MD News: About Physicians - From Physicians - For Physicians

The AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee held a June 17 reception, caucus and education program titled "Best practices in Lesbian Health." The well-attended program featured Patricia Robertson, MD, professor and endowed chair for Obstetrics and Gynecological Education at the University of California at San Francisco.

During the past 18 months, the committee has played a pivotal role in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," raising the awareness of GLBT health disparities through testimony to the Institute of Medicine and educating physicians about the needs of GLBT patients. Visit the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee website to learn more.

The AMA-IMG Section celebrated its 14th year of annual meetings, beginning with its Candidates Forum Caucus on June 17.

The congress kicked off with a presentation by Emmanuel Cassimatis, MD, president and CEO of the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), who discussed the status of ECFMG operations. The 2011-2012 officers of the AMA-IMG Section Governing Council were ratified at this congress meeting. The newly elected chair, Nyapati Rao, MD, assumes his responsibilities at the conclusion of this June meeting, followed by the newly selected chair-elect, Vijaya Appareddy, MD, and AMA-IMG Section delegate Padmini Ranasinghe.

During the sixth annual Desserts From Around the World reception, held June 18, more than 350 people enjoyed desserts with an international flair.

The AMA-IMG Section meetings culminated with the Busharat Ahmad, MD, Leadership Development Program, co-sponsored by the AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC). Anne Nedrow, MD, delivered the keynote address, "Is Work-Life Balance Achievable for Effective Leadership?" followed by discussions by a panel from the AMA-IMG Section and the AMA-WPC.

Visit the AMA-IMG Section Web page to learn more about the section.

The AMA-SMS celebrated its 35th anniversary with a special luncheon education session that focused on the historical role that the section has played in enhancing communication between the AMA and the medical education community during its 35 years.

The section also co-sponsored an education session with the AMA Council on Medical Education and the AMA Medical Student Section on optimizing the learning environment: exploring the issue of medical student mistreatment. In addition, the AMA-SMS held a session of mini-presentations on curricular innovations in medical education.

The following physicians were elected to the AMA-SMS Governing Council:

• Arthur Ross, III, MD, dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, chair
• Maria Savoia, MD, vice dean of medical education, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, chair-elect
• Kenneth Simons, MD, associate dean for graduate medical education and accreditation, Medical College of Wisconsin, immediate past chair
• John Fogarty, MD, dean, Florida State University College of Medicine, at-large member
• Daniel Ornt, MD, vice dean for education and academic affairs, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, at-large member
• Robert Sokol, MD, distinguished professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, at-large member

The following council members remain in their current positions:

• Donald Eckhoff, MD, professor of orthopedic surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, delegate
• Michael Grossman, MD, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, alternate delegate
• Louis Ling, MD, associate dean for graduate medical education, University of Minnesota Medical School, section liaison to the AMA Council on Medical Education

More than 600 medical students attended this year's AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting, which took place June 16–18.

The assembly considered more than 50 items of business and, for the first time, drafted a preliminary reference committee report using testimony presented online in a virtual reference committee. The section continues to encourage medical students to join the Medical Student Online Community to participate in discussion of important issues throughout the year. Sign in to the community or create an account today.

The AMA-MSS meeting consisted of more than 25 education programs covering such topics as community service, health care policy and economics, and advice for success by residents. In addition, keynote speaker Phil B. Fontanarosa, MD, executive editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association and vice president of scientific publications at the AMA, presented "Constant Information and Instant Communication: At the Personal, Patient and Publication Levels."

About 50 specialties represented in the AMA House of Delegates attended the eighth annual AMA-MSS Medical Specialty Showcase, which took place June 18. Specialty representatives provided an introduction to their specialty and offered materials to help medical students make decisions about their career.

Also on June 17, nearly 40 students participated in a "Health and Fitness Fun" event at Benton House as part of the AMA-MSS national service project. The students educated the public about the AMA's Healthier Life Steps™ Program, which is the focus of the section's national service project through 2011. They also facilitated healthy lifestyle activities for participants, including exercise sessions, and body mass index and blood pressure screenings for adults.

The 2011–2012 AMA-MSS Governing Council members are:

• TR Eckler, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, chair

• Megan Gayeski, University of Michigan Medical School, vice chair
• Ryan J. Ribeira, University of California Davis School of Medicine, delegate
• Sean Figy, University of Toledo College of Medicine, alternate delegate
• Aaron George, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, at-large officer
• Raymond Tsai, Stanford University School of Medicine, speaker
• Grayson Wilkes, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, vice-speaker

In addition, Jordan VanLare of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons will begin his term as medical student representative on the AMA Board of Trustees at the close of the Annual Meeting.

The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium has achieved the prestigious honor and status of becoming the AMA's newest section—the AMA Minority Affairs Section (or MAS, which is Spanish for "more")—pending approval this week by the AMA House of Delegates. The House is expected to approve the change.

The AMA-MAS Governing Council discussed various business issues that affect minority patients and physicians. Resolution topics included reducing maternal mortality rates, suicide among American Indian/Alaskan native adolescents, HIV education in minority populations, support of Title X and domestic disaster funding relief.

