Hispanic Physician Outreach Initiative

Funding available for Hispanic Political Leadership Seminar in October
The AMA-MAC is pleased to announce a new opportunity for Hispanic physicians to participate from your medical association. The HPOI fund will support a select number of physicians to attend the Hispanic Physicians Political Leadership Seminar to be held October 3 – 5, 2008. Information packets are available by sending an e-mail to mac@ama-assn.org or by calling (312) 464-5622. The deadline for submission of applications is August 1.

Based on the popular AMA-AMPAC Campaign School, this two-day seminar will provide Hispanic physicians with strategies and practical tools for effective political involvement and leadership. We hope that you will assist us by identifying energetic and interested Hispanic physicians in your association and/or community who would benefit by participating in this Political Leadership Seminar. Here are the highlights:

• This two-day working seminar will emphasize leadership and policy advocacy through hands-on skill development on strategies and messaging, marketing, lobbying and grassroots advocacy.
  
• A limited number of candidates will be selected to attend.
  
• The AMA will cover all travel, housing and registration expenses for the selected participants.
  
• Candidates must be of Hispanic origin and AMA members.
  
• Candidates for the seminar will be accepted by nomination only.
  

About the Hispanic Physician Outreach Initiative:
The Hispanic Physician Outreach Initiative (HPOI) was developed as a venue for Hispanic physicians to meet in small groups to discuss and exchange ideas about the AMA-MAC agenda and discuss strategies for increasing the voice of Hispanic physicians in organized medicine. Meetings have taken place at the community level at selected states from around the country.
Background:

The AMA is committed to increasing the number of minority physicians in leadership positions in the AMA and throughout organized medicine. Hispanic physicians represent an important voice in shaping health policy affecting patients and the profession. However, they are significantly underrepresented in medicine. While only 4 percent of US physicians are Hispanic, this minority group represents the largest ethnic minority patient population in the US, at over 12 percent. Hispanic physicians face unique challenges in the delivery of health care including their disproportionate role in meeting the health needs of the growing number of Hispanic patients.

The HPOI is guided by a steering committee comprised of MAC members and national leaders. Events have focused on community level ‘round table’ meetings aimed at encouraging and assisting Hispanic physicians to become leaders in organized medicine and engaging them in national advocacy efforts on issues affecting Hispanic physicians and patients through participation in the MAC and AMA.

Becoming involved:
The AMA continues to seek Hispanic physician leaders within organized medicine who can help increase this voice in the AMA policymaking and advocacy arenas. If you are a Hispanic physician interested in taking part in upcoming events or activities related to the Hispanic Physician Outreach Initiative send an e-mail to mac@ama-assn.org and let us know.

For information contact:
Phyllis Kopriva, Director
Special Groups; Women, Minority, GLBT Services
American Medical Association
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 464-4392
phyllis.kopriva@ama-assn.org