In 1987, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) adopted Report A of the Council on Long-range Planning and Development, which established a 5-year review for specialty organizations seated in the HOD.
The 5-year review is a process designed to verify:
- That AMA membership within the specialty society is sufficient for continued eligibility in the AMA HOD
- That the specialty society meets the guidelines and bylaw requirements for representation in the HOD
Every specialty organization and professional interest medical association represented in the HOD participates in the five-year review process on a schedule (PDF).
The review process
The 5-year review consists of two components:
- A letter of compliance with both the guidelines for representation in the HOD and the specialty responsibilities outlined in the AMA Bylaws. Use the sample letter of compliance (DOC) for assistance.
- Submission of membership data verifying that the society continues to meet the AMA's membership requirements.
Under the current guidelines, "members" are considered to be only physicians who are current in payment of dues, have full voting privileges and are eligible to hold office.
