Lead, Serve, & Grow in the AAP’s Medical Student Council
The AAP’s Medical Student Council is looking for medical students with strong interests in physiatry, advocacy, and leadership for the 2025-2026 council! Participating in the MSC is an incredible opportunity that will help you develop your leadership skills, professional network, and understanding of specialty organizations while representing your peers on a national level. As a member of the AAP MSC, you will work closely with various AAP committees, develop resources to strengthen the medical student community, plan educational and networking sessions for the AAP Annual Meeting, and much more!
Applications for 2025 are now open!
Scroll to the bottom of this page to apply now – Deadline for Submission is Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59PM.
We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you onto the AAP MSC! With questions, please contact us at aapmedicalstudentcouncil@gmail.com.
Timeline for Submissions
- December 1: Applications Due
- December 2 – Mid-January: Multistep, comprehensive application review period
- By January 20: Applicants notified of status
- February 4, 8pm EST: Shadow MSC meeting virtually
- Week of February 10: Virtual Transition Meeting of Outgoing & Incoming MSC Execs & Subcommittee Leads
- February 26 – March 1: Attend AAP ‘25 and in-person MSC Transition
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an MS1-MS3 in an LCME, COCA, or NCFMEA accredited medical school
- Must be an active member of the AAP at the time of application
- Strongly encouraged to attend the AAP’s Annual Meeting
Application Materials
- Headshot
- Personal Statement
- Resume/CV
- Letter of Support – a letter of support from an attending physiatrist or medical school faculty member is required.
Not sure what to include in your statement or CV? Here are some ideas:
- Leadership, research and/or volunteer experience
- PM&R exposure and/or desire to learn more
- Ideas for future Council projects
Position Descriptions
Chair
- Organizes the MSC annual action plan in alignment with the AAP’s and Board of Trustees action plans and pursues set goals
- Presides over all student council meetings and helps coordinate annual elections
- Serves as a liaison to the AAP’s Resident/Fellow Council, AAP Board of Trustees, and AAP LDRC (Leadership Development & Recognition Committee)
- Attend Board of Trustees and LDRC monthly meetings
- Recommends student representatives to serve on AAP committees and task forces
- The MSC Vice Chair will automatically be elected into the Chair role the following cycle (i.e. the 2024-25 Vice Chair will become the 2025-2026 Chair). Only current MS-3s are eligible
Vice Chair
- Assists Chair with organizing the annual action plan
- Member of the AAP’s Public Policy Committee
- Attend Public Policy monthly meetings
- Only current MS/OMS-2s are eligible as this is a two-year commitment. The MSC Vice Chair will automatically be elected into the Chair role the following cycle (i.e. the 2024-25 Vice Chair will become the 2025-2026 Chair).
Secretary
- Organizes Medical Student Council meetings and conference calls with executive board and the Membership Manager
- Takes and distributes meeting minutes and attendance
- Manages the Medical Student Council email account and Google Drive
- Member of the AAP’s Programming Committee
- Attend Programming monthly meetings
Research
- Partners with the RFC Research Representative to develop and implement research-focused projects and initiatives that advance the field of PM&R
- Works alongside the Membership/Recruitment Representative to actively promote and recruit participants for the Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students (RREMS) and the Medical Student Summer Clinical Externship (MSSCE) programs
- Organizes and leads research-related activities such as journal clubs, workshops, and seminars to foster a robust research community among medical students.
- Member of the AAP’s Research Committee
- Attend Research monthly meetings
Diversity
- Creates opportunities and resources for students interested in PM&R, specifically those underrepresented in medicine
- Establishes and maintains relationships with other national PM&R organizations dedicated to improving diversity
- Organizes events with PM&R residents/physicians underrepresented in medicine to discuss their journeys and backgrounds
- Ensures existing MSC initiatives are diverse and representative of various backgrounds and perspectives
- Member of AAP’s Diversity Committee
- Attend Diversity monthly meetings
Membership/Recruitment
- Provides information and support to new and current Student Interest Groups throughout the country
- Assists AAP staff with marketing and communications efforts focused on recruiting medical students to join the AAP and attend the AAP’s Annual Meeting
- Manages the Medical Student Badge Program, Conference Companion Program, and AAP MSC Newsletter
- Assists with recruitment of medical student submissions to the Physiatry in Motion newsletter
- Member of the AAP’s Membership Committee
- Attend Membership monthly meetings
Education/Well-Being
- Works with the RFC Medical Student Affairs Representative and AAP Medical Student Educators Council on faculty and resident mentorship programs for medical students
- Works to create mentorship awareness and promotional materials
- Spearheads the #ThisIsPhysiatry podcast and other initiatives focused on exposing students to the field of PM&R
- Member of the AAP’s Education Committee
- Attend Education monthly meetings
Mentorship
- Leads the development and growth of the AAP Big Buddy Program
- Works with the RFC Medical Student Affairs Representative and AAP Medical Student Educators Council (MSEC) on faculty and resident mentorship programs for medical students
- Attends MSEC meetings
- Works to collaborate with other AAP medical student subcommittees to create mentorship events, increase awareness of mentorship and promotional materials
Social Media/Technology
- Promotes online engagement focusing on the AAP and medical student interests
- Creates content (pictures, graphics, short videos) to be shared on the AAP’s various social media platforms multiple times a week
- Manages the Medical Student Council X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram accounts, and provides a voice on the AAP’s Instagram account.
AAP Medical Student Council Application
Publish Date
October 30, 2024
Resource Type
- Guidelines
Audiences
- Medical Student