At the section's caucus and reception June 17, Joseph Annis, MD, introduced the 13 winners of this year's Minority Scholars Award. These $10,000 scholarships were presented in association with the AMA Foundation and were made possible by Pfizer Inc. These scholarships recognize scholastic achievement, financial need and personal commitment to improving health care disparities among students in groups defined as historically underrepresented in the medical profession.

The Physician Interview Project (PIP) was unveiled during this meeting. PIP is a digital video interview project aimed at uncovering the factors that influence minorities to choose a career in medicine.

Finally, the newly elected officers of the 2011–2012 AMA-MAS Governing Council are Dionne Hart, MD, chair and AMA Young Physician Section representative; and Adriann Begay, MD, vice-chair and Association of American Indian Physicians representative.

For more information about the section and its initiatives, visit the AMA-MAS website or call Abu Muhammad at (312) 464-4335.

The AMA-OMSS held its 57th Assembly Meeting June 16-18 in Chicago. The section hosted three AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ education programs during the meeting:

• "Reducing the Readmission Rate in a Hospital," presented by Mark V. Williams, MD
• "From Statewide to Bedside Transformation," presented by Gary Roth, DO
• "An Update on Accountable Care Organizations," presented by Henry Allen Jr. and Elias Matsakis.

In addition, the AMA-OMSS held a joint program reception with the AMA Resident and Fellow Section featuring an advocacy update from Rich Deem, the AMA's senior vice president for advocacy.

The section also joined the AMA's sections and special groups and the AMA House of Delegates in co-sponsoring "Leadership in Health Care Change: If Not Physicians, Then Who?" The continuing medical education program featuring health care attorney Alice Gosfield and four panelists: Allan Crimm, MD; Michael O'Toole, MD; Jerry Halverson, MD; and J. James Rohack, MD.

The AMA-OMSS Assembly considered 23 items of business; 15 items addressing a wide range of issues were adopted. In particular, the assembly asked the AMA House to endorse model employment contract language guaranteeing physician independence in advocacy and in medical staff affairs.

Additionally, the assembly called on the AMA to study differences in a variety of patient outcome measures between physician-led and non-physician-led primary care medical homes.

The AMA-RFS held its 35th Annual Assembly Meeting June 17-18 to discuss and shape policy on a variety of issues.

Of the 15 items of business considered, one was forwarded immediately to the AMA House of Delegates. The resolution asks that the AMA not support the current "all-in" policy for the Main Residency Match to the extent that it eliminates flexibility within the match process. Furthermore, it asks that the AMA work with the National Residency Matching Program and other residency match programs in revising match policy, including the secondary match or scramble process, to create more standardized rules for all candidates.

The following residents were elected to the AMA-RFS Governing Council:

• Henry Lin, MD, vice chair
• Stephen Darrow, MD, speaker
• Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, MD, vice speaker
• Maya Babu, MD, delegate
• Michele Nedelka, MD, alternate delegate
• Matthew Brooker, MD, member-at-large

The AMA-RFS thanked speaker Krystal Tomei, MD, and chair Benjamin Galper, MD, for leading a successful meeting.

The AMA-SPG sponsored a continuing medical education program entitled, "Senior Physicians Returning to Practice," with speaker Elizabeth Grace, MD, from the Centers for Personalized Education for Physicians. Virginia Latham, MD, chair-elect of the AMA-SPG Governing Council, moderated the program. The event drew more than 30 physicians, including AMA delegates.

The AMA-SPG Governing Council met June 17-18. An interactive discussion focused on the most pertinent issues and problems facing seniors as they move into retirement age. The council also reviewed resolutions and reports related to senior physician issues. In addition, the council reappointed two of its members for a second three-year term: Joseph L. Murphy, MD, and Claire V. Wolfe, MD.

At the Meeting of the State Liaisons, the council discussed working to expand its outreach to physicians 65 and older. Joanne Schwartzberg, MD, the AMA's director of aging and community health, provided the keynote address and discussed the Senior Physicians Ambassador Program, an initiative that brings together senior physician leaders and community-based organizations to strengthen the understanding of public health issues.

More than 100 guests attended the AMA-WPC caucus and reception June 18. The AMA-WPC Governing Council reviewed its positions on various items of business before the AMA House of Delegates that focus on issues of concern to women physicians, medical students and patients. The governing council also discussed the candidates running for vice speaker and trustee.

The event included an informative presentation by Rachel Levine, MD, the 2010 Joan F. Giambalvo, MD, Memorial Scholarship winner, titled "Understanding the Mentoring Needs of Female Medical Students: A Qualitative Study."

On June 20, the governing council hosted its annual AMA-WPC breakfast. Highly regarded by past attendees, this event featured updates from around the country about what state and specialty medical societies are doing to address important issues.

Finally, the governing council held elections for officers for the 2011–2012 term. Claudia Reardon, MD, was elected chair, and Kusum Punjabi, MD, MBA was elected vice-chair.