A note from the WPS chair
May 2026
From WPS Chair Elisa Choi, MD
Maternal health & Mother’s Day wishes
In the U.S., Mother’s Day is celebrated annually every second Sunday of May. I want to wish all mothers a wonderful day this month (and really, shouldn’t every day be an opportunity to celebrate mothers?)!
This holiday is also an opportunity to spotlight maternal health. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, and our AMA and our WPS hold maternal health as a top policy priority. Recent maternal mortality data (PDF) reports 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, with Black women (50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births) and older mothers (59.8 deaths per 100,000 live births for women 40 years and older), having the highest mortality rates (from CDC data).
For a country that spends approximately $15,000 per capita on healthcare expenditures, more than any other developed nation, these maternal mortality figures remain unacceptably high. Our AMA and our WPS remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our patients and our members who are mothers, with a goal of meaningfully reducing maternal mortality and health disparities in the future.
WPS A-26 updates
Save the date for the WPS business meeting for A-26, on Friday, June 5, 2026, starting at 2 p.m. Central. Our WPS business meeting will include mentoring, networking, policymaking discussions and a CME education program. Visit the 2026 WPS Annual Meeting page for details as updates arise. Visit the WPS policymaking page for additional WPS policy details.
Thank you, WPS GC!
As our 2025-2026 year draws to a close, we will be welcoming new WPS Governing Council members soon, who will begin their term at the end of the 2026 Annual Meeting. I wanted to express a personal message of gratitude to the current WPS Governing Council members, several of whom will conclude their service on our governing council at the A-26 meeting. Leadership is truly a team sport, and I am grateful for the tremendous teammates who share my passion and dedication to our WPS.
Contact WPS (email [email protected]) to join our GroupMe and to engage further with our section.
May awareness months
I spotlighted Pan Asian Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month last May. Other May awareness months related to health (and this is a partial list) include Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month, Blood Pressure Education Month and Dental Care Awareness Month.
2025-2026 strategic goals
Our AMA-WPS Governing Council 2025-2026 strategic goals guided our work
- Increase WPS collaborations with AMA sections, state societies and AMA delegations
- Increase WPS impact and education on women’s health and leadership
- Increase engagement of WPS members
Our governing council hopes to earn “straight As”—Action, Activism, Advancement, Advocacy, Achievement—as we conclude our term in June 2026.
Wishing all a wonderful month of May and looking forward to seeing you at A-26 in person!
