The Minority Affairs Section (MAS) leadership and core membership met on Friday, June 6 for its business meeting during the AMA's Annual HOD meeting—and it was a true success! It was exciting to see so many new faces and long-time friends, and allies to the MAS attend our business meeting and networking events.
MAS business
Two MAS events that were a huge hit included our joint Underrepresented in Medicine Speed Mentoring event with the Medical Student Section, and our Underrepresented in Medicine reception! Underrepresented physicians, students, trainees—and allies—were able to come together, find community, and network with their colleagues from all corners of the country, representing countless specialties.
MAS elections
The MAS Governing Council held its annual election of chair and vice chair to lead our section over the next year—Josephine Fowler, MD, MBA, MSc, MAS alternate delegate, was reelected to serve as your chair, and LeeAnna Muzquiz, MD, the MAS Governing Council's representative from the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), was elected to serve as your vice chair. The MAS extends its appreciation to Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, who dutifully served as MAS vice chair.
MAS education sessions & updates
The joint educational program hosted by the Minority Affairs Section and the Women Physicians Section during this year's Annual Meeting was characterized by members in attendance as "incredibly necessary" and "timely"—our speakers, Josephine Fowler, MD, MBA, MSc, a board-certified family physician and MAS chair, and attorney Jennifer Brown, health disparities and engagement director of advocacy at the AMA, were exceptional in giving a maternal health update to our MAS and WPS members, and colleagues across the AMA.
From taking a deep dive into maternal health disparities today, and identifying leading causes, to examining the current legislative landscape and pivoting in real time to provide clarity, with the support of the AMA's Litigation Center staff, on very recent action taken by the Trump administration to revoke EMTALA protections, our speakers delivered.
MAS resolutions
After years-long process by MAS leadership and members to ensure that our section's name aligns with both our foundational mission and is in alignment with contemporary language, values, and advocacy priorities in academic and organized medicine, the Minority Affairs Section championed a resolution at A-25 to change our section's name to "Underrepresented in Medicine Advocacy Section".
Additionally, through the strong leadership of our section's AAIP representative, LeeAnna Muzquiz, MD, the MAS also introduced a resolution that urges our AMA to support the already ongoing establishment of an Indigenous-led medical school in the United States.
In total, the MAS introduced eight prime-sponsored resolutions and cosponsored four resolutions.
Dr. Muzquiz, the MAS newly elected governing council vice chair, could not attend A-25 as she was being honored by her alma mater, the University of Washington School of Medicine, with the Alumni Service Award which recognizes an alum whose dedicated and determined efforts have benefited the university and their community. Congratulations, Dr. Muzquiz!
For additional information on the 2025 MAS Annual Meeting, visit the section's agenda and resources page.
