A brief #tweetorial for those curious as to why I spend countless hours on a non-specialty medical organization. The basic premise of the @AmerMedicalAssn House of Delegates is actually simple. #healthpolicy #publichealth #MembersMoveMedicine 1/
It’s a representative democratic body consisting of members of societies from the US states and subspecialties of medicine, convening twice a year as the @AmerMedicalAssn House of Delegates (HoD). The majority of each meeting is spent deliberating policy proposals. #AMAmtg 2/
Any member or organization can bring resolutions with various policy goals to the HoD to be debated and voted on. These go through a multistep vetting process where everyone has the opportunity to speak on and amend these policies under the rules of parliamentary procedure. 3/
If passed, these policies empower the @AmerMedicalAssn to act, including taking a public stance on issues, writing model legislation, actively lobbying for issues we care about, working with other organizations (e.g. ACGME), or writing reports or releasing background research. 4/
Through this same process, the AMA Code of Ethics can also be updated and internal governance can be addressed. #medicalethics 5/
There are elected Councils including Medical Education, Medical Service, Science/Public Health, Legislation, Ethics/Judicial Affairs, and the Board of Trustees. They can author researched reports, fund independent studies, and act on behalf of the AMA. #MedEd #publichealth 6/
This might include the @AmerMedicalAssn meeting with @HHSGov & @CMSGov, filing suits against limitations to necessary patient care (e.g. cuts to Title X medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverag…), or even providing in-person testimony to Congress on a variety of issues . 7/
Within the @AmerMedicalAssn there are also empowered members of groups that need specific representation such as trainees (medical students/residents/fellows), IMGs, medical staff, and senior physicians. #RepresentationMatters 8/
As a trainee, it’s frustrating that our voices are often left out of policy decisions that affect us. The mechanisms and influence of the @AmerMedicalAssn allow us to speak on behalf of our colleagues and improve conditions for trainees and our patients. #MembersMoveMedicine 9/
Shout out to a few (of many) @AmerMedicalAssn patient/physician advocates I’m thankful to work with @TaniMalhotraMD @KimiChernoby @joshualeskomd @doctorzarah @Allopathologist @MarkKashtanMD @hunterpattison @BarbaraMcAneny @subailey @mattlecuyermd @LVSelbs @Megan4Iowa 10/10
And strong #SoMe @AmerMedicalAssn physician leadership from President @PatriceHarrisMD, Board Chair @DoctorJesseMD, Chief Health Equity Office @DrAlethaMaybank, @CEO_AMA, Past Chairs @GeraldHarmonMD and @JackResneckMD #AMAzing #MembersMoveMedicine #myAMA
