A Message from the AMA-WPC Governing Council Chair
Dear AMA-WPC Members:
Our recent AMA Interim Meeting held in Honolulu in mid-November was a busy and exciting time for the Women Physicians Congress, which celebrated its 15th anniversary! As part of the Interim Meeting, the House of Delegates (HOD) convened to consider numerous policy items. Your WPC was an active and respected presence throughout the meeting. Besides House of Delegates activities, your Governing Council also met to conduct business, and we held our Liaison Meeting and Caucus/Reception.
Our WPC Liaison Meeting was attended not only by state and specialty societies’ designated WPC Liaisons, but also many other AMA members. This bi-annual event provides the opportunity to network and discuss activities and issues of particular interest to women physicians. As part of the Liaison Meeting, we heard a presentation from Jennifer Kwan, an MD/PhD candidate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Illinois-Chicago. As the Policy Committee Chair and Vice President for External Affairs for the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), Ms. Kwan plans to strengthen external collaborations to help reach common goals for physician-scientist career development, with a special interest in promoting the successful career development of women in medicine.
The WPC Caucus/Reception provided an important networking opportunity for WPC members and guests. We were delighted to be addressed by AMA President-elect Ardis Dee Hoven, MD who shared her perspectives on women in medicine as well as her own inspiring career path leading up to what will be her service as the third woman AMA President. Additionally, we honored the winners of our WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program. Other WPC items of business discussed included the rousing success of our recent Pinterest Campaign to celebrate September as Women in Medicine Month, and announcement of the upcoming call for applications for our 2013 Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Program.
The WPC looks forward to your participation at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates. We will host our Caucus and Reception on Saturday, June 15 in Chicago.
The WPC continues to be a forum for members to discuss policy items before the AMA, and to foster leadership development within the organization. We would love to hear from you. Send an e-mail to wpc@ama-assn.org if there are any issues you would like us to work on or bring forward. We are in regular communication with the leadership of the AMA Board of Trustees. Thank you for your continued involvement in this dynamic organization.
Claudia L. Reardon, MD
AMA-WPC Governing Council Chair
