Robert M. Wah, MD

It’s funny that no matter how old you are, the autumn season always signals a fresh start. As we move into August and September, my thoughts turn to the students heading back to school, and to the new medical students just joining our ranks.

This fall, patients will be able to see what kinds of financial interactions you may have had with manufacturers of drugs and medical devices. Physicians have less than 30 days to review this information, reported by industry organizations, and make sure it’s accurate.

The AMA has taken on the issue of addressing the prescription drug overdose crisis, working with groups such as the National Governors Association to advance the association’s five-pronged approach to curbing this epidemic.

As we physicians know, health IT is a field that is rapidly expanding and promises to continue its speedy evolution. Health professionals are starting to realize that increased oversight of these technologies, specifically with regard to patient safety, is crucial.

One of my recent stops in my busy traveling schedule as AMA president was Charlotte, North Carolina, where I had been invited to participate in the 12th annual Diversity Symposium hosted by Carolinas HealthCare System.

The AMA made many exciting strides toward more robust health IT earlier this month at the 2014 AMA Annual Meeting, adopting policies on such timely topics as telemedicine and electronic health record (EHR) usability.

In the U.S. Navy, we have a tradition called a “Hail and Farewell,” where we honor those who are leaving us and welcome those who are joining, bringing newbies into the history and tradition of the military. I’m offering a hail to recent medical grads on the cusp of starting their first year as residents and a farewell to residents moving into the next phase of their journeys. 

Last night I delivered my inaugural address at the 2014 AMA Annual Meeting to my family, friends, colleagues and mentors in Chicago. My message: Tradition is a foundation, not a prison—and we need to embrace tradition’s strength and flexibility.