PCOM South Georgia recently established the state's newest Medical Association of Georgia Medical Student Section (MAG-MSS) chapter. MAG-MSS is the policy-making body for MAG's medical student members.

Osteopathic medical student Destiny Sciuva (DO '25) began working to establish the new chapter in December 2021. The lengthy undertaking included coordinating with PCOM's Office of Student Affairs, identifying a faculty advisor, establishing a governing council and executive board and developing by-laws for the chapter. Students then met with state MAG-MSS Chair Aditi Dave who provided final approval of the new chapter.

Michael Brown, MD, Colquitt Regional Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer, said that the students' commitment to establishing a new MSS chapter is both encouraging and impressive.

“Membership in MAG increases medical students' investment in being physician leaders for Georgia,” said Brown. “MAG's mission is to ‘enhance patient care and the health of the public by advancing the art and science of medicine and by representing physicians and patients in the policy-making process.’ By inviting students to have a voice and a stake in our legislative process, they are learning to be more than just healthcare providers. They are learning to be advocates for their patients and leaders for their communities.”

Twenty-nine PCOM South Georgia students represent the MAG-MSS chapter's initial membership. With aligning missions, the students will combine their MAG-MSS chapter with their existing Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter.

Sciuva will hold the president role in the two chapters for 2022-2023. The MAG-MSS and SOMA chapters will maintain separate associations, and official membership of both will be treated as such, but Sciuva believes that integrating the two organizations at PCOM South Georgia will bolster both organizations.

“Utilizing the tools we have gained from SOMA will aid in engaging and retaining members for both,” she said. “I plan to emphasize to our current and incoming students that both of these associations are vital to our success and development as student doctors, especially because advocacy can only be as effective as the actions we implement, and policy is an incredibly important place to start.”

The new chapter is entitled to select a non-voting delegate to represent their MSS at MAG's House of Delegates in October. The chapter is also authorized to have a representative in one of the MAG-MSS Governing Council positions. If they do not, their student chapter delegate will have a vote on the Governing Council. Sciuva said that she is looking forward to building relationships across the state and nation, and establishing PCOM South Georgia as a campus that leads by involvement and action. “As students, we are honored and privileged to have a seat at the table and we thank MAG for creating the space.”