Canadian Federation of Medical Students

Elections for External and Internal Committees

2007-2008

The CFMS has a growing presence on the health policy and education scene. This means opportunities for interested students like you to get involved!

We are currently conducting a search for students to represent the CFMS on the committees listed below. These excellent opportunities offer students the chance to help shape policies that impact directly on health care in Canada. We are looking for the best candidates to represent the CFMS and Canadian medical students. These positions are all fully funded.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Selection Committee of the CFMS and successful candidates will be notified by e-mail.

Those candidates who are successful will be added to the CFMS representatives list serve and be kept up-to-date on all CFMS activities in this manner.

These elections are held at the beginning of the calendar year because the CMA requires nominations of new candidates for Ethics Committee in February and other positions early March. Please note that those students elected will not take up their position until September 2007 unless otherwise stated.

Please note the deadline and selection committee requirements following the position descriptions. The application procedure is at the end of each category.

If you wish to apply for more than one position please send each application separately. To see reports of meetings for each position go to under Representation – reports.

Good luck!

Philip Brost

President CFMS

Canadian Federation of Medical Students

Canadian Federation of Medical Students

Involvement Opportunities 2007-2008

Category A

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Association of Interns and Residents (CAIR)
CFMS Representative to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association Committee of National Medical Organizations (CNMO)
CFMS Jr. Representative to the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS)

Category B

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association Council on Health Care and Promotion
CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association Political Action Committee
CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association Committee on Ethics

Category A - External CFMS Representation

Please see the application procedure and general criteria at the end of this section

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Association of Interns and Residents (CAIR)

What is CAIR?

CAIR is the national organization that represents medical residents in Canada. It is the voice of Canada’s residents and is similar to the CFMS and the CMA in the scope of their national representation. Many of the issues pertinent to the CFMS are also of concern to CAIR. The CFMS and CAIR often share a common agenda.

The CFMS Selection Committee will be looking for the following:

Experience in board meetings is an asset
Involvement on previous committees, liaison positions, medical school councils or similar organizations an asset
Previous experience in synthesizing and presenting material and producing reports.
Demonstrate excellence in communication and interpersonal skills.
Candidate must be willing to do background reading in preparation for the three meetings per year
Informed and up-to-date regarding issues important to medical students and residents
Current in CFMS positions and issues
Commitment to representing CFMS issues
Skilled at summarizing issues

Please note that this position requires excellence in working independently concurrent to being a part of a broader CFMS team. The selected candidate will take initiative to stay current with the ongoing work and policy positions of the CFMS and communicate regularly with members of the CFMS Executive and Representatives.

Term:One year (September 2007-2008)

Meetings: 3 (October, February, June)

Application Deadline:5 March 2007

Contact for further information:Bernard Sowa Email:

CFMS Representative to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)

What is the CFPC?

The CFPC is the national organization that represents family physicians in Canada. The CFMS shares common issues of concern, including family medicine teaching in undergraduate curricula and the family physician shortage in Canada, as further elaborated in its position paper on family medicine. The CFPC is an important forum to showcase the activities of the CFMS nationally. The College values student input greatly in its work.

The CFMS Selection Committee will be looking for the following:

Experience in board meetings is an asset
Involvement on previous committees, liaison positions, medical school councils or similar organizations an asset

Genuine interest in family medicine. This may have been demonstrated in rotations selected/research opportunities sought out/involvement in a Family Medicine Interest Group or other similar opportunities.
Awareness of the multiple factors influencing declining student interest in family medicine as a career choice
Willingness to help co-ordinate family medicine initiatives on a national level and to be willing to communicate with students across the country.
Current in CFMS positions and issues
Commitment to representing CFMS issues

Term:One year (September 2007-2008)

Meetings: 2 (October, January)

Contact for further information:Rasa IzadnegahdarEmail:

Application deadline: March 5, 2007

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association

Committee of National Medical Organizations (CNMO)

What is the CMA CNMO

The mandate of the CMA’s CNMO is to provide a forum of representatives of all of Canada’s National Medical Organizations that are affiliated with the CMA for the purpose of working collaboratively with CMA on CMA policy formation and relevant CMA activities thereby supporting the core CMA goal of “rassemblement”.

