A note from the WPS chair
June 2026
From WPS Chair Elisa Choi, MD
Reflections and looking ahead
This June 2026 update will serve as my “swan song” for my recurring WPS Members & News Highlights column, as I conclude my second and final term as the Women Physicians Section chair at the close of the 2026 Annual Meeting. I want to acknowledge that leadership truly is a team sport, and the accomplishments of our WPS build upon the foundations from preceding governing councils and committees.
The first challenge I faced as chair in June 2023 was a section staff transition. Having experienced the “before” and “after” of this transition, I can say with certainty that our AMA section staff are the “MVPs” of AMA section work. I want to personally thank the WPS section staff, Harley Grant and Chloe Hartmann, who have been invaluable partners during my past two years as WPS chair.
Accomplishments
Since June 2023, our WPS “checklist” of accomplishments includes (but is not limited to):
- 25 WPS-sponsored resolutions (31 if including A-26 resolutions)
- Webinars for every Women in Medicine Month and Women’s History Month, June 2024-June 2026
- A “virtual community” via the WPS GroupMe
- Virtual town halls and online feedback opportunities
- Annual in-person “speed mentoring” and networking WPS opportunities
- WPS “Buddy Program” for mentoring new AMA meeting attendees
- WPS Standing Committee, GRROWL (Growing the Representation and Reach of Women Leaders) growth and expansion
- WPS Handbook Review Committees and WPS Policymaking Committees
- Participation of AMWA, YPS, RFS, MSS and other sections and delegations with WPS meetings, resolutions and programming
- Sponsorship of WPS associates (who serve as liaisons from their appointing organizations and WPS
- Continued support for the WPS Inspiration Awards and the Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women
There is still much more to do, though, for our WPS and for our membership—while women’s health inequities, the gender disparity “leadership gap,” the “gender pay gap” and curtailed access to reproductive care—all continue to persist.
Thank you
Thank you to our WPS members for your support of, contributions to, and involvement with our section. I know the foundations we have created over the past two years of my chair tenure will enable future successes of our section, to serve you, our WPS membership.
It has been a singular honor and privilege to serve as your WPS chair.
I leave you with a quote from Margaret Chung, MD, the first known American-born Chinese woman to become a physician.
"Women of every nation, every country, should learn medicine, so that they can teach the women of their countries and their races how to care for themselves and their children—how to improve the coming generation."
Contact our WPS (email [email protected]) to join our GroupMe and to engage further with our section.
I look forward to seeing you at the WPS meeting at A-26, on Friday, June 5, 2026, starting at 2 p.m. Central. Visit the 2026 WPS Annual Meeting agenda & resources page for details as updates arise.
See the WPS policymaking page for additional WPS policy details.
