The Adelaide Medical Students' Society (AMSS) is the peak representative organisation for medical students at the University of Adelaide. Currently the Society represents over 900 full-time medical students from all six year levels of the undergraduate course.
The AMSS is proud to provide these students with a myriad of activities, which fall beneath six pillars: representation, education, recreation, health and wellbeing, philanthropy and membership. The AMSS is incredibly vibrant with a rich culture, and it is recognised as being amongst the very best medical student societies in Australia.
In 2024, the AMSS enters its one hundred and thirty fourth year of operation and continues to grow and prosper. The Society boasts an inclusive and representative committee of over fifty voting members, ensuring that all medical students are provided ample opportunity to be involved and contribute to their community. The most important function of the Society is to actively represent medical students to the University of Adelaide. It achieves this through its extensive educational representation on numerous boards and committees within the Faculty of Health Sciences. The healthy relationship of the Society with the Faculty enhances its capacity to provide meaningful student input into the curriculum and course structure.
The AMSS has a huge events calendar, with over 80 social, educational and recreational events planned already for the year! From netball, MedFooty and debating, to International Food Fiesta, the annual MedRevue and of course some parties along the way, there is something on almost every week to help maintain a healthy balance of work and play. Much-loved favourites like MedCamp, Jazz Night and MedBall bring together hundreds of medical students to encourage the vibrant culture of the AMSS.
[stimulus], the Society's publication, along with regular AMSS email updates provide insight in to student and Society news, educational resources, medical issues and other interesting bits and pieces. The brand new AMSS website is constantly updated with everything from social events and photos to educational material and current medical news.
The vibrant AMSS culture and the aims of the Society can be summarised by its motto, "Traditio, Spiritus, Gaudium"; Tradition, Spirit, Good Times. We try to keep this in mind as much as possible after all, that is what Med School is about!
Invocation #
The AMSS Invocation was designed as a succinct way to continually remind Committee and Executive members of the primary aims of the Society.
The hope is that by being continually reminded of these aims, individual Committee and Executive members will be inspired, will have a better understanding of the mandate for the Society to act, and will integrate these aims into the fulfilment of their duties.
Furthermore, the Invocation is designed to be a reference point for members in the context of circuitous discussion or debate. It is hoped that by reminding the Committee of the primary aims of the Society, debate can be focused and therefore become more efficient.
Originally it was proposed that the Invocation be read before each Committee meeting, but following discussion at a Committee level, it was decided that it best be put at the front of the pre-reading for AMSS meetings: in this fashion it will be readily available in meetings, without potentially seeming strange or excessive to observers or new Committee members.
The AMSS Invocation is directly derived from the Primary Aims of the Society, as stated in the Constitution; the Invocation reads:
"The Adelaide Medical Students' Society exists primarily to represent Adelaide medical students both individually and as a whole; to provide social, cultural and educational support for its members; and to further the welfare of its members."
As a mark of respect, this Invocation will be coupled with a formal recognition of the traditional Indigenous owners of the land on which AMSS meetings are held.
History #
The Adelaide Medical Students' Society was officially founded at 2pm on Thursday May 21st, 1889.
As the first few cohorts of medical students advanced through the course since the Adelaide Medical School was established in 1885, the question of whether to form a Society to advance and protect the interests of medical students at the University of Adelaide began to be brought forward. At the time, the senior medical students took the matter into consideration but it was felt that the time was 'not yet ripe' for the formation of such a Society.
At the beginning of 1889, with all five years of the course now represented, as was the length of the course at the time, it was decided that a meeting to reconsider the question was now warranted. The inaugural general meeting of the Society, held in the Medical Theatre, was presided over by Professor Sir Edward Charles Stirling and with much enthusiasm and unanimous agreement it was decided that a Society should be formed in connection with the University of Adelaide.
Professor Sir Stirling, one of the founders of the Medical School, had the distinction of becoming the AMSS' first President, and the lecturers and professors of the Medical School became the Vice-Presidents of the AMSS.
Founding Members of the AMSS
President: Sir E.C. Stirling
Members: Drs Goldsmith, Lynch, Robin, Verco, Morgan, Beyer, Giles, Mead, Powell, Seabrook, Cavanagh, Embling, Good, Gunson, Moule, Cudmore, Shanahan, Gibbes, Sangster, Giviro, Corbin, Russell, Goode and Fowler.
Since these early and historical beginnings by the founding members, the AMSS has grown into a most prominent body in the Adelaide Medical School, representing the educational, political, recreational and health interests of all medical students. Over the years, its officer-bearers and committee members have also gone on to become national and international leaders in the world of medicine. Baron Howard Florey, Nobel Prize recipient for his role in the extraction of penicillin and one of the Adelaide Medical School's most famous graduates, was in fact an AMSS alumnus and in his time held the position of Honorary Secretary; the equivalent of the modern day AMSS President.
