, birthday, ethnic background). Next AMSSM newsletter to include an article on the new Mission Statement of Diversity Committee, and stress to members the importance of entering this information on the website, and the importance of this data for our organization’s continued growth - Co-Chairs
When available, also send out a group email to AMSSM members encouraging them to go to the website and quickly fill in the demographic section - Co-Chairs
B. Track and Report Demographics of AMSSM Committee Members
Contact each chair to receive information on the make-up of committee members (see above) - Diversity Committee members assigned to contact each AMSSM Committee for information
Important that these appointed committee members reflect the diversity of our organization in order to best represent our members - Diversity Committee to offer assistance in the identification of AMSSM members to these committees.
C. Develop a Mentor List/Rotation List
Establish a list of AMSSM mentors for underrepresented and special interest groups in sports medicine - Current and past committee members to form the nucleus of this list; awaiting ability to send a group email to all members soliciting need and interest.
Long range goal: develop a list of AMSSM members interested in providing a medical student or resident elective in sports medicine, especially where underserved are treated (e.g. high school team physician for inner city school).
Both 1. and 2. can then be provided to minority medical student groups (see E).
D. AMSSM Annual Meeting
Continue to have a committee member on the program planning committee to encourage and identify diversification of topics and speakers. - Jody Pelegrin for 2004 meeting
Continue to track and report the demographics of speakers at our annual meeting (“Diversity Report Card”). However, currently only able to track gender (see charts )
For upcoming 2004 Annual Meeting, ask all speakers during registration to complete a check-off type of form asking their demographic information and lecture title, and whether their presentation included information on a cultural or gender topic, e.g., health care disparities, cultural barriers to sports medicine care. (Assigned committee members to develop form; Jody Gold and AMSSM administrative staff to distribute form to speakers at 2004 meeting).
For future meetings, include this form and a letter from our committee with the Speaker Information Packet
Continue to hold the Diversity Committee Interest Group Meeting (no longer to be called Women and Minorities) and also set a time and date for the Diversity Committee to meet at the 2004 Annual Meeting - Interest Group Mon 4/19 from 6:15-7 pm; Diversity Committee Tues 4/20 from 7-8 am. Latter meeting is a working meeting, but non-members invited to observe.
E. Establish Outreach Programs to Minority Student Organizations
Prepare letters to national medical associations/medical student groups to educate them about AMSSM and encourage them to join AMSSM during their primary care residency - Committee members to develop letter and act as liaisons with each group
AMWA (American Medical Women’s Association)
Founded in 1915, when women physicians were an under-represented minority.
As of 1998, 23% of all practicing physicians are women.
SNMA (Student National Medical Association)
Founded 40 years ago as a medical student organization dedicated to people of color and underserved communities
NNLAMS (National Network of Latin American Medical Students)
CMSA (Chicano-Latino Medical Student Association)
Many others…
Develop list (await group email capability) of AMSSM members who are available locally to speak at the above annual meetings about sports medicine careers or topics.
F. Increase the Pool of Applicants for the Resident Scholarship Award
Currently a maximum of three awards of $1000 granted annually; one awarded to a member of an under-represented group. Work closely with Membership Committee in selecting award recipients.
See E above.
G. Retention of New Members
Resident Scholarship Awards
Develop mechanism for tracking the progress of the award recipients to ensure continued support toward their career goals in sports medicine
Reinstate the New Member Orientation Session at our annual meeting
Joint responsibility with the Membership Committee
VI. Representation of Women with AMSSM Membership and Attendance at the Annual AMSSM meeting.
