AMA eVoice Weekly Newsletter

Working to improve the health system for physicians and patients

Every day, physicians across America make a difference in their patients’ lives. Whether it’s a life-saving surgery, identifying a disease before it becomes untreatable or providing a safe sounding board for the person who works up the courage to say for the first time, “Doc, I need help,” physicians are the everyday heroes of our health care system.

When we become doctors, something special happens to each of us, and our commitment to our patients comes first—even at the expense of time with our loved ones. The AMA never forgets this as it fights to improve the health care system in which you practice.

Physicians nationwide are engaged and passionate about the health reform debate. While there are many views on how to fix the system, we can all agree that the relationship between the patient and physician is at the heart of health care. We’re working to make sure it stays that way while improving the dysfunctional system that you are forced to navigate to provide your patients with high-quality care.

While there has been much activity—and even more talk—on health reform in recent days, we are still early in the process. As the reform process continues this year, we will continue to be advocates to make the system better for patients and physicians. We’re focused on health system reform this year that expands coverage through a choice of plans, curbs insurance industry practices that frustrate patients and physicians, repeals the flawed Medicare physician payment formula and gives relief from the broken medical liability system.

Last month, the AMA House of Delegates—comprised of representatives from every state and medical specialty society—voted for the AMA to support health system reform proposals consistent with the principles of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of access and universal access for patients.

Based on that policy, and after a thorough review of the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, the AMA announced its support of the House bill, with the understanding that this is but one step—an important one—in the process. The House bill expands health insurance coverage to the uninsured through a choice of plans, eliminates coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions and repeals the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment formula (SGR) that projects steep cuts of about 40 percent over the next five years. The bill would increase Medicare payments for primary care services without reductions in specialty care payment, increase support for prevention and wellness, and increase investment in the physician work force.

The AMA has developed a document that answers a number of frequently asked questions about the House bill. I also released a video message about the AMA’s commitment to health reform, and this NPR interview reiterates the fact that this is a step in the ongoing process.

Our health care system is at a point where the status quo is no longer acceptable. Without action in the House, there will be no health system reform this year. And the AMA is deeply engaged to improve the final bill so that any changes to the system help you provide your patients with high-quality care. For example, we are working with members of Congress on amendments on medical liability reform and to eliminate the provision that restricts physician ownership of hospitals.

I hear physicians’ frustrations with the health care system every day—the fights with insurance companies to get treatment approved for our patients, delivering heart-wrenching news to a person that their cancer is too advanced. I also hear and know firsthand the joys and satisfaction of being a physician—of making a positive difference in someone’s life.

Our focus in the health system reform debate is making the system better for you and your patients.

To stay informed about the latest developments, sign up for the AMA’s Health System Reform Bulletin and Physicians’ Grassroots Network. And encourage your patients to join the Patients’ Action Network.

I truly believe that together, we, as America’s physicians, are stronger.

-- J. James Rohack, MD

E-mail comments, questions and replies to Dr. Rohack

1) AMA president talks health system reform on NPR
AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, hit the airwaves of National Public Radio (NPR) earlier this week to detail the need for health system reform and emphasize that the legislative process to bring about reform is still in the early stages.

Listen to Dr. Rohack on NPR.

2) Watch AMA president on CNBC's "Meeting of the Minds: The Future of Health Care"
At 9 p.m. EST on Monday, July 27, tune in to watch AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, on CNBC’s "Meeting of the Minds" with Maria Bartiromo. Dr. Rohack will discuss the future of heath care in a roundtable format with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Cleveland Clinic's Steven Nissen, MD, Eli Lilly President John Lechleiter and more.

Preview the discussion (1m:27s):

• AMA Web site (requires QuickTime)
• YouTube

3) New AMA National Health Insurer Report Card shows improvement, more work to do
Health insurers have made important improvements in the 12 months since the AMA called for an overhaul of the industry's billing and collection process, but there is a tremendous opportunity for improving efficiency in the nation's multi-payer health care system.

That is the key finding of the AMA's "National Health Insurer Report Card," released earlier this week through the AMA's "Heal the Claims Process" campaign. This is the second year in a row that the AMA has released its report card to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of the claims processing systems used by eight of the nation's largest health insurers. Other key findings were revealed in the areas of denials, timeliness, accuracy and transparency.

