CMSA Meeting Minutes Aug 19, 2026

CMSA Council Meeting Minutes

Date: August 19, 2026
Present: Ryan, Noam, Nicole, Antonio, Ore, Eliana, Ijun, Jaspreet, Duaa, Catherine, Sara, Rica
Absent:
Council: Ryan, Noam, Nicole, Antonio, Ore, Eliana, Ijun, Jaspreet, Duaa, Catherine, Sara, Rica

Updates

VP Communications — Eliana

• Website Categories

  • CMSA-funded groups.

  • Non-funded CMSA groups.

VP Academics — Jaspreet and Nicole

• No updates from VP Academics.

• Excited to onboard the Baby Animal VP Academic, Jessie.

• The second Class of 2029 VP Academic position will proceed to a by-election.

VP Finance — Antonio

• Considering constitutional updates related to sponsorship funds and graduate fund contributions.

• The graduate fund contribution is projected to be approximately $20,000.

  • However, the current formula is flawed, as it depends on factors including:

    • How quickly reimbursements are processed.

    • How promptly students submit reimbursement requests.

    • Student funding awards received through the AMA.

• Clubs’ Fair planning is well underway.

  • Confirming tables.

• Gold sponsors have been confirmed and sent event details.

VP Events — Catherine and Ijun

MedFest

• Date: Saturday, August 29.

• SAMP students will receive accommodation support from SAMP, including Alt Hotel accommodations and mileage reimbursement.

• The Amazing Race planning is underway and will incorporate a passport system.

• Baby Animals’ class-name voting, Round 2:

  • Awaiting Dr. Bromley’s approval.

• In-class announcement is complete, and RSVP reminders have been sent.

• Current registrations: 131.

• MedFest program will be sent out on August 24.

Stethoscope Ceremony

• Professionalism concerns:

  • Rica will meet with Dr. Wu.

• Received great feedback from Baby Animals about the event.

• Catherine will distribute photos.

• Ijun will attend the SAMP Stethoscope Ceremony on September 12.

Med Gala

• Menu finalized; all meat options have been changed to halal.

• A lower-sensory space is being created, with alternative activities for people who need a break from loud music.

• DJ finalized.

• Current attendance: 175 attendees out of a maximum capacity of 300.

• RSVP deadline: August 22.

  • The deadline will not be extended and no exceptions will be made.

SLA

• A demand letter has been sent to the venue.

• Council will be informed if payment is received or SLA receives a response from the venue.

• Blackout period: August 15 to September 21.

Malpractice Mixer

• Date: October 30.

• The date overlaps with the Wellness Retreat; however, after discussion, it was determined to be the most feasible option.

• No questions or concerns at this time.

VP Global Health — Sara

• Planning Global Health Week in collaboration with interest groups under the Community and Global Health portfolio.

  • The week will include events focused on:

    • Refugee health.

    • Skills-building.

    • Opportunities for student engagement in global and community health.

• Hosting a Global Health Elective Information Session on September 8.

  • The session will include a short overview of available electives, followed by a panel discussion with students and physicians sharing their experiences and advice.

VP External, Provincial — Noam

CPSA and Handover

• Attending the CPSA meeting in Edmonton on September 8–9.

• Beginning the handover process with the University of Alberta VP External.

Fall RF

• Organizing a group of seven student observers to attend Fall RF on September 25–26:

  • Four students from the current class.

  • Two Baby Animals: one Foothills student and one SAMP student.

  • One spot reserved for the VPX Jr.

AMA Student Representatives

• The AMA requires two UofC student representatives by September 30:

  • One representative for the Family Medicine Committee, for a one-year term.

  • One representative for the Indigenous Health Committee.

• Applications for both roles will be run once the Baby Animal election is complete.

Meeting with MLA Dr. Luanne Metz

• Ren, the GAAC, is organizing a lunchtime session for medical students to meet MLA Dr. Luanne Metz, NDP MLA for Calgary-Varsity, on September 16.

• The session will have a town hall format for questions about health care and current policy in Alberta, from an NDP perspective.

• Dr. Metz will also try to arrange a separate joint meeting with SAMP and NAMP students.

Honoraria for Indigenous Health Committee Representative

• Goal: Ensure honoraria for lived experience are compensated separately from the medical-student perspective.

• Last year’s Council decided that any honoraria received by Indigenous Health Committee Student Representative(s) through the Alberta Medical Association would be earmarked for the future or current Indigenous Medical Students’ Association (IMSA).

• Sydney Moore at the Indigenous Health Office has been contacted to ask whether progress has been made toward establishing an IMSA at UofC.

• The UofA representative may now receive honoraria directly.

