AMA National Advocacy Conference

Physicians gathered in Washington, D.C., while Congress debated a delay in Medicare doctor pay cuts and an overhaul of the health system.

AMA National Advocacy Conference

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said obesity is taking a financial, as well as physical, toll on the U.S. One in three American children are overweight or obese and the annual price tag for obesity-related conditions is $150 billion. Preventing obesity is not just a medical issue but a holistic effort that must begin early, she said. "Unless we make this a family effort, we won't be successful."

AMA National Advocacy Conference

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, said physicians who know people who might make good physicians, nurses or other health professionals should tell them to consider a career in medicine. Most doctors had a mentor to give them the confidence to pursue a career in medicine, she said, and furthering those kinds of efforts could help reduce the physician shortage. "That is the real way to get change -- from the bottom up."

AMA National Advocacy Conference

Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas), said Republicans may have helped reduce support for Democratic health reform bills, but public confidence in both major parties is low. Neither party, nor President Obama, has the momentum to achieve major reform alone, he said. "The only reason this hasn't been done is because of the lack of popular support."

Photos by Ted Grudzinski / AMA

Posted with the March 15, 2010 issue - Accompanying article: Medicare pay formula needs repair, Sebelius says