AMWA was represented at the AMA House of Delegates in June 2026 by Roberta Gebhard, DO (Mobility Caucus, Senior Physicians Section, Disability Caucus), Tiffani Bell Washington, MD, MPH, MBA (AMA Women Physicians Section Governing Council), and Medha Reddy, MD (Resident and Fellows Section)

Highlights from AMWA delegates and representatives:

  • Dr. Roberta Gebhard represented AMWA at the AMA Mobility Caucus meeting where AMWA was voted in as a member organization. The Mobility Caucus was formed to enhance visibility of the issues that those with physical challenges can face. The Caucus also helps to enhance the voice of smaller groups within the AMA. Dr. Kim Templeton, AMWA past president and AMA delegate from the American Academic of Orthopaedic Surgeons chairs the Caucus. Under her leadership, 5 new organizations, including AMWA, were added as members this year, bringing the total to 26 groups, one of the largest coalitions within the AMA.  “AMWA seemed like a perfect fit for the Caucus”, noted Dr. Templeton, “given the advocacy of Association for women’s health and the significant amount of time that many women live with disabilities.”
  • Attendees enjoyed an inspiring inauguration speech by AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. 

AMWA provided active support and testimony on these resolutions:

Resolution 306: Competency-Based Portfolio Assessment of Medical Students, Interns, Residents, and Fellows – adopted (Dr. Roberta Gebhard)

Resolution 309: Osteoporosis Education, Awareness, Musculoskeletal Health Optimization – adopted (Dr. Roberta Gebhard)

Resolution 423: Addressing the epidemic of fragility fractures through osteoporosis screening and treatment – adopted (Dr. Roberta Gebhard

AMWA also supported the AMA’s recognition of “food as medicine,” an issue strongly supported by AMWA’s Nutrition Work Group, the opposition to the corporate practice of medicine, and increased transparency in utilization review for prior authorizations.

AMA – WPS: AMWA Representative Report
2026 AMA Women Physicians Section Annual Meeting

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section was held June 5, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, in conjunction with the AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting.

Dr. Tiffani Bell Washington represented the American Medical Women’s Association as a member of the WPS Governing Council. She was Vice-chair for 2024-2026 and named Chair of the AMA Women Physicians Section for the 2026–2027 leadership year. In this role she will continue to represent the interests of women physicians and help strengthen the collaboration between WPS, AMWA, and other organizations committed to advancing women in medicine.

Educational Program

The Annual Meeting began with the educational presentation “Not ‘Just Hormones’: Reframing and Rethinking Stigma Around Hormonally Mediated Mood Conditions.” Speakers – Dr. Mary LaPlante and Dr. Nicole Plenty – addressed the stigma and clinical misunderstanding that can surround hormonally mediated mood conditions and emphasized the importance of greater awareness, appropriate evaluation, and compassionate treatment throughout the reproductive life cycle.

WPS Business Meeting and Leadership Activities

The WPS business meeting included updates from WPS leadership and Board of Trustees liaisons, review of items being considered by the AMA House of Delegates, updates from WPS representatives and associated organizations (including AMWA), AMPAC update, AMA Foundation update, and a mentorship and networking session for women physicians.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to connect with women physicians from different specialties, career stages, and regions and to discuss opportunities for greater participation in WPS leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and programming.

Policy and Advocacy

WPS played an active and visible role in the 2026 AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting. The Section presented six WPS-authored resolutions and testified on nearly 50 items of business.

The six WPS-authored resolutions included:

  1. Resolution 004: Ethical Reproductive Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Adopted as amended.
  2. Resolution 106: Insurance Coverage for Scalp Cooling (Cold Capping) Therapy – An alternate resolution was adopted in lieu of Resolutions 106 and 111.
  3. Resolution 306: Competency-Based Portfolio Assessment of Medical Students, Interns, Residents, and Fellows – Adopted.
  4. Resolution 418: Ensuring Access to Full HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Courses for Survivors of Sexual Assault – Adopted as amended.
  5. Resolution 419: Examining the Impact of Circadian Disruption from Shift Work During Pregnancy – Adopted as amended.
  6. Resolution 420: Expanding Support for Women Experiencing Homelessness – Adopted as amended.

In addition to advancing these six resolutions, WPS provided active support and testimony on policy affecting:

  • Women’s and reproductive health.
  • Maternal morbidity and mortality.
  • Pregnancy and workplace conditions.
  • Physician safety and workplace violence.
  • Medical education and physician leadership.
  • Gender equity and institutional inclusion.
  • Access to medications and continuity of care.
  • HIV prevention and post-exposure treatment.
  • Gender-affirming healthcare and research.
  • Evidence-based obesity treatment.
  • Insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications.
  • Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy.

The adoption of all six WPS-authored resolutions, either directly, as amended, or through an alternate resolution, reflected the Section’s strong policy engagement and effectiveness within the AMA House of Delegates.

AMWA Representation

AMWA has a permanent seat in the AMA-WPS Section. As AMWA’s Representative, Dr. Bell Washington helped ensure that AMWA maintained a visible presence within WPS and participated in discussions concerning women physicians, women’s health, reproductive health, mental health, physician well-being, leadership, and health equity.

The Annual Meeting provided an opportunity to identify areas in which AMWA and WPS may collaborate, including:

  • Joint educational programming.
  • Coordination regarding AMA resolutions.
  • Advocacy related to women physicians and women’s health.
  • Leadership development and mentorship.
  • Increased visibility for women physician experts and speakers.

Dr. Washington concluded with these words, “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent AMWA and honored to have been selected as Chair of the AMA Women Physicians Section. I look forward to strengthening communication and collaboration between AMWA and WPS during the coming leadership year.”