The AMA Senior Physicians Group provides a way for you to remain active and involved with your AMA and the medical community. Your membership fee supports projects of interest to the senior physician community, continued communication with your colleagues, advocacy on senior physician issues, and the ongoing development of member benefits and activities. Your membership and participation in organized medicine throughout your career have helped to define the profession.

Advocacy

AMA-SPG advocates on behalf of senior physicians to ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed. At the 1997 Annual Meeting, the AMA House of Delegates adopted the Council on Medical Education's recommendation that the AMA develop a licensure relief model for retired physicians working in free clinics. The model developed recommends that states adopt legislation exempting retired physicians who practice only in free clinics from the licensing board registration fee, which is often prohibitive to the provision of charity care. This model recognizes the important care provided by retired doctors in free clinics, while also recognizing the need for volunteer physicians to meet other qualifications for practice such as the pursuit of continuing medical education credits.

State licensing laws governing volunteer physicians.

History

The American Medical Association Senior Physician Group (AMA-SPG) came into being on June 30, 1994 as a result of official action of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Senior Physicians agreeing to an amalgamation of all of its functions with the American Medical Association. The decision by the Board of AASP was made in order to provide expanded benefits and services to senior physicians and increased efforts on membership recruitment.

Prior members of AASP had their membership carried over to AMA-SPS but it was agreed that any new members must also be members of AMA.

Governance and Mission

The Senior Physicians Group Governing Committee is a seven-member group appointed by the AMA Board of Trustees. The aim of the Governing Committee is to inform, entertain, and engage the attention of the members of AMA-SPG; to act as a link to the policies and actions of the AMA; to bring to the notice of members items pertaining to the well-being of senior and retired physicians; to assist in crystallizing the needs and desires of senior physicians that pertain to the field of medicine; to make suggestions for the meeting of those needs; and to act as liaison between the AMA senior staff and Board of Trustees and those physicians retired or contemplating retirement who are interested in retaining their attachment to organized medicine. This Governing Committee acts through preparation of a quarterly newsletter, which is sent to every paying member of AMA-SPG. 2007-2008 Governing Council

Programs and Projects

50-Year Recognition Program of American Medicine

The 50-year Recognition Program of American Medicine is open to all AMA physicians who have graduated from medical school more than 50 years ago. Special benefits offered to members include an annual anniversary trip offered through AHI Travel to an international destination. 

Travel

The SPG has also selected two travel companies for its members to travel at home or abroad.

AAA Travel Program
AHI Travel Program

Future projects of AMA-SPG include development of a guide to physician volunteering and a summary of retirement information for physicians.

Together, we are stronger! For further information, contact the Senior Physicians Group, 515 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610; phone (312) 464-4539, fax (312) 464-5845, E-mail.

SPG Governance

A roster of the Governing Committee of the AMA Senior Physicians Group