The following are the CMA CNMO Terms of reference:

To share information on issues of common interest including, but not limited to health care delivery, ethics, education, workforce, policy and economics amongst members and with the CMA.

To provide a unified voice for each National Medical Organization to influence public and private sector policy on pertinent issues, through the CMA.

To work on a collaborative basis with the CMA in the formulation of its policies and in the planning of its activities pertinent to the National Medical Organizations and to the CMA.

The CFMS selection committee will be looking for the following:

Experience in board meetings is an asset
Involvement on previous committees, liaison positions, medical school councils or similar organizations an asset
Willingness to keep up to date on CFMS policy through discussion with the President
Commitment to representing CFMS issues
Willingness to learn about the other affiliated organizations on this Committee

Open to 1st 2nd and 3rd year students only.

Term:One year (September 2007- 2008)

Meetings: 2 (January and August)

Application deadline:5 March 2007

Applicant must be a member of CMA

Contact for further information: Julia Skliarenko, Email:

CFMS Jr. Representative to the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS)

What is CACMS?

CACMS is the committee that assesses and accredits medical schools in Canada. Involvement in this committee is a large responsibility as many documents pertaining to the university under assessment must be reviewed and evaluated. Two students sit on this committee, a senior and a junior rep. Applicants for the junior position must be medical students for both years in the position (i.e. 2nd year student in a 4-year program or 1st year student in a 3-year program). The position involves at least one site visit to the school in question. Accreditation for mid 2007 will be at the University of Calgary and University of British Columbia. CACMS has a policy that no surveyor will be from a medical school in the same province as schools being accredited, however, as there are 2 representatives from CFMS and the current rep is from Ontario, anyone may apply.

The CFMS Selection Committee will be looking for the following:

The applicant should have an interest in the functioning of how a medical school works, believe in the need of accreditation, believe in the system and approach of self- regulation, be interested in the delivery at the level of the student (not admin or policy), and not be afraid to voice his/her opinion.

The nature of the work of this committee is unique and requires a high level of commitment and interest. The non-student committee members have extensive experience and qualifications but nevertheless recognize that students will have no specific knowledge on how the accreditation process works.

Term:Two year. First yr as Jr. rep and Second as Sr. rep as of April 2007

Meetings: 1 site visit (timing variable) 1-2 meetings per yr (Nov or Dec)

Contact for further information: Inge Avais, Email:

Application deadline: March 5, 2007

Application Procedure for Category A Positions

Documents:2 Paragraphs in Microsoft Word format:

1. Why do I qualify?

2. Why I want this position

Please make sure that your Name, Address, Phone number and School are on the covering email. Do not put any of this information on your application as each candidate is assigned a number and the selection committee is unaware of your name and school.

Submit as attachment to: Rosemary Conliffe -

Deadline: 5 March 2007

General Criteria:

-CFMS Member (currently and in 2007-2008)

-interest in the position

-qualifications specific to the demands of the position

-ability to recognize and adequately represent the position of all Canadian medical students, most notably the position democratically determined by the board of the CFMS

-ability to fulfill the necessary obligations of the position

-willingness to complete reports to be broadcast to all Canadian medical students

-willingness to follow through with all the demands of the position until a replacement is sought

Category B - CFMS Representation on the Canadian Medical Association Councils and Committees

Please see the application procedure and general criteria at the end of this section

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association

Council on Health Care and Promotion

What is the CMA Council on Health Care and Promotion?

The CMA Council on Health Care and Promotion shall be concerned with the provision of comprehensive care in the protection and promotion of health of the individual, the family and the community. Within this framework the council shall concern itself with the role and scope of activities of physicians and other providers of health care.

The following are the CMA terms of reference for this position:.

Terms of Reference:

The Council on Health Care and Promotion shall be concerned with awareness raising,

advocacy and promotion of best practices in matters pertaining to disease treatments and prevention, health protection and health promotion.

The council:

1. shall determine its programs, priorities and budget;

2. shall only undertake those programs and utilize such budget as have been approved by the

Board of Directors;

3. shall carry out its projects through the council, council members or subcommittees selected by the council.

4. shall only form subcommittees that have been approved by the Board of Directors.