• The AMA is concerned that it may be unfair for the UofC representative not to receive compensation directly.

• More information will be gathered, pending a response from the AMA. Council may need to decide whether to reverse the previous decision.

Potential options:

• Allocate funds toward Indigenous-related initiatives rather than to one individual.

• Seek updated input from the Indigenous Health Office and relevant staff.

• Consider providing tobacco in addition to honoraria.

VP External, National — Ore

• No updates provided.

VP Student Affairs and Wellness — Ryan

Student Groups

• Discuss updates on surgical interest-group plans.

• Potential structure:

  • R1 specialty groups and regrouping surgical groups under SIG.

  • R1-only groups.

  • Primer collaborations under SIG.

• Consider mandating network meetings for similar groups.

• Potentially conduct a referendum with the Class of 2028 or Class of 2029.

• Respond to Dr. Wu regarding plans moving forward.

• Develop a protocol for managing requests from groups, including outreach from residents.

• CMSA is not responsible for connecting residents with UofC students.

  • Individuals who are interested in helping initiate these projects may volunteer.

Academic and Professional Development

• Plan an electives workshop or Q&A session in the future.

Wellness Initiatives

• Meditation Retreat is open for sign-ups.

• Forum on Failure: October 22 — save the date.

• Time Management Workshop was completed with excellent speakers.

  • Attendance was affected by scheduling conflicts.

  • Consider holding another session.

• Narrative Medicine project with Dr. Miles in SAWH is under discussion.

• The WeCare team continues to do an excellent job with monthly birthday celebrations.

Clerkship Send-Off Ideas

• Lanyards.

• Mugs.

• Tote bags.

• Other ideas.

• Determine whether anyone has information regarding mugs.

VP EDI — Rica

• No updates provided.

President — Duaa

Dean Financial Meeting

• Notes available in: “DEAN Financial Meeting Notes — August 17, 2026.”

Elections

• Election nominations closed on Sunday, August 16 at 6:00 p.m.

• The deadline was extended to allow applications for:

  • VP Communications.

  • VP Academics.

  • VP Student Affairs.

• These positions remain unfilled and will proceed to a by-election in September.

• Election speeches took place on August 17 from 3:45–6:00 p.m.

MedFest and Sponsorship

• MedFest announcement was provided to Baby Animals with the Orientation Team.

• Discuss whether Clubs’ Fair should be opened to MS2 students.

• Bronze and Gold sponsor posts need to be shared prior to the event.

  • Bronze logos need to be sent to VP Communications.

• Working to finalize the MedFest program.

Sprucing Up Foothills Green Spaces Initiative

• GSA Quality Money grant application has been submitted with the FGA President and SU CSM representatives.

Patagonia Sales

• Reached out to Green Paw regarding Patagonia sales.

• Green Paw is happy to support.

• Logistical questions have been sent; awaiting a response.

CMSA Team Activity

• All members should complete the availability form as soon as possible.

• Otherwise, the best date will be selected based on those who submitted availability.

Western Deans

• Western Deans is organized.

• The following roles must be registered after the election:

  • VP Global Health Sr.

  • VP Finance Sr.

  • VP SAWH Jr.

  • VP Provincial Jr.

  • VP Regional.

  • VP Indigenous Health, pending whether the role is elected in time.

  • VP National Jr.

• A decision regarding the VP Indigenous Health role should be made by mid-September, as it is needed for funding.

• A $210 budget from Unibanq is available for VP Global Health Sr. and VP Finance Sr.

• Concern raised that UME should provide more funding support for VP Regional.

AGM

• Need to reduce attendance by one or two roles.

• Original roles considered:

  • VP Global Health.

  • VP External Jr.

  • VP Academic Jr.

  • VP Academic Sr.

  • President Jr.

  • VP SAWH Jr.

• Decision: Remove VP SAWH Jr. and VP Academic Jr. from AGM attendance.

Agenda

Previous Meeting Minutes Approval

Time: 2 minutes
Presented by: Eliana

Mover: Eliana
Seconder: Duaa

Previous meeting minutes:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11uOOI1iwrpv997WqRl4Txqs1387TUDUU/edit

Action Items

• Rica to meet with Dr. Wu regarding professionalism concerns from the Stethoscope Ceremony.

• Catherine to send Stethoscope Ceremony photos.

• VP Events to send the MedFest program to attendees by August 24.

• Noam to run applications for the AMA Family Medicine and Indigenous Health Committee representative positions following the Baby Animal election.

• The President and Sponsorship Team to send Bronze sponsor logos to VP Communications before MedFest.

• All Council members to complete the CMSA Team Activity availability form as soon as possible.

• Duaa and relevant Council members to discuss VP Regional funding with Shannon.