Submitting Policy/Position Papers

Passionate about a topic that you want OMSA to advocate for? Take the next step and submit a position paper proposal to OMSA! Proposals will be accepted until November 17th, 2024, 11:59PM ET.

 Application form link  (includes details and insturctions)

What is a Position Paper?

Position papers are topical papers endorsed and approved by OMSA Council, authored by Ontario medical student(s). Position papers provide a platform for OMSA to inform stakeholders of the medical student perspective. Therefore, these documents include a comprehensive background and a persuasive argument to justify its position and its policy recommendations. The paper defines the official stance of OMSA in any and all related conversations or discussions regarding the topic both in internal committee discussions and external organizations.

A position paper should outline a current issue, provide examples of successful solutions, and describe the benefits and risks if its recommendations were implemented. All position papers must contain some component of actionability. Position papers are a significant undertaking.

All topics are welcome for submission. The topic of your paper can be anything you are passionate about—any medical education or health policy issue in Ontario.

Link to Past OMSA Position Papers: https://omsa.ca/position-papers/ 

Link to Flowchart for Position Paper Assessment & Selection Process

Link to Official Policy Document on Position Papers

What is the submission process for the position paper: call for proposals? 

The call for proposals requests author(s) create a one-page proposal document for the topic and ideas they’d like to include in their position paper. There is no full paper required during the proposal stage.

How do I write a proposal and where are the instructions? 

For instructions on what this proposal should include, please click the application form above.

To start the process of writing a guiding document (including a position paper), OMSA members should identify a problem, research its context, and understand the medical student perspective on the issue. The topic should be important to medical students and fall within the scope of OMSA, which includes:

• Supporting the role of OMSA and its Education Policy or Political Policy and Response committees
• Representing the views and concerns of Ontario medical students
• Advocating for the health of Ontarians (i.e., changes in medical education, health policy, or health care delivery that will benefit Ontario medical students and/or the people they train to serve)

Application form link