"Simplifying the administrative process through standardized processing and payment requirements is needed as part of comprehensive health reform legislation this year," AMA Board of Trustees member William A. Dolan, MD, said. "It will reduce unnecessary costs in the health system and eliminate the variability that requires physicians to maintain a costly claims management system for each health insurer."

Visit the AMA Web site to view complete findings of the report card and to listen to a webinar on the 2009 report card.

The AMA also announced a new white paper urging the Obama administration, Congress and health insurers to consider five recommendations for bringing transparency, simplicity and consistency to the nation's multi-payer system. View the white paper outlining the AMA's vision for administrative simplification.

4) Don't forget: "Red flags" rule compliance date is Aug. 1
Largely as a result of AMA advocacy, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) extended the deadline for compliance with the FTC's "red flags" rule to Aug. 1. This rule requires creditors to institute policies to identify, detect and respond to potential risks of identity theft. As the compliance date approaches, be sure you have policies in place to comply with the rule.

Access the AMA resource "Protect your patients, protect your practice: What you need to know about the red flags rule."

View sample policy developed by the AMA.

Visit the Red Flags Rule Web page to download other "red flags" rule-related resources from the AMA Practice Management Center.

5) Ethics in Brief: BMA reaffirms opposition to physician aid in dying
Doctors voted against a motion that would have given terminally ill patients who have decision-making capacity the option of choosing an assisted death of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide during the British Medical Association's (BMA) Annual Representative Meeting in Liverpool on July 1. The rejected motion also would have offered immunity from prosecution to those, such as friends or family, who accompany loved ones abroad to an assisted death.

There have been various attempts in the past few years to legalize assisted dying in the United Kingdom. In 2005, the BMA considered the merits of allowing Parliament and society at large to decide this controversial matter and took a neutral stance. In 2006, however, BMA members made clear that the majority opposes such legislation. The BMA has since dropped its neutral stance and opposes all forms of assisted dying, arguing that the concept of assisted dying risks undermining patients' ability to trust their doctors and the health care system.

The AMA opposes both euthanasia and assisted suicide for similar reasons, arguing that they are fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer and, if permitted, would be difficult or impossible to control and pose serious societal risks. Instead of engaging in euthanasia, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life by providing emotional support, comfort care, adequate pain control, respect for patient autonomy and good communication.

Visit the Code of Medical Ethics Web site for more information about AMA policy on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.

6) Get an inside view of 2010 CPT^® changes during December workshops
It's never too soon to start planning for 2010—particularly when it comes to understanding the process, rationale and application for the numerous impending changes to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®). The 2010 CPT^® Changes Workshops, Dec. 8–10, in Dallas, New Jersey, Baltimore and Atlanta, will provide a deeper insight and more hands-on practical application of CPT 2010 code changes than any other workshop of its kind.

Hosted by the AMA and Contexo Media, these one-day workshops will provide instruction to keep pace with proper compliant reimbursement, including added, revised and deleted codes; CPT 2010 resequencing principles; general changes such as guidelines, modifiers and E/M codes; and specific changes such as those impacting cardiology, general surgery, pain medicine, pulmonary medicine, radiology and urology.

Each workshop is approved for continuing education units. Access the general conference overview and general attendee information.

Visit the CPT^® Web site to learn more and to register. Register before Oct. 16 and receive a $50 discount.

7) Don't miss inaugural Canadian Conference on Physician Health, Oct. 15–16
"Building resilient medical communities" is the theme of the first Canadian national conference on physician health, to be held Oct. 15–16, at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Hosted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Centre for Physician Health and Well-being and the Physician Health Program of British Columbia, in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Foundation, the program will feature a dozen interactive workshops as well as keynote speaker Richard Gunderman, MD. Dr. Gunderman will explore resilience in medicine and the steps that can be taken to enhance it to promote personal and organizational excellence.

The skill-building workshops will address subjects such as healthy workplaces, assisting a physician colleague or patient, and enhancing physician and medical trainee wellness in an academic setting.

Visit the CMA Web site to learn more about the conference, to register, and to reserve your hotel room. The hotel cut-off date is Sept. 14.

For more information, send an e-mail to physicianhealthconference@cma.ca or contact Jacqueline Burke, coordinator of the CMA Centre for Physician Health and Well-being, at (613) 731-8610, ext. 2014; or Todd Watkins, MD, director of CMA's Office of Professional Services, at (800) 663-7336, ext. 2306.

