Report by Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal and Dr. Roberta Gebhard

AMWA was represented at the 2024 American Medical Association Annual meeting, June 7-12 in Chicago, Illinois, and by delegate, Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal, and alternate delegate, Dr. Roberta Gebhard, during the House of Delegates (HOD) and in the Reference Committees of the AMA House of Delegates. Dr. Tiffani Bell Washington, attended as the AMWA representative to the AMA-WPS Governing Council. Other AMWA members serving on the Governing Council are Dr. Gloria Wu (AMWA Board Member), Dr. Elise Choi, and Dr. Rachel Solnick.  The AMA HOD Interim Meeting will be held November 8-12, 2024 in Florida. Other leaders in attendance at the AMA meeting included Dr. Kim Templeton, Dr. Niva Rubin-Johnson, Dr. Nancy Church.

“So proud to represent AMWA as the alternate delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, along with such wonderful colleagues as Dr Aggarwal, Dr. Elisa Choi, Dr Susan Hingle, and Dr Kim Templeton. Having the opportunity to help mold how the AMA moves forward by  including women as equals is meaningful and rewarding.” said Dr. Gebhard.

“Participation in AMA meetings provides a unique venue in which to discuss challenges faced by physicians and patients across specialties and geographic regions. This includes opportunities to address issues faced by those underrepresented in medicine, including women, those from minority racial or ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities.” — Dr. Kim Templeton

AMA Women Physician Section WPS Meeting Report by Dr. Bell Washington, Dr. Gloria Wu, and Dr. Elisa Choi

The AMA WPS put forth the following resolutions:

  • Resolution 314: Reducing the Lifetime Earnings Gap in the U.S. with Similar Educational Attainment by Employing the Gainful Employment Rule**
  • Resolution 425: Perinatal Mental Health Disorders among Medical Students and Physicians**

During the business meeting, we shared updates on various WPS activities, including the exciting news about the availability of the Giambalvo and Inspiration Award applications. These grant and physician recognition awards are a beacon of hope and recognition for those making strides in our field.

The WPS Associates hosted an energizing speed mentoring event. The room buzzed with discussions on physician entrepreneurship, contract negotiation, work-life harmony, and fertility planning. It was a testament to our community’s strength and our commitment to supporting one another through every stage of our career. Dr. Elisa Choi was elected as chair, and Dr. Tiffani Bell Washington was elected as vice-chair. The AMA-WPS will continue to push boundaries and champion the cause of women physicians everywhere. Other new and returning members of the AMA WPS Governing Council include Dr. Nicole Plenty (delegate), Dr. Rachel Solnick (alternate delegate), Dr. Avani Patel (Young Physicians Section representative), Dr. Holly Grace (Resident & Fellow Section representative), and Dr. Gloria Wu (member at large representative).

“I am thrilled and excited to be elected as Chair of the AMA WPS, and I look forward to working closely with our WPS Governing Council and Staff to support issues and policy making which are relevant and important to our AMA WPS members,” said Dr. Elisa Choi. “I am a passionate supporter of gender and health equity issues and women’s health. In my role as AMA WPS Chair, I have personal goals for our WPS to achieve the 3 C’s: Collaborations, Connections, Community. The AMA WPS is rich with so many wonderful women physicians and so much wisdom, insight, and intellect. I am committed to supporting ways for our WPS to harness all the talents, skills, and energy within our section, to advance our WPS aims and goals.”

“Thank you AMWA for allowing me to represent you at the AMA meeting this June in Chicago. I had the honor of being elected to Vice-Chair of the Women Physicians Section GC. I am excited to help lead the section and further the policy that impacts women in medicine. I look forward to continuing to represent AMWA’s interest at the AMA,” said Dr. Bell Washington. “I wanted to hear about priorities that AMWA may have that we wanted to share with the AMA. I am hoping to attend seminars on the following topics: women in  leadership, pay equity, work-life balance and motherhood in medicine.”

“Serving in the Women Physician Section of the AMA has allowed me to see the breadth and scope of the talents of women physician leaders. It is an honor and privilege to represent women physicians in America, ” said Dr. Gloria Wu. “Being on the board of the AMWA has given me access to the White House policy makers, an unprecedented opportunity for women physicians. We can actually use AMWA to showcase our concerns for women in medicine, gender pay equity, and reproductive medicine.”

AMWA delegates prepared, supported and/or provided testimony (prior to or during HOD) to the following resolutions (identified by reference numbers) that met the priority and timeliness thresholds:

  • 202 Use of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology by Third Party Payors to Deny Health Insurance Claims
  • 206 Indian Health Service Youth Regional Treatment Centers
  • 209 Native American Voting Rights
  • 212 Advocacy Education Towards a Sustainable Medical Care System
  • 214 Support for Paid Sick Leave
  • 215 American Indian and Alaska Native Language Revitalization and Elder Care
  • 220 Restorative Justice for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
  • 224 Antidiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care
  • 227 Medicare Reimbursement for Telemedicine
  • 242 Cancer Care in Indian Health Services Facilities
  • 02 Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • 04 Sex and Gender Differences in Medical Research
  • 502 Tribally-Directed Precision Medicine Research
  • 114 Breast Cancer Screening/Clinical Breast Exam Coverage
  • 306 Unmatched Graduating Physicians
  • 401 Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Closed Loop Referral Systems,
  • 407 Racial Misclassification
  • 424 LGBTQ+ Senior Health
  • 431 Combatting the Public Health Crisis of Gun Violence
  • 433 Improving Healthcare of Rural Minority Populations
  • 242 Cancer Care in Indian Health Services Facilities
  • 02 Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • 04 Sex and Gender Differences in Medical Research
  • 502 Tribally-Directed Precision Medicine Research
  • 114 Breast Cancer Screening/Clinical Breast Exam Coverage
  • 306 Unmatched Graduating Physicians
  • 401 Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Closed Loop Referral Systems,
  • 407 Racial Misclassification
  • 424 LGBTQ+ Senior Health
  • 431 Combatting the Public Health Crisis of Gun Violence
  • 433 Improving Healthcare of Rural Minority Populations

In addition, Drs. Aggarwal* and Gebhard attended the following Section Meetings

  • Programming:
  • Academic Physicians Section Meeting (APS)*
  • Women Physicians Section (WPS) ^
  • Mentoring Luncheon  * ^
  • Specialty and Service Society (SSS) *
  • Neuroscience Caucus Meeting *
  • Neurology Caucus Meeting*
  • Health Equity Open Forum * ^Hypertension Control -.As a nation we are trending in the wrong direction
  • Confronting Ageism in Medicine
  • Equity and Advocacy Briefing and Indigenous Health Education Session
  • Health Equity Open Forum – Part 1 Being Strategic in Advancing Health Equity
  • Health Equity Open Forum – Part 2 Contributions of International Medical Graduate

L-R: Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, Dr. Nancy Church, Dr. Roberta Gebhard

Dr. Neelum Aggarwal (R) with Dr. Wilbur (L, American Coll. of Legal Medicine)

Dr. Niva Lubin-Johnson (L) and Dr. Nancy Church (R)

 

Dr. Bell Washington (L) and Dr. Avani Patel (R)

Dr. Bell Washington (L) and Dr. Choi (2nd from right)

Dr. Bell Washington (L), Dr. Gloria Wu (2nd to L) and Dr. Nicole Plenty (R)