Robert M. Wah, MD

AMA Affiliated Groups

Former President, American Medical Association,
Authors

Dr. Wah, a reproductive endocrinologist and ob-gyn in McLean, Va., became the 169th president of the American Medical Association in June 2014.

Leadership

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2 MIN READ

Physicians left with uncertainty until Senate back from recess

We were so close to achieving real reform with a bill that would permanently eliminate the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula—but the Senate was unable to clear some procedural hurdles in time and left for recess before taking action.

Leadership

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3 MIN READ

Making physician voices heard for future health IT success

Next month, I and other AMA representatives will head to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2015 Annual Conference. We, as physicians, are the best people to address the future of health IT.

Leadership

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3 MIN READ

Make sure meaningful use is meeting original goals

I had the opportunity to talk about meaningful use at the Brookings Institute with some health IT colleagues. Our conversation focused around how we move forward from where we are now, without losing sight of that original goal: Improving patient care using health IT.

Leadership

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2 MIN READ

Taking physicians' perspectives to Capitol Hill

Last week I joined hundreds of my colleagues in Washington, D.C, for the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference where physicians from across the nation took our perspective on the sustainable growth rate to Capitol Hill.

Leadership

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3 MIN READ

SGR “gimmick” is holding health care back

An article in the New York Times about the sustainable growth rate (SGR), called it a “budget gimmick that actually isn’t so bad.” To put it bluntly, I strongly disagree. It’s a charade that hides the real cost of Medicare and threatens to reduce access and choice for seniors.

Leadership

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2 MIN READ

Physicians agree: Vaccination crucial to public health

As physicians, we know the importance of keeping each individual patient as healthy as possible. With the issue of vaccinations getting increased attention in political discourse, now is a good time to review the AMA’s policies so you can talk to your patients using scientific facts.

Leadership

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2 MIN READ

Health care reform begins with physician advocacy

It is so important for physicians to be active in health care advocacy efforts. There are seismic changes sweeping through medicine. As physicians, we are one of the most important voices at the table.

Digital

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3 MIN READ

Physician voices are crucial in tech development

I discussed some of the promises and problems of medical technology at a meeting of AdvaMed, a trade association for medical technology. Physicians have to be involved in the evolution of medical technology to ensure we can actually use these developments.