by Casey L . Penn
2018 House of Delegates / AMA Update
This year ’ s House of Delegates business included – among many important topics – discussion of the relevance of the House of Delegates ( more on that later ).
The meeting began with routine business , which included the election of district trustees , an update from the Board of Directors , a review of the bylaws , and other items of interest . This was followed by remarks from outgoing president Amy Cahill , MD . Throughout her tenure , Dr . Cahill has vocalized her ever-growing appreciation of the AMS and its role on behalf of members . She touched on that again . “ It ’ s been an honor to serve as president ,” she said , “ but as many of you know , the president is a title and an avenue to represent the organization in many ways .
“ I started with the Medical Society in my first year of practice . I came up through the ranks and – next thing you know – I ’ m the president . It ’ s not because I ’ m better than any of you , but because the AMS needed a face . We all need to be our own best advocates . We cannot do what [ the Society does ] for us – with the AMA alone . From a solo practitioner ’ s position , I have no idea the people to know and the chains to pull to make our voice
Dr . Gerald Harmon , AMA heard . Together , we can do [ much ] – by showing up and by paying our dues for people that are good at that . We hire people to do our IT , our EMRs , etc ., because that ’ s what they ’ re good at . Making our voice heard is what the AMS is good at , and we ’ re here to make their job easier .”
Sharing many fond memories from the past year , Dr . Cahill focused on getting to make a difference shortly after taking the office . “ Days after the inaugural dinner last year , we got an email from David ; he needed three people to go to D . C . the next week . I decided I could juggle that , and I went along with Steve Magie and Scott Smith . We flew there to meet with senators – the AMA had decided Arkansas was one of three key states to do so – to help keep the Affordable Care Act from being repealed . Before long , we were done [ successfully ] doing what we needed to do . The measure [ to repeal ] fell , all because AMS knew what to tell us to do when . So , even when it seems like you ’ re beating your head against a wall , organized medicine does work . We ’ re doing the right thing . Thank you all so much for this honor .”
AMA Update Chair of the AMA Board of Trustees Gerald E . Harmon , MD
Scott Ferguson , MD , offered a warm introduction of the day ’ s keynote speaker . “ AMA Chair of the Board of Trustees Gerry Harmon is a great advocate for us in our practices … he has a fishing boat , he ’ s a family medicine doctor , he has worked at the AMA at every level , and he ’ s the highest ranked military person we have at the AMA – he was a major general in the Air Force . He flies planes still . Please make welcome Dr . Gerry Harmon .”
From his first word , Dr . Harmon engaged members in a pragmatic discussion of the organization ’ s work on their behalf . “ One doctor can only affect so many people with one stethoscope ,” said Dr . Harmon on why he serves in the AMA . “ What the AMA is trying to do is get physician leaders involved .”
One thing he personally promotes is the AMA ’ s representation of physicians – all of them . It ’ s a matter that comes up often in his travels . Physicians see AMA on his lapel , and they begin a conversation . “ They come up to me and say , ‘ Dr .
Dr . Gina Drobena , District Trustee
Harman , I ’ m not a member of the AMA . I used to be , but they just don ’ t represent me anymore .’
Rather than to challenge them , Dr . Harman listens to those who feel this way and engages them in conversation . He said , “ I say , ‘ Tell me what your practice is like . I practice in South Carolina . I ’ m in Family Medicine in a group practice . I ’ m not a solo practitioner , but I ’ ve stayed very busy for almost 35 years there . What ’ s your practice like ?’ … I want to hear how they feel like the AMA ’ s not representative of them . They ’ ll tell me they ’ re in academics , they ’ re in a large group , they ’ re employed , all the things that they ’ re doing , and I ’ ll say you know , listening to what you ’ re telling me , I do think the AMA represents you .
“ You may not be a member and you may not pay dues , but we represent you . Whether you ’ re a student in training , a resident fellow , a young physician , a mid-career or advanced career … whether you ’ re retired or in the 50 plus club … whether you ’ re in academics or in research , whether you ’ re a member of the board certification exam group or in administrative medicine working for an insurance company . We represent your specialty : you could be a dermatologist or a pathologist … we have 190 different specialty types geographically represented at the AMA . We cover the entire spectrum . We represent you whether you ’ re from Alabama , Massachusetts , California , or Puerto Rico . If you ’ re male or female , we represent you . I represent you . The chairman of the board of the AMA represents you . Now , you may not want to be officially counted , but I think I can show you the value of that proposition .”
18 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 115