One hundred and twenty-five years later, the AMSS continues to exist today as the primary body of medical student representation at the University of Adelaide, and renown as one of the most significant and professional student societies in Australia.
Strategic Plan #
In 2011 the AMSS undertook the initiative to develop a strategic plan to provide recommendations for the management of the Society and its interests into the future.
This document was reviewed across 2016 and 2017 with the final document presented to the Membership at the 2017 Annual General Meeting.
The 2016/17 review was undertaken with the intention to make this document more approachable and outcome focused. It should be viewed as flexible and responsive to membership feedback and therefore should be reviewed on a regular basis. The overarching goals within the document form a scaffold which should be utilised in the yearly development of an 'implementation plan' during the Executive Retreat and initial meeting of the Committee. Such an implementation plan need not address every issue or goal outlined in this document but rather specific goals and outcomes of Executives from year to year. This flexible approach will enable the vibrant enthusiasm of Adelaide medical students to contribute to a dynamic and exciting Society.
Furthermore, the review has specific relevance in the changing context of the Medical Program of the University of Adelaide. The implementation of the Doctor of Medicine in place of existing Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery will see the Medical Program change from a Non-Graded Pass to a Graded degree. This major change will have drastic implications for the volunteer base of the Society, thus this review focuses distinctly on elements of volunteer burden and engagement. These and other internal measures will ensure sustainability for the Society in the years to come, thus should be a focus of early implementation.
If you have any questions about the 2019 Review of the Strategic Plan please contact president@amss.org.au
Download the 2017 Review of the Amss Strategic Plan Here
Honour Boards #
The AMSS Honour Boards commemorate notable members of the Society. Please find below our past Presidents and recipients of various prizes and awards. We note that there are gaps with respect to the Patron's Plate, so if you know who the recipients were in the relevant years, please contact the President.
We note that, previously, the President of the AMSS was an esteemed doctor who performed more of a 'Patron' type role. This practice ceased in the mid-seventies and the esteemed 'Patron' type Office Bearer became the Chairman / Chairwoman. Today we have a Patron, which is currently Professor Randall Faull. We have, from the time of the change in the mid-seventies, documented the name of the student President rather than the esteemed medical practitioner.
We note that before 1998, any medical student was eligible to be awarded the Patron's Plate each year. From 1998 onward, only final year medical students have been eligible to receive the Patron's Plate. The criteria have otherwise remained unchanged since the inception of the award.
Past Presidents