The AMA will host the next International Conference on Physician Health in 2010 in Chicago.

8) Guidance about retrospective audits: just one benefit of being an AMA member
Do you think that your practice might be hit by a retrospective audit? Do you even know what one is? Read the AMA members-only article "How to prepare for a health plan retrospective audit," one of the many exclusive resources offered through the AMA's Practice Management Center.

This document, which was developed in conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology, will explain what a retrospective audit is and then walk you through the audit process, from why you may have been selected for the audit to what you need to learn and what to expect during the process. It even explains how to contest an audit.

Access the AMA PMC Web site and view other practice management resources.

Renew your AMA membership or to join the AMA and have access to valuable resources such as this.

9) In JAMA: Adhering to healthy lifestyle habits associated with reduced lifetime risk of heart failure
Men who exercised regularly, drank moderately, did not smoke, who were not overweight and had a diet that included cereal and fruits and vegetables had a lower lifetime risk of heart failure, according to a study in the July 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

In a related study appearing in the same issue of JAMA, researchers found that adherence to a modifiable lifestyle and dietary factors including maintaining normal weight; daily vigorous exercise; eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and low in sodium; and taking a folic acid supplement was associated with a significantly lower incidence of self-reported hypertension among women.

An author comments on both studies in an accompanying JAMA editorial that examines the effect of lifestyle factors on heart failure and hypertension.

View "Relation between modifiable lifestyle factors and lifetime risk of heart failure."

View "Diet and lifestyle factors associated with incident hypertension in women."

View the editorial, "Lifestyle and cardiovascular health."

1) Mayo appoints new president/chief executive officer
The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees recently elected John Noseworthy, MD, to succeed Denis Cortese, MD, as president and chief executive officer of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Noseworthy is the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Department of Development, a consultant in the clinic's Department of Neurology, and professor of neurology in Mayo's College of Medicine. He is a vice chair of the Mayo Clinic Rochester Executive Board and served as chair of the Department of Neurology from 1997 to 2006.

1) Book covers best practices for serving LGBT youths in out-of-home care
Guidelines for policy and practice for serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths in child welfare and juvenile justice settings are reported in "Best Practice Guidelines for Serving LGBT Youth in Out-of-Home Care," a book published by the Child Welfare League of America. Written by experts in the field, the book is based on the work of the Model Standards Project, and research from the Family Acceptance Project informed and framed the guidelines.

The Model Standards Project is a multi-year effort by Legal Services for Children and the National Center for Lesbian Rights to develop and disseminate model professional standards governing services to LGBT youths in out-of-home care. The Family Acceptance Project is a community research, intervention and education initiative that studies the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the physical health, mental health and well-being of LGBT youths.

2) Sotomayor speaks of marriage equality during hearings
During last week's U.S. Senate confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the judge addressed the subject of same-sex marriage by saying she'd approach the issue with "an open mind."

Read a story from the Advocate about this portion of Sotomayor's confirmation hearings.

3) Senate passes expansion of federal hate crimes law
The U.S. Senate approved a measure last week that would expand the reach of the nation's hate crimes law by granting federal protections to people attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender.

1) Mayo Clinic plans Mall of America facility
An expansion plan for the Mall of America includes bringing a Mayo Clinic facility to the popular tourist destination. Initial concepts for Mayo's presence at the mall, which is located just outside Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., calls for care delivery models that will help the clinic reach new patients.

"Mall of America provides an opportunity to offer patient services outside of traditional care models and enhance convenience and connectivity to Mayo Clinic," said Glenn Forbes, MD, chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic's Rochester facility.

1) Join an AMA-IMG section committee
All AMA-IMG section members are invited to get involved on one of the section's committees. Participation on these committees presents opportunities to help shape and advance the AMA-IMG section's agenda.

View a list of possible committees.

If any catch your eye, send an e-mail to img@ama-assn.org with your contact information and committee of interest.

2) View AMA's directory of ethnic medical associations
Nearly 100 ethnic medical associations exist in the United States today, and the AMA offers a list of those organizations on its Web site. Visit the AMA-IMG Web site to view the list and get involved.

