What is the Alliance?

The Alliance is the largest, most important organization that represents the family of medicine in the United States. It consists of a nationwide network of organizations whose mission is to partner with physicians to build healthy communities and support the family of medicine.

Who belongs to the Alliance?

If you are the spouse of a physician, resident physician, or medical student, or if you are a physician or resident physician, you are invited to join the Alliance today. Your level of involvement depends on you! All members are important and valued whatever your phase of life, whatever time, talent, or resources you are able to contribute.

What are the benefits of membership?

• Belong to the "family of medicine" where you will develop lifelong friendships, build an effective network of co-workers, and find a ready-made support system for the unique challenges of life in a medical family.
• Make a difference in your community by raising funds for scholarships, research, and grants, by participating in health projects that improve people's lives, and by protecting the future of medicine through legislative advocacy
• Grow and enrich your life by attending workshops and seminars that will contribute to your personal development. Receive professional training to enhance your leadership skills, make valuable contacts, and enjoy unique opportunities because of your membership in this dynamic organization.

How is the Alliance structured?

The Alliance consists of three component levels that work together:

• County Alliances provide personal support for members with one another at the grassroots level and are where most of the "hands-on" work is done for fund raising, health projects, and legislative advocacy.
• State Alliances provide ideas for local Alliances, coordinate efforts between county Alliances, provide leadership training for local members, and partner with other like-minded organizations and policy makers.
• The AMA Alliance provides national support for both the county and state Alliances, ties together the county and state networks, and serves as a national voice for issues that concern the family of medicine. The AMA Alliance also provides a variety of resources for all Alliance projects, is a liaison between state and national legislative activities, and offers outstanding personal development training.

Alliance to the Montgomery County Medical Society community service projects (2007-2008)

The Tree House Child Assessment
The Tree House Child Assessment Center is a safe and supportive environment in which abused or neglected children receive much needed assessment and treatment.  The Tree House provides medical exams, mental health assessments, ongoing mental health therapies, forensic interviews, victim advocacy, referrals to community resources, and assistance with the legal system – all free of charge to the child and their family.  The Tree House also provides education and outreach to the community regarding child abuse and neglect.

The Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Foundation

The Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Foundation is a community foundation committed to rayzing awareness of melanoma skin cancer and promoting the importance of sun protection and early detection. Their projects include "Block it Out" a sun safety program currently in Montgomery County Middle Schools; free skin screening clinics; and outreach efforts in the community.

"Sun Safe" A Sun Protection Curriculum for Preschoolers and Child Care Centers

Sun Safe is a community skin cancer prevention project that uses the American Cancer Society's Sun Safe Preschool Curriculum to teach and train childcare providers, teachers, foster parents, counselors, etc. in the Sun Safe Preschool Curriculum. The project is sponsored by the Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland, which is a project of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It is a statewide group dedicated to raising awareness about skin cancer and sun safe behaviors. The Alliance to MCMS was awarded a grant by the AMA Foundation to translate this program into Spanish.

Screen Out!

Screen Out! is a three year public awareness campaign designed to get tobacco out of Hollywood films targeted toward youth.According to the AMA Alliance Today, “Experts estimate that movies with tobacco imagery influence more than one third of all new teen smokers to start…[and] helps recruit approximately 390,000 new youth smokers a year.”  The AMA Alliance is extending a “call to action” to all Alliance members to participate in this petition campaign.  Visit Smokeout.org for more information on this project.

Internet Safety – Faux Paw, the Techno Cat

In a preventive effort to reach children before they become victims of Internet crimes, the Alliance is promoting the Faux Paw, the Techno Cat program which teaches basic rules of Internet safety to elementary school children. This program by the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.iKeepSafe.org) offers two children’s books and animated films that teach children in a fun, non-threatening way how to protect themselves from growing online threats, such as Internet predators and cyber-bullying.

"SAVE" - Stop America's Violence Everywhere

SAVE is an AMA Alliance program to teach violence prevention and conflict resolution.  Activity books for children in kindergarten through third grade include: You Don’t Have to be Bullied, Hands Are NOT for Hitting, I Can be Safe, and I Can Choose.  Additional SAVE programs include SAVE-A- Shelter, SAVE Schools from Violence, and Stop Bullying Now! Resources.  Information for these programs can be found at the AMA Alliance website at www.amaalliance.org.

 

Alliance to the Montgomery County Medical Society Legislative Advocacy

Alliance Membership Application Form