AMA policy review, updates on AMA initiatives and an educational session on precision education were featured aspects of the AMA Academic Physicians Section (APS) meeting on Nov. 11, 2022, in Hawaii. 

Approximately 30 participants—comprising deans, leaders and faculty from a wide range of medical schools, graduate medical education programs and academic health systems nationwide—voiced their opinions and reached decisions on recommendations for more than 25 reports and resolutions to be acted upon by delegates at the 2022 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates (HOD), Nov.12-15. 

In addition, the APS approved three resolutions for immediate forwarding to the HOD: 

• AMA Study of Efficacy of Requirements for Metal Detection/Weapons Interdiction Systems in Health Care Facilities 
• Requirements for Physician Self-reporting of Outpatient Mental Health Services, Treatments or Medications to Credentialing Agencies and Insurers  
• Increasing Female Representation in Oncology Clinical Trials 

Alma B. Littles, MD, APS delegate, led the discussion of the reports and resolutions, and will represent the APS during the HOD meeting, along with Gary M. Gaddis, MD, MPH, alternate delegate. 

The continuing medical education component of the meeting, “Precision Education: Right Training, Right Physician, Right Time,” was led by the AMA’s chief academic officer, Sanjay Desai, MD. He also discussed the many advances and innovations in medical education disseminated through the AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative. “The current model of medical education is unsustainable,” Desai said, “But we can transform the way we learn and address the encumbrances built into the system.” He spoke of the role of “big data,” natural language processing, and augmented intelligence in moving the needle on physician education and training and, ultimately, improving the health of patients. 

Also presenting to the APS was Leonard Nelson, senior assistant general counsel for the AMA, who discussed two pivotal cases going before the Supreme Court this fall, related to the central question, "Can institutions of higher education use race as a factor in admissions?" 

The AMA Board of Trustees’ liaisons to the APS, Ilse R. Levin, DO, MPH & TM, and Harris Pastides, PhD, MPH, provided an update on AMA activities related to a number of pressing issues in medicine, including scope of practice, the drug overdose epidemic, and the need to address systemic inequity and bias in health care. 

Members also heard updates from Jacqueline L. Nguyen, Esq., president of the AMA Alliance; Heather Smith, MD, immediate past president of the AMA Foundation, and Louito Edje, MD, nominations committee chair of the AMA Council on Medical Education. 

The AMA-APS meeting was led by chair Mark Meyer, MD. Reflecting on the meeting, he noted: 

“It was personally and professionally gratifying to lead the AMA-APS at its Hawaii meeting. The AMA-APS has made a conscious investment in developing AMA policy; this led to the approval and immediate forwarding of three resolutions to the AMA HOD. The vigorous yet civil debate by our members reflects our section’s passion for progress in medical education and our utmost respect for each other. 

“Going forward, we hope to build upon the growing awareness of the AMA Academic Physicians Section as a leader in bringing to the forefront key areas of needed change in medical education and advocating for academic physicians throughout the nation.”