If your association is not listed or you have updated information about an organization that is listed, send an e-mail to img@ama-assn.org or call (312) 464-5397.

3) Apply for a seat on the Council for Graduate Medical Education
The Council for Graduate Medical Education is seeking nominations from international medical graduates for terms beginning in September 2010. If you are interested, forward your curriculum vitae to img@ama-assn.org by July 29. You will be asked to fill out a candidate profile form that will accompany your material. If you have any questions, call (312) 464-5678.

4) AMA-IMG observership program guidelines now available
International medical graduates interested in observership programs can review guidelines for such programs on the AMA-IMG Web site. Developed by an expert working group, the guidelines can serve as a template for physicians and medical associations seeking to establish an observership program to help acculturate international medical graduates to the practice of medicine in the United States.

Visit the AMA-IMG Web site to download the program guidelines and evaluation forms. Call (312) 464-5678 with questions or if you know of an observership program for international medical graduates.

Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools

1) AMA-SMS meeting set for Nov. 6
The next AMA-SMS meeting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston in conjunction with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Annual Meeting.

The meeting will be held at the same time as the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Houston. The AMA-SMS Governing Council decided to hold its section meeting in Boston rather than in Houston because of the large number of AMA-SMS members who regularly attend the AAMC meeting.

During the meeting, featured speaker Todd Dorman, MD, associate dean and director of continuing medical education at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will discuss the future of continuing medical education.

Visit the AMA-SMS Web site beginning in August to view meeting details.

2) Deadline fast approaching for AMA ethics essay contest for medical students
Medical students have until July 31 to submit an essay for this year's John Conley Foundation for Ethics and Philosophy in Medicine ethics competition.

This year's competition examines the topic of physicians' conscientious objection to discussing or providing treatment options to patients that are legal but objectionable to a physician's religious beliefs. All medical students are eligible to enter the contest; please forward the appropriate information to your students.

The author of the best essay will be awarded $5,000, and the winning essay will be published in the AMA's online ethics journal, Virtual Mentor. Up to three honorable mention rewards of $1,000 each will also be awarded.

3) Get special online-only rate for premier AMA medical journal
For the special discounted rate of just $50, AMA members can subscribe to the AMA Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal online.

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness—the first comprehensive and authoritative journal of its kind—presents original research and high-quality critical analysis on epidemiologic and statistical studies; offers review articles on major topics in disaster preparedness; and introduces special topics, such as public ethics, legal issues, policy reviews and staffing and education requirements, to health care and public health professionals.

To receive the discounted $50 online subscription today, call (800) 638-3030 and mention code D9Q564ZZ.

1) Recognize your mentors
The AMA Women Physicians Congress is seeking nominees for its Physician Mentor Recognition Program, which provides an opportunity to acknowledge those physicians who contribute in small, often unsung ways to the professional life of individuals in medicine. These individuals may have steered you into the specialty you love, helped you find a work/life balance, guided you through your professional society or unknowingly served as a role model for you or others.

Nominations are due by July 31.

Send an e-mail to michael.kutnick@ama-assn.org with questions.

2) Enter Virtual Mentor's student essay contest
All medical students are invited to take part in the John Conley Foundation for Ethics and Philosophy in Medicine ethics essay competition, which is presented by Virtual Mentor, the AMA's online ethics journal.

This year's competition examines the topic of physicians' conscientious objection to discussing or providing treatment options to patients that are legal but objectionable to a physician's religious beliefs.

Visit the Virtual Mentor Web site to view the scenario, essay guidelines and instructions for how to enter the contest. The author of the best essay will be awarded $5,000, and the winning essay will be published in Virtual Mentor.

Submissions must be sent as e-mail attachments to faith.lagay@ama-assn.org by July 31.

3) Guidance about USMLE, COMLEX: just one benefit of being an AMA member
If you're looking for information about the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX), a great place to start is the AMA guide "Succeeding from medical school to practice," a comprehensive members-only resource that can help you confront the nonclinical demands of training and the practice environment.

Part 1 of the guide, which covers medical school and residency, offers a clear overview of the USMLE and the COMLEX and what to expect from both tests. And it includes steps to take toward entering a residency program. Parts 2 and 3 of the guide cover residency and practice.

"Succeeding from medical school to practice," is jam-packed with helpful information on a variety of topics. Developed by AMA member physicians, this easy-to-navigate guide offers medical students and doctors the tools needed to succeed at every stage of their career.