Membership:

1 Chair (recommended by the Council and appointed by the Board who shall not be a

director);

1 member recommended by each division;

1 resident recommended by the affiliate societies representing residents;

1 medical student recommended by the affiliate societies representing medical students;

observers from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and Affiliates

Quorum:

7 members

The CFMS Selection committee will be looking for:

Demonstrated interest in advocacy, and/or health promotion and protection
Familiarity with the “ determinants of health”

Leadership experience on key issues of national scope concerning medical students

Previous experience at board meetings, committees, liaison positions, medical
school councils or similar organizations
Politically astute with proven credibility at the local level.
Commitment to representing CFMS and medical student issues
Commitment to the following duties including: preparation and attendance at meetings, review of background papers and policy statements of both the CMA and the CFMS between meetings, and preparing meeting reports for the CFMS

Term:One year (August 2007-2008)

Meetings: 2 (November, April) and teleconferences as required

Application Deadline: 5 March 2007

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association Political Action Committee

What is the CMA Political Action Committee?

Activities:

-to identify for the CMA Board issues that have political implications for CMA and its members

-to advise the Board on the use of political (and public affairs) strategies that will help CMA attain its objectives when dealing with the federal government and ensure that the CMA is a recognized political force at the national level

-to discuss and make recommendations on issues referred to it by the Board and other CMA councils and committees

-to monitor CMA political and public affairs strategies and activities in order to advise the Board on the effectiveness of CMA actions

-to establish, maintain and monitor an MD-MP Contact Program, the purpose of which is to involve members in the political process by participating in grassroots lobbying activities that seek to persuade federal legislators to pass, defeat or amend legislation of interest to physicians and important to the well-being of their patients

-to ensure communication and encourage cooperation about federal political activities between CMA and its divisions

-to develop and coordinate political education activities for and by CMA members

-to educate federal politicians and senior government officials on the concerns and positions of CMA with respect to health policy and other issues of importance to Canadian physicians

The following are the CMA terms of reference –

Reports to: CMA Board of Directors

The committee:

1. shall identify for the Board public policy and political issues having national implications

for the Association and its members, divisions and affiliates and make recommendations on

issues referred to it by the Board, councils and committees.

2. shall advise the Board on the use of political and public affairs strategies that will help the

Association attain its objectives when dealing with the federal government.

3. shall encourage members to report to the committee on relevant political activities and

issues taking place in divisions and affiliates societies as well as undertake and complete

political activities in cooperation with the Association and its divisions and affiliates as well as

other associations.

4. shall identify priorities and make recommendations during the Association strategic

priority-setting process and analyze the advocacy activities against key result areas in the

Association's strategic plan.

5. shall monitor and promote involvement in the MD-MP Contact Program within divisions

and affiliates and identify potential program members.

6. shall take a leading role in the development and co-ordination of political education

activities for and by Association members.

7. shall develop future leaders from physicians, residents and medical students not currently

involved in political and community activities.

8. shall promote the Sir Charles Tupper Award with divisions and affiliates and identify

qualified nominees.

Membership:

The committee shall comprise:

1 member recommended by each division;

1 resident recommended by any affiliate society representing residents;

1 medical student recommended by any affiliate society representing medical students; and

1 Affiliate observer

a Chair, who shall not be a director.

These are appointed by the Board of Directors.

A vice chair shall be elected annually by the committee from its members.

A constituency may appoint an alternate.

The quorum shall be 7.

The CFMS Selection Committee are looking for the following:

Demonstrated interest in politics; interest/experience in political education, involving others in the political process by participating in lobbying activities that seek to persuade legislators to pass, defeat or amend legislation of interest to physicians and medical students and important to the wellbeing of patients.

Leadership experience on key issues of national scope concerning medical students

Previous experience at board meetings, committees, liaison positions, medical
school councils or similar organizations
Politically astute with proven credibility at the local level.
Commitment to representing CFMS and medical student issues
Commitment to the following duties including: preparation and attendance at meetings, review of background papers and policy statements of both the CMA and the CFMS between meetings, and preparing meeting reports for the CFMS

Term:One year (1 Sep 2007-2008)

Meetings: 2 (November, April) and teleconferences as necessary

Application Deadline: Monday 5 March 2007

Contact for further information:Danyaal Raza, Email:

CFMS Representative to the Canadian Medical Association

Committee on Ethics