A Message from the MAC Chair

Dear Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) Members:

Here's an update on the recent AMA Annual Meeting and other MAC news." The House of Delegates (HOD) convened in June 2009, considering over 300 policy items and conducting a variety of timely educational sessions. (Visit the 2009 Annual Meeting of the AMA HOD Web site for more information) Your MAC convened its annual caucus and was an active participant throughout the meeting, i.e.:

AMA Adopts New Health Policy from MAC - Authored resolutions
The MAC introduced four resolutions on behalf of the MAC, resulting in the adoption of three new policies by the HOD.

The MAC introduced four resolutions at the 2009 AMA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting, resulting in the adoption of three new policies.  The fourth resolution was referred to the AMA Board of Trustees for decision.

1.  Guiding Principles for Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities (409):  The resolution was adopted.
2.  Hispanic Population Access to the US Healthcare System (410):  The resolution was adopted as amended.  The second resolved clause was substituted with a new resolve where the AMA must continue to work towards meeting the health-related needs of all populations, and by addressing testimony to amend language in the resolve so that it is not limited to increasing the number of physicians that can serve Hispanic populations in federally designated health shortage areas.
3.  Next Steps Following AMA Apology to African American Physicians (606):  This resolution was referred for decision so that the desires of the authors can be addressed by the Board.
4.  Increased Representation of Women, Young Physicians, Minority and International Medical Graduate Members in the House of Delegates (618):  The resolution was merged into Council on Long Range Planning and Development Report 2 which was adopted in lieu of Resolution 618 and the remainder of the report be filed.

AMA MAC Caucus section
Attendees at the caucus enjoyed an informative presentation by Hector Castro, MD, Medical Director, Beth Israel Latino Health Institute in New York.  Dr. Castro shared the successes he and his team have experienced at the institute and best practices to consider when treating Hispanics patients.  Attendees also had the opportunity to review and discuss resolutions and reports before the HOD focused on issues of concern to minority physicians, medical students and patients.

Minority Scholars announced
The AMA Foundation and the MAC were pleased to host nine of the twelve winners of the 2008 Minority Scholars Awards (PDF) at the June meeting, where they were recognized at the MAC Caucus and introduced by the Speaker of the House of Delegates to the entire body. The program in funded by the Pfizer Humanities Initiative.

Doctors Back to School (DBTS) - New and exciting updates
With involvement from the Commission to End Health Care Disparities, the MAC is continuing to promote and encourage physicians to take part in its Doctors Back to School Program (DBTS).  DBTS is a program that aims to raise awareness of the need for more minority physicians and to encourage children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option. Through Doctors Back to School, physicians and medical students across the country visit schools and community organizations to help young minority children realize they, too, can follow the same path.

Many activities to enhance the Doctors Back to School program have been set into place. These activities include a major revision of the materials associated with the program.  The current Doctors Back to School Action Kit has been reorganized into four main components: student, school, parent, and physician, with portions of the student and parent components available in Spanish. The Action Kit will be accessible as a downloadable online tool that will be accompanied by a training module that will assist the interested physician or medical student in planning and conducting a visit. In addition, October as been designated as National Doctors Back to School Month, where physicians will be encouraged to conduct at least one visit during this time.

Please consider conducting a DBTS visit in your community.  More information on how to conduct a visit, including the downloadable DBTS kit, visit our DBTS Web site.

Meet the 2009-2010 MAC Governing Council
The Governing Council elected new officers for the 209-2010 term.  The new Chair is Shanda Lohse, MD and the new Vice-Chair is Sandra Gadson.  The MAC welcomed its newly elected/appointed governing council members,  Dionne Hart, MD, YPS Representative and Miguel Fernandez, MD, National Hispanic Medical Association Representative.

Thanks to all of our MAC members who continue to make their voice heard by being AMA members, voting in our elections and polls, and taking part in our activities and programs.

Best regards from your MAC Governing Council,

Shana Loshe, MD, Chair