MSSNY MEMBER SECTIONS
Medical Student Section
Please visit our other web pages to learn more about how the Medical Students of New York State work toward preserving and supporting the medical profession in the current changing healthcare environment.
The mission of the MSS is to encourage and support the active participation of medical students in the Medical Society of the State of New York and the American Medical Association; provide a forum for medical student opinions and ideas; promote health care in the local community; and promote and develop leaders in the medical community.
No where else will you have the opportunities to interact with physicians in settings that allow exchange of ideas and information. Whether at a county medical society event, at MSSNY or an AMA meeting, you will learn things you will never learn in medical school. You’ll gain an understanding of issues like SGR, ACA, single payer proposals and how they will affect you as a physician. You will meet people and come to understand things that may affect the career specialty you choose. You will make friends all over the country — and that is a nice feeling as you transition into residency training and perhaps move to another State.
The MSSNY MSS is a proactive body within the field of community service. Programs undertaken by each of the schools have included outreach and education regarding organ donation, blood and bone marrow drives, 10,000 Steps, March for Babies, “News over Brews” and “Are You Smarter Than a Neurosurgeon?” events.
The MSSNY MSS is also actively represented at the State and National levels. The annual House of Delegates meeting of the Medical Society of the State of New York has three delegates and three alternate delegates elected to represent medical students around New York State. These students are important leaders within the State, participating in reference committee hearings, and speaking on behalf of students on the floor of the House.
The Medical Student Councilor is elected by the MSS and sits on the Governing Council of the MSSNY which meets every 6 weeks. The MSS Councilor represents the medical students of the State but also acts as a conduit for information between these two groups. The Councilor is also a voting member of the MSSNY House of Delegates, thus making New York one of the only states with such large numbers of voting delegates who are medical students.
The MSSNY MSS is also a participant at the Annual and Interim meetings of the American Medical Association House of Delegates. The Medical Society of the State of New York is unique in that it is one of very few States which has a dedicated seat for a medical student on its delegation to the AMA.
If you would like more information, please contact the MSS staff office:
516-488-6100
Christopher Rocklholt ext 4050
MSSNY AWARDS HISTORY
Albion O. Bernstein Award
The late Morris J. Bernstein established this national award in 1962, in memory of his son, a physician who died while on a hospital call in 1940 in New York City. This award is presented to either “a physician or scientist, who, in the opinion of the Awards Committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York shall have made the most widely beneficial discovery or developed the most useful method in medicine, surgery or the prevention of disease.”
The award includes $2000 and a scroll. The deadline for nominations has traditionally been January, and the award was traditionally given at the HOD, but this may have changed. (LLA 10/22/2010)
Henry I. Fineberg Award
In 1980, MSSNY established the Henry I. Fineberg Award for Distinguished Service to MSSNY, to honor Dr. Henry Irwin Fineberg, for his many years of service to the society. Dr. Fineberg served as MSSNY Executive Vice-President from 1961 to 1982, and had served as president from 1959 to 1960. In 1974 and 1975, Dr. Fineberg saw the Society through its first modern liability insurance crisis, and helped found the physician-owned MLMIC. Dr. Fineberg died in 1987.
President’s Citizenship Award
The President’s Citizenship Award was created in 1961 and originally named the President’s Citation. This award is presented to a physician who engages in long-term pro bono community service beyond the responsibilities related medical practice. Presentation of the award helps public attention to the good works carried out by physicians throughout the state.
Young at Heart Award
The Young at Heart Award was established in 1994 by the Young Physician Section to honor MSSNY leaders who have given special support and guidance to young physicians during the formative years of the Young Physician Section, and to show the Section’s appreciation of the efforts made on its behalf.
The Charles D. Sherman Award
– for support of medical students
Student Membership Award
The Student Membership Award, first presented in 1992, recognizes outstanding efforts in membership recruitment for the Medical Student Section. The award is presented annually to the student responsible for the largest percentage increase in medical student membership at his or her school.