| 1889 Sir E Stirling 1890 Dr F Goldsmith 1891 Dr A Morgan 1892 Dr H Powell 1893 Dr W Cavenagh-Mainwaring 1894 Dr J Sangster 1895 Dr F Hone 1896 Dr J Bonnin 1897 Dr A Campbell 1898 Dr H Evans 1899 Dr H Evans 1900 Dr C Cooper 1901 Dr A Lendon 1902 Dr W Giles 1903 Dr A Clayton 1904 Sir J Verco 1905 Dr A Stokes 1906 Sir J Verco 1907 Sir J Verco 1908 Sir J Verco 1909 Sir J Verco 1910 Sir J Verco 1911 Sir J Verco 1912 Sir J Verco 1913 Sir J Verco 1914 Sir J Verco 1915 Sir J Verco 1916 Dr F Hone 1917 Dr F Hone 1918 Dr F Hone 1919 Dr F Hone 1920 Dr F Hone 1921 Prof F Wood-Jones 1922 Dr W Ray 1923 Dr W Ray 1924 Dr M Scott 1925 Prof J Cleland 1926 Prof J Cleland 1927 Dr J Corbin 1928 Dr J Corbin 1929 Sir H Newland 1930 Dr H Shorney 1931 Dr H Shorney 1932 Mr I Jose 1933 Dr L Lindon 1934 Dr L Lindon | 1935 Dr F Beare 1936 Dr F Beare 1937 Mr G Burnel 1938 Mr G Burnel 1939 Dr K Hetzel 1940 Dr A Jones 1941 Dr L Betts 1942 Sir P Messent 1943 Dr W Joynt 1944 Dr W Joynt 1945 Dr A Southwood 1946 Dr B Hanson 1947 Prof A Abbie 1948 Mr I Barbour 1949 Mr J Dwyer 1950 Dr C Sangster 1951 Dr C Sangster 1952 Dr A Lampbee 1953 Mr H Sutherland 1954 Prof Sir C Santon-Hicks 1955 Dr R Pellew 1956 Dr J Covernton 1957 Mr I Magarey 1958 Mr L Pellew 1959 Dr M Chinner 1960 Prof R Jepson 1961 Mr O Leitch 1962 Dr L Poidevin 1963 Dr E Sims 1964 Prof G Maxwell 1965 Mr J Maddern 1966 Mr G Wyllie 1967 Dr J Bonnin 1968 Prof R Jepson 1969 Mr M Smith 1970 Dr G Kneebone 1971 Mr H Brown 1972 Mr D Paterson 1973 Dr I Hislop 1974 Dr R Burns 1975 Mr T Pavy 1976 Mr S Brennecks 1977 Mr T Moore | 1981 Mr P Parry 1982 Mr J Cleary 1983 Ms H Symons 1984 Mr M Condous 1985 Mr P English 1986 Mr D Beaumont 1987 Ms S Evans 1988 Ms R Burdon 1989 Mr A Southcott 1990 Mr C Sexton 1991 Mr A Comley 1992 Ms C Frewin 1993 Mr D Short 1994 Ms G Hurst 1995 Ms C Lai 1996 Mr C Comley 1997 Ms A Jeeves 1998 Mr T Smith 1999 Mr Y-L Leong 2000 Mr C Withnall 2001 Ms E White 2002 Mr M Hutchinson 2003 Ms H Beadnall 2004 Ms L Mignone 2005 Ms C Frauenfelder 2006 Mr D Hubik 2007 Mr A Nelson 2008 Mr C Wong 2009 Mr M Hassall 2010 Mr S LaBroome 2011 Mr T Crowhurst 2012 Ms D Rudaks 2013 Mr K Venkataraman 2022 Mr T Ahmad 2023 Mr V Bak 2024 Mr H On 2025 Ms S Bilwani |
Patron's Plate Recipients
| 1986 Andrew Kellie 1987 Andrew Kellie 1988 Andrew Kellie 1989 Andrew Kellie 1990 Andrew Hamilson 1991 Tiffany Mould 1992 Matthew Craig 1993 Kirsten Gormly 1994 Michael Switajewski 1995 Kate Hillier 1996 Christine Lai 1998 Shaundeep Sen 1998 Michael Osborn | 1999 Gregory Rice 2000 Thomas Smith 2001 Yen-Lee Leong 2002 Shalini Bastiampali 2003 Fletcher Davies 2004 Andrew Perry 2005 Heidi Beadnall 2006 Richard Taverner 2007 Jan-Paul Kwasik 2008 Claire Frauenfelder 2009 Matthew Rackham 2010 Adam Nelson | 2012 Daina Rudaks 2013 Thomas Crowhurst 2014 Sam LaBroome 2015 Joshua Calleja 2016 Caitlyn Sun 2017 Stefan Court-Kowalski 2018 Simon Cousins 2019 Victoria Langton 2020 Jade Pisaniello 2021 Mithma Ekanayake 2022 Teham Ahmad 2023 Scott Chandrasiri 2024 Elly Schoff |
Life Members
| 1889 Sir E Stirling 1890 Dr F Goldsmith 1915 Sir J Verco 1921 Dr F Hone 1921 Prof F Wood-Jones 1923 Dr W Ray 1926 Prof J Cleland | 1958 Sir H Newland 1960 Sir H Florey 1970 Dr G Kneebone 1972 Dr R Hamilton 2000 Prof J Marley 2002 Dr C Lai 2002 Dr Y-L Leong | 2002 Dr T Smith 2002 Ms E White 2003 Mr M Hutchinson 2005 Prof D Frewin 2010 Mr A Nelson 2013 Mr T Crowhurst 2017 Dr A Perry 2020 Dr S Jolly |
AMA(SA) Medal
| 1993 Kathryn Oaten 1994 Christine Frewin 1995 Julia Coldrey 1996 Kirsten Gormly 1997 Christine Lai 1998 Michael Osborn 1999 Chien-Li Liew 2000 Thomas Smith 2001 Yen-Lee Leong 2002 Rosalind Bullock 2002 Julianne Wilson | 2004 Andrew Fah 2004 Andrew Perry 2005 Heidi Beadnall 2006 Dan Hubik 2007 Ruth Lim 2008 Claire Frauenfelder 2009 Ken Lim 2010 Adam Nelson 2011 Sophie Nelson | 2015 Shane Selvanderan 2016 James Johnston 2017 Laura Sharley 2018 Emma Kelly 2019 Thomas Gransbury 2020 Jade Pisaniello 2021 Patrick Kennewell 2022 Elly Sarre |