The American Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section (AMA-RFS) hosted its 30th Interim Business Meeting on November 9-11, 2006, at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The meeting brought together more than 200 residents and fellows from many locales to discuss healthcare issues and develop new policies. Dr Sunny Ramchandani, chair of the AMA-RFS, presided over the meeting.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn about AMA-RFS activities through updates and reports from representatives of the American Medical Political Action Committee, the AMA board of trustees, and the Medical Student Section/RFS Congressional Lobby Day. Guest speakers included Dr William G. Plested, III, president of the AMA; Nita Maddox, president of the AMA Alliance; and Robert McMillan, member of the AMA Foundation board of directors.
Assembly The AMA-RFS assembly considered 8 resolutions and 6 reports at the business meeting. The resolutions covered a variety of topics, including: • Independent oversight of physician licensing examinations • Urging the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to create an anonymous system for reporting work-hour violations and residency intimidation • Educational requirements regarding organized medicine • Advocating minimum standards of leave for residents • Resident pay during orientation • Opposing funding cuts for Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) programs • The implications of residents who are also patients being treated by their resident colleagues • Promoting prevention strategies in waiting rooms.
The AMA-RFS adopted a report that outlined the procedures for electing the new section delegates and alternate delegates that will serve in the AMA House of Delegates. These new positions were created at the 2006 annual meeting, when the AMA House of Delegates adopted a report allowing the AMA-RFS one resident delegate and corresponding alternate delegate for every 2000 resident members.
The AMA House of Delegates considered 2 resolutions from the AMA-RFS assembly for policy adoption: (1) opposing funding cuts for HRSA programs, and (2) home sedation for children undergoing outpatient procedures.
Education and Initiatives The third annual AMA-RFS Poster Symposium was held jointly with the AMA Medical Student Section. The symposium, which is sponsored by the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, displayed more than 120 resident and fellow research abstracts in the areas of medical education, health policy, and clinical vignettes. The RFS congratulates Raj Ambay, MD, DDS, who was named the overall winner of the AMA-RFS research poster award, as well as all those who presented abstracts.
On November 10, the AMA-RFS hosted a series of educational sessions in which members of the AMA-RFS Governing Council and standing committees presented a variety of topics, including resident intimidation, the structure of the AMA, residency duty hours, and the nation’s uninsured.
Awards AMA board of trustees members Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, and Samantha Cramoy, MD, presented membership outreach awards to AMA members who participated in the Membership Outreach Program as recruiters. The RFS would like to thank all outreach recruiters for helping to strengthen the AMA and the medical profession at large. By asking nonmember peers to join, outreach recruiters are helping to build a solid network of physicians who are invested in organized medicine. If you are interested in participating in the program, request a “recruitment kit” at www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/11799.html or contact Alyce Christensen at (312) 464-5324.
Elections The AMA-RFS assembly elected Dr Ambay as the RFS’s next chair. Dr Ambay will serve as chair-elect until the conclusion of the 2007 annual meeting and will then officially assume the chairmanship.
The RFS also elected 11 section delegates and 11 alternate section delegates. The newly elected individuals will help strengthen the voice of residents and fellows in the AMA House of Delegates.
The assembly endorsed Dr Cramoy for the resident member of the board of trustees and Jana Montgomery, MD, for the resident member of the Council on Medical Service. Elections for those positions will be held at the 2007 annual meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
New AMA Member Initiatives Two new AMA initiatives were introduced at the 2006 interim meeting.
Member Connect® Quick Polls The AMA has launched a series of Quick Polls to capture and share the perspectives of medical students, resident and fellow physicians, and young postresidency physicians. Responding is fast and easy and also provides a real-time snapshot of other members’ views. Make your voice heard at www.surveysolutions.com/ama/quickpoll06.htm
Morning Rounds Members of the AMA soon will begin receiving a new service to help them stay current on the ever-changing healthcare landscape—Morning Rounds. A concise briefing of news and studies that affect members of the medical profession and their patients, Morning Rounds cuts through the clutter to bring you the day’s most important developments in healthcare. Morning Rounds is crafted specifically for members of the AMA by skilled professionals who have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the medical community. This service is provided as a membership benefit and will be implemented on a trial basis over the next few months.
Get Involved Additional information on meetings and AMA-RFS activities can be found at www.ama-assn.org/go/rfs. To become involved in AMA sections or organized medicine, please call (800) 262-3211, extension 4748 or e-mail rfs@ama-assn.org
Julie Gill Policy Analyst American Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section
American Medical Association-Resident and Fellow Section, 2006-2007 Governing Council
Sunny Ramchandani, MD, MPH, Chair Kelly Caverzagie, MD, Vice Chair Douglas Che Miller, MD, Secretary David Rosman, MD, Delegate Kimberly Ruscher, MD, Alternate Delegate Seemal Desai, MD, Member-at-Large Kusum Punjabi, MD, Member- at-Large Samantha Cramoy, MD, Resident Trustee Jon Fanning, Director Department of Resident and Fellow Services
“Code Blue” is prepared by the Resident and Fellow Section of the AMA. Unless specifically indicated, its articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the policy of the AMA or the opinions of the editors or the publisher of Resident & Staff Physician. This newsletter is contained in Resident & Staff Physician solely as a service to residents. The journal is not in any way involved in deciding the content of “Code Blue.” All questions, suggestions, or requests for additional information should be sent to the AMA Department of Resident and Fellow Services, 515 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610, or phone 312/464-4751. The American Medical Association-Resident and Fellow Section (AMA-RFS) is this nation’s strongest voice for residents and their patients. Visit our Web page at www.ama-assn.org/gorfs. To join or renew your membership, call the AMA-RFS at 800/AMA-3211.
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