*Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately all applications are suspended for this elective until further notice.
Learn the skills to be an active and effective advocate for emergency medicine.
The AAEM/RSA Elective is a one month elective for AAEM and AAEM/RSA members interested in medical policy and advocacy. The elective will provide a solid understanding of legislative and policy process, which will serve to equip the elective candidate with legislative and policy work and help to empower the emergency medicine profession.
Elective Details
- Any interested party may apply including faculty, fellow, resident or 4th year medical student. Medical student applicants must have matched in EM to be considered. Preference will be given to residents.
- Applicants will work with Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD (D) for the duration of the elective.
- Applications are now open for 2019. After initial screening by AAEM/RSA, final selections will be made by the Congressmen and their staff.
- Applicants are responsible for their own travel and housing in Washington, D.C.
What work is involved?
The following are potential milestones to be met. In order to maximize unforeseen opportunities, the elective would be flexible in meeting certain milestones.
- Vote recommendations
- Legislative proposals
- Congressional letters
- Collaborative meetings
- Documenting floor votes
- Other
For additional information, please call 800-884-2236 or email info@aaemrsa.org.
Elective Scholarship
AAEM/RSA is pleased to offer a scholarship to help fund travel to D.C. and/or lodging in D.C., merit based on the application. The scholarship will be awarded based on receipts submitted for reimbursement after the elective has been completed.
Join the Congressional Elective Fellows Facebook Group
The RSA Congressional Elective Fellows Facebook Group is a private group for current and past RSA Congressional Elective Fellows to connect, share experiences, and ask questions. Join the group and start networking!
Past Participants – Read First-Hand Experiences
My AAEM/RSA Congressional Elective Experience – Alister Martin, MD MPP (Common Sense July/August 2018)
Lessons from the Front Lines: AAEM/RSA Congressional Elective – Rachel Solnick, MD (Common Sense May/June 2018)
AAEM/RSA’s Congressional Elective – Sathyaseelan Subramaniam, MD (Common Sense September/October 2017)
AAEM/RSA Congressional Elective: Be the Exception and Make the Rules – Ashely Alker, MD MS (Common Sense January/February 2017)