Special Feature

Policy debate, full lineup of events set for AMA Annual Meeting

Hundreds of physicians and medical students will consider and debate scores of topics next month that affect the nation's doctors and patients during this year's Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. The policy-making meeting will take place June 16–20 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

The Annual Meeting website, at www.ama-assn.org/go/annual2012, is the place to find out everything you need to know about the meeting. Visitors will find the meeting agenda, travel information and a preliminary list of reports and resolutions that physicians and medical students will discuss. A final list of reports and resolutions will be posted by May 18.

Reports and resolutions for this meeting touch upon a range of subjects, from the predicted physician workforce shortage to quality improvement to resident work hours. AMA members will once again be invited to provide online comments on them in advance of the meeting; watch AMA Wire for details.

Events surrounding the meeting will begin June 14, with gatherings of AMA sections and special groups to discuss policy proposals and participate in an array of educational programming and networking events.

The AMA's first-ever Group Practice Career Fair will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time June 15. The career fair will feature 10 of the top medical groups in the country, including Mayo Clinic, Geisinger Health System and Permanente Medical Group. Medical students, residents, fellows and physicians in practice can attend for free, but must register by June 1.

Also on June 15, medical students will conduct an AMA Doctors Back to School event at Malcolm X College in Chicago. The event will feature activities for 300 freshmen entering Chicago Public Schools' Health Science Academy Program.

Finally on June 15, all meeting participants are invited to a special AMA Equation Experience reception at the AMA's future headquarters, 330 N. Wabash. Enjoy stunning river views and city vistas from the future AMA Plaza while mingling with medical students, residents and fellows, and AMA leadership and physician delegates. Experience a "taste" of Chicago, local brews and a top-secret "AMA Equation" cocktail. Join in the fun and be part of the AMA Equation.

The House of Delegates will officially open June 16 with addresses by AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD, and AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD. Physicians will debate and set AMA policy beginning June 18.

On June 19, Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, a psychiatrist in Denver, will begin his term as the 167th president of the AMA.

Various education sessions also will take place during the meeting, including a workshop on achieving savings through payment and delivery innovations, and a session titled, "The Critical and Increasing Importance of Data," among many others.

Daily highlights from the meeting, as well as digital recaps and video of Dr. Carmel's and Dr. Madara's addresses, will be posted on the Annual Meeting website beginning June 16. The website also lists instructions on how to sign up to receive text alerts to your mobile device about important meeting news and updates.