AMA delegates to choose new officers in June

Richard F. Corlin, MD, is running unopposed for president-elect.

Dr. Corlin has served as speaker of the AMA House of Delegates since 1995 and vice speaker from 1992 to 1995. He also served for nine years as speaker or vice speaker of the California Medical Assn.'s house of delegates.

Dr. Corlin also brings to the job more than two decades of service to organized medicine, with much of that devoted to expanding the inclusiveness of the house. In the mid-1970s, he was tapped by AMA leaders to chair the AMA's first ad hoc Committee on Services to Young Physicians, through which he spearheaded efforts that led to the creation of a Young Physicians Section. He also chaired a subsequent study group that led to the formation of the Hospital Medical Staff Section, now the Organized Medical Staff Section, ensuring a voice for that unique perspective in organized medicine's policy process.

A board-certified gastroenterologist in private practice in the Los Angeles area, Dr. Corlin has long been active in the CMA. He served as the group's president and as a member of its board of trustees. Dr. Corlin also served as a spokesman on tort reform, aggressively defending California's landmark reforms.

In addition, Dr. Corlin has served as the president of the Southern Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and as a member of the board of directors of the American Digestive Disease Society. A graduate of Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, he received residency training at Hahnemann and at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Speaker of the House of Delegates: John A Knote, MD

John A. Knote, MD, running unopposed for speaker of the AMA House of Delegates, has under his belt more than two decades of service to organized medicine.

Dr. Knote has been vice speaker since 1995.

Dr. Knote is also past president of the Forum on Medical Affairs. He served for five years on the AMA Council on Medical Service and chaired its subcommittee on health system reform and finance.

A past president of his state, district and county medical societies, Dr. Knote is also a past president of the Organization of State Medical Assn. Presidents. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Indiana State Medical Assn. for six years, two of them as board chair.

Dr. Knote, a radiologist, is past speaker of the American College of Radiology Council and a chancellor of the organization. He has served on the ACR's government relations and steering committees and as a member of the group's strategic planning committee.

Vice speaker: Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD

Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, is running for the position of vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates.

Dr. Nielsen, a board-certified internist in private practice in Buffalo, N.Y., also holds a PhD in microbiology.

Dr. Nielsen is serving her second term on the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs and sits on its executive committee and strategic planning task force. She also currently serves the AMA on the National Patient Safety Foundation board of directors and the Commission for the Prevention of Youth Violence.

She is seeking the position of vice speaker because she believes she has the qualifications to do the job well.

"I have job skills that match the job description," Dr. Nielsen said. "I have years of speaker experience in New York and have the interests and talents that fit what's needed to run a large house of delegates."

Dr. Nielsen was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Structure, Governance and Operations, whose report at the AMA's 1998 Interim Meeting resulted in the adoption of significant operational changes for the Association.

She is the current speaker of the house of delegates of the Medical Society of the State of New York.

Dr. Nielsen has served as president of her county medical society. In addition, she is a fellow of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine and a former board member of the New York State Society of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Nielsen is assistant dean for academic and curricular affairs at the University of Buffalo (N.Y.) School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, and a clinical associate professor of medicine.

Vice speaker: Cecil B. Wilson, MD

Cecil B. Wilson, MD, is running for vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates.

Dr. Wilson, an internist from Winter Park, Fla., is currently serving his second term on the AMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws.

"I became convinced a long time ago that physicians need to affect the health care delivery system," said Dr. Wilson. "The AMA is the organization that speaks for physicians, and I want to be involved with that."

Dr. Wilson served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Structure, Governance and Operations, whose report at the AMA's Interim Meeting in 1998 resulted in the adoption of significant operational changes for the Association.

He also has been speaker and vice speaker of the Florida Medical Assn. and speaker of the American Society of Internal Medicine. Also at ASIM, he served on the negotiating group responsible for creating the merger between ASIM and the American College of Physicians.

"I believe this experience prepares me for this office," Dr. Wilson said. "In addition, I am a practicing physician and on a daily basis am reminded of the challenges in terms of the health care financing system."

Dr. Wilson has served on the Florida Statewide Task Force on Elderly Access to Health Care and on the state's Task Force on Government Financed Health Care.