AMA members can visit the AMA-RFS Web site to access this resource. Nonmembers can view the guide's table of contents as well as sample pages.

If you have not done so already, renew your AMA membership or join the AMA and have access to valuable resources such as this.

4) Learn about the new Income Based Repayment plan
Earlier this month the Income Based Repayment (IBR) plan replaced a popular form of economic hardship deferment known as the "20/220 pathway." However, the AMA continues to fight for the reinstatement of the 20/220 pathway as well as for other loan repayment options that best serve the individual needs of all medical students and residents.

View an AMA-MSS issue brief about the IBR.

Learn more about the AMA's advocacy efforts on this important issue.

Brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium

1) AMA celebrates nomination of Regina Benjamin, MD, as surgeon general
The AMA is delighted by President Barack Obama's choice of AMA member Regina Benjamin, MD, a family physician in Bayou La Batre, Ala., as the nation's next surgeon general.

A former member of the AMA Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr. Benjamin was the first African-American woman to serve on the AMA-BOT and its first young physician member. She most recently served as chair of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs.

"We look forward to seeing Dr. Benjamin serve as an advocate for all the nation's patients as our country works toward health reform that provides high-quality, affordable health coverage for all," AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, said.

View Dr. Rohack's full statement.

2) Deadline approaching for mentor award nominations
Nominations are due July 31 for this year's American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Awards. The two categories of the awards—the Mentor Award and the Lifetime Mentor Award—honor individuals who during their careers have demonstrated extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the science and engineering doctorate work force. These groups include women of all racial or ethnic groups; African-American, Native American and Hispanic men; and people with disabilities.

3) Apply for research, leadership program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting applications for its Health & Society Scholars Program, which provides two years of support to postdoctoral scholars at all stages of their careers to build the nation's capacity for research and leadership.

The program, an effort to address the multiple determinants of population health and contribute to policy change, is intended to produce leaders who will change the questions asked, the methods employed to analyze problems and the range of solutions to reduce population health disparities and improve the health of all Americans.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 2.

1) Summary documents from AMA-OMSS meeting available online
During last month's 53rd AMA-OMSS Assembly meeting, the section considered 35 items of business, including principles for developing sustainable and successful hospitalist programs, protection of medical staff members' personal proprietary information, elimination of the three-day inpatient stay requirement prior to skilled nursing admission and privileging physicians with low volume hospital activity.

The AMA-OMSS participated in or hosted seven educational programs during the meeting, with two of the programs focused on employed physicians and contracting and another on health system reform.

Visit the AMA-OMSS Web site to access the meeting summary, the disposition of actions and other items from the meeting.

And save the date for the next AMA-OMSS Assembly meeting, which will be held Nov. 5–7 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

2) Learn about risk assessment and adjustment models
New resources from the AMA can help physicians understand risk assessment and adjustment models. One resource, "An introduction to risk assessment and risk adjustment models," defines the terms "risk assessment" and "risk adjustment" and provides overviews of the prominent risk assessment and risk adjustment models and their various uses, including profiling physicians. Another resource, "Terminology used in physician profiling," helps physicians assess information they receive about physician profiling.

View other AMA resources that focus on physician profiling.

3) AMA-OMSS webcasts offer CME credit
The AMA-OMSS offers several 90-minute educational webcasts, some for purchase and others free of charge. All programs for purchase provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.

The American Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

1) Stay involved in the health system reform debate
The need for health system reform that provides coverage and high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans is clear. Rising health care costs strain individual, business and government budgets, and projected increases in health spending are not sustainable. A shortage of 85,000 physicians is predicted by 2020, and baby boomers will reach age 65 in just two years.

We need to find ways to keep practicing physicians caring for seniors and encourage the best and brightest students to become physicians. Contact your members of Congress and ask them to support reform that will work best for physicians and patients.

Patients can access the AMA Patients' Action Network for information about this important issue.

2) Guidance on protecting yourself and your profession: just one benefit of being an AMA member
Purchasing professional liability insurance is one of the most important and expensive decisions you may make in your medical practice. The current environment of increased litigation makes this decision more important than ever. Before purchasing a policy, it's important to learn as much as possible about the types of coverage, carriers and other options that are available.

