For Residents

AMPAC education programs help you influence politics

AMA members can make the leap from exam room to campaign trail by participating in one of two hands-on political education programs offered by the AMA Political Action Committee (AMPAC).

Members and their spouses interested in running for office can learn practical campaign skills from political veterans by attending the AMPAC Candidate Workshop, offered Feb. 15–17. The program includes training on campaign strategy and media advertising, as well as hands-on sessions in public speaking and fundraising. Past graduates have been elected to offices across the country, from city councils to state boards of education to the U.S. House of Representatives. Applications and essays for the Candidate Workshop are due Friday.

Members who wish to become involved in the political process as advocates and volunteers for medicine-friendly candidates can attend the AMPAC Campaign School, held April 17–21. This program is organized around a simulated congressional campaign, where participants are put on campaign "staff" teams and attend daily lectures on campaign strategy, media advertising and political fundraising. Applications and essays for the Campaign School are due Jan. 18.

Both programs take place in Arlington, Va. All expenses, excluding travel, will be covered for accepted applicants. Apply today.

If you're not an AMA member, join today and take advantage of opportunities such as these.

Hospital chain looking to add more residents

For-profit hospital chain HCA is expanding its residency programs to solve two problems: deal with the impending physician shortage and enhance their chances of keeping those physicians as employees after they've finished training.

In coverage by American Medical News, Christine Mitchell, director of federal affairs for the Association of American Medical Colleges, said while there's no guarantee that residents will stick around after training, spending the money on residents in a competitive area could push the odds in their favor.

"With a physician shortage of 90,500 predicted by the year 2020, it would be wise if you're trying to increase the physician supply in your area to invest in medical training," Mitchell said.

Meanwhile, the AMA has been hard at work on the looming physician shortage. The AMA House of Delegates voted in November to approve a report by the AMA Council on Medical Services that, in part, offered the AMA's support for Medicare funding of graduate medical education (GME). The report was part of a broader call for Medicare reform but acknowledged GME as an important part of the process.

Additionally, the AMA sent a letter of support for the Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2012, federal legislation introduced in September that would expand the cap on Medicare-supported training slots for doctors by 15,000 positions. And the AMA testified recently to the Institute of Medicine about the need to strengthen GME nationally. Read more about the AMA's testimony elsewhere in AMA Wire.