COM Student Receives AMA Foundation 2005 Leadership Award

Amit Nanavati, a student at The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, recently received the prestigious 2005 Leadership Award from the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation. Nanavati, a second-year student from Houston, accepted the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last month. Nanavati applied for the award in January and was notified of his selection in February.
“It was a great pleasure to be one of 20 medical students nationwide to receive the 2005 AMA Foundation Leadership Award,” Nanavati said. “When I found out I was selected, I felt honored. I was also excited to take part in the leadership activities, lobbying for issues important to medical students at Capitol Hill and the National Advocacy Conference.”
Following the Leadership Award ceremony and training program, Nanavati attended the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference. Leadership activities included a talk from Dr. Richard Carmona, Surgeon General of the United States, along with seminars in leadership development, effectively interacting with the media and interviewing skills. The National Advocacy Conference featured speakers Dr. Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Mark McClellan, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator and Rep. Dr. Michael Burgess, among others.
According to Nanavati, the conference provided him with a unique view into health care and health-related issues from a legislative perspective, and also demonstrated the impact physicians and students can make in the legislative process.
“Lobbying on Capitol Hill for issues such as medical student debt and loan repayment was a great experience,” Nanavati said. “I had the opportunity to visit the offices of both our Texas senators, along with Representatives Chet Edwards and Tom DeLay.”
The AMA Foundation Leadership Awards are presented to medical students, residents/fellows, young physicians and international medical graduate physicians every year. The honor recognizes the contributions of up-and-coming individuals who show strong non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service and education. The goal of the awards is to encourage leadership development and involvement in organized medicine.
“Through their committed efforts in advancing health care in their communities, these men and women have shown tremendous potential for being part of the next generation of medical leaders,” Dr. Krishna K. Sawhney, president of the AMA Foundation, said. “Whether the issues are political or social, I am confident that these talented people will provide solid leadership in the interest of improving the nation’s health.”