Meetings

Please plan to join the AMA-WPC, as it will hold its caucus on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Crystal Ballroom M/N of the Marriott Orlando World Center. Caucus highlights include:

• Networking reception: 
  1) Excellence in mentoring— honor the 2008 winners of the AMA-WPC 2008 Physician Mentor Recognition Program
  2) "Unveiling new research on women in medicine: What they need, what they want," a presentation by Jayne A. Gretz, vice president, AMA Market Research and Analysis
  3) Caucus business session and handbook review

Other activites include:

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 12 noon -1 p.m. (Grand Ballroom 7A), Donald Palmisano, MD, JD who recently wrote a book entitled "On Leadership" will be the keynote speaker on the topic of leadership. Lunch is available for $39. Attendees may also attend the program without purchasing lunch.
• Monday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. (Grand Ballroom 8B), the AMA-WPC will sponsor an educational session entitled "Women in combat: New challenges for medicine and society." 
  

AMA-WPC Annual Meeting highlights

At the WPC business meeting, the WPC elected Young Physicians Jolie Holschen, MD as its new Chair and Jennifer Wiler, MD as Vice Chair for the 2008-2010 term, and thanked outgoing Chair, Erin Tracy, MD for a job well done.

Later that evening, the WPC Women’s Caucus celebrated the impending presidency of Nancy Nielsen, MD, and presented a first look at new data from the latest recipients the WPC grant program that supports research on women in medicine professional issues.  Patricia Turner, MD reported on her study of women surgeons and Ethan Jewett on reentry barriers for inactive physicians.  Also featured was a discussion of BoT Report 19, “Gender Disparities in Physician Income and Advancement” and other items of interest to the Caucus.

The WPC sponsored its annual breakfast honoring the WPC Liaisons, women leaders appointed by their state, specialty society, or delegation to serve in this advocacy role.  Representatives shared strategies and experiences for advancing the women in medicine agenda.

Highlights from the AMA-WPC Interim Meeting
On a beautiful Honolulu evening Nov. 9, AMA members mingled under the stars at the Aloha Welcome Reception, hosted by the AMA-WPC. Members of the AMA- WPC Governing Council were joined as "greeters" by representatives of all of the sections and special groups, reflecting the increase in women physician leadership throughout the AMA. Attendees also watched a visual display of some of the nearly 100 physicians identified as outstanding mentors through the AMA-WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program. The program honors the special men and women in our institutions, practices and professional societies who have made a difference in the lives and careers of women physicians. Continuing this theme, the AMA-WPC Caucus events included a panel on excellence in mentoring, showcasing three outstanding mentors and their grateful mentees. The panel's final speaker, Regina Benjamin, MD, summed up an important rule to live by in reminding attendees that "someone is always watching" and we all have countless opportunities to influence and inspire others through our own behavior and enthusiasm.