In the AMA resource "Succeeding from Medical School to Practice," you'll find this information as well as answers to your questions about medical professional liability insurance issues. This three-part guide offers AMA members the tools needed to succeed at every stage of their career.

AMA members can visit the AMA-RFS Web site to access the guide. Nonmembers can view the guide's table of contents as well as sample pages.

If you have not done so already, renew your AMA membership or join the AMA and have access to valuable resources such as this.

1) Survey finds seniors open to using online tools to manage their health
A recent survey by Kaiser Permanente found that 87 percent of Medicare beneficiaries registered to use the organization's personal health record system are overwhelmingly satisfied with managing their health care online. Results from the survey examining Web site usage and Medicare beneficiary satisfaction were presented July 14 at the World Health Care Congress' fifth annual Leadership Summit on Medicare in Washington, D.C.

2) Study: Language skills may predict dementia risk later in life
People who have superior language skills early in life may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease decades later despite having the hallmark signs of the disease, according to research published in the July 9 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

View an abstract of the study.

View a news release about the study.

Brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress

1) AMA celebrates nomination of Regina Benjamin, MD, as surgeon general
The AMA is delighted by President Barack Obama's choice of AMA member Regina Benjamin, MD, a family physician in Bayou La Batre, Ala., as the nation's next surgeon general.

A former member of the AMA Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr. Benjamin was the first African-American woman to serve on the AMA-BOT and its first young physician member. She most recently served as chair of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs.

"We look forward to seeing Dr. Benjamin serve as an advocate for all the nation's patients as our country works toward health reform that provides high quality, affordable health coverage for all," AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, said.

View Dr. Rohack's full statement.

2) Study finds predictors of death from ovarian cancer
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently found that survival among women with ovarian cancer is influenced by age of menarche and total number of life ovulatory cycles. This finding suggests that hormonal activity over the course of a woman's lifetime may influence the prognosis after she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Results of this study have been published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

View a news release about the study.

3) Chicago geneticist recognized for groundbreaking cancer research
Janet Rowley, a founder in the field of cancer cytogenetics and a leader in molecular oncology, will receive the 2009 Genetics Prize of The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation for her research on recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in leukemias and lymphomas—discoveries that revolutionized how cancer is understood and treated. Rowley, 84, the Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, will receive a gold medal and an unrestricted cash prize of $500,000.

View a news release from the University of Chicago about Rowley's award.

View a story published by the Chicago Tribune about Rowley.

1) Review actions from AMA-YPS meeting
The AMA-YPS Web page contains final actions on reports and resolutions considered by the section's assembly at its annual meeting in Chicago last month. Three resolutions addressing student loan debt were adopted by the section and forwarded immediately to the AMA House of Delegates (HOD). Two of these resolutions were subsequently adopted by the AMA-HOD, and the third was referred to the AMA Board of Trustees for further study.

2) Recognize your mentors
Young physician members of the AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC) are encouraged to nominate a mentor for the AMA-WPC's annual Physician Recognition Program, a unique way to acknowledge those individuals who have made a difference in your professional life.

Nominations are due by July 31. Mentors will be recognized in a special commemorative book to be distributed in November during the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.

3) AMA-YPS is seeking your insight on physician re-entry issues
The AMA-YPS is collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics Physician Re-entry into the Workforce Project to learn more about information and resources that will assist physicians who leave and then later desire to re-enter clinical practice.

The AMA-YPS is aware of the fact that re-entry issues are a consideration for young physicians and would like your input through a short survey. Even if you have not left or re-entered the work force, or do not have immediate plans to do so, your opinion is valued.

Complete the survey by Aug. 21. This is not an AMA survey, there are no personal identifiers, and responses will be collated and reported in the aggregate.

4) AMPAC sets dates for 2010 political education programs
The AMA Political Action Committee (AMPAC) will hold its annual Candidate Workshop from Feb. 19–21 and annual Campaign School from April 21–25.

The Candidate Workshop is designed for AMA members and their spouses who are considering a run for public office, while the Candidate School is for AMA members who wish to become involved in the political process as advocates and volunteers for medicine-friendly candidates. Both programs will take place in Pentagon City, Va.

AMPAC covers all costs for AMA members and their spouses only, excluding transportation to the Washington, D.C.-metro area. AMA membership needs to be current for 2010.