Podcasts about ama house

Having to close your doctor's office: Why is it so hard to see a doctor? Why would you close a medical practice? What's it like to close a medical practice? Lisa Egbert, MD, speaker for the AMA House of Delegates, talks about how the latest Medicare payment cut forced her to make the difficult decision to close her practice and what this means for her patients. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

What is disaster preparedness in health care? How can hospitals plan for mass casualties? What are mass casualty incidents (MCIs)? John Armstrong, MD, vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates and vice chair of surgery at the University of South Florida, discusses why emergency preparedness is important in health care, the recovery from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, and the IV fluid shortage. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

Who can join the AMA? What issues does the AMA fight for? How does the AMA affect healthcare policy? What are AMA Sections? How is the AMA organized? Our guests answer those questions and more at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. Adnan Munkarah, MD, is care delivery system president and chief clinical officer at Henry Ford Health System, and Narayana Murali, MD, is chief medical officer of medicine services at Geisinger Health. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

Sarah Sprinkle, MHPTT, CT(ASCP)CM, Vice Chair of The ASC Bulletin and CytoPathPod Editorial Board, interviews Drs. Margaret Compton, Current Delegate for the ASC to the AMA House of Delegates; Swati Mehrotra, Past delegate and current alternate delegate for the ASC to the AMA House of Delegates; and Mark Synovec, Chair of the Pathology Section Council. The insightful panel discussed the various roles and impact of the American Medical Association (AMA), with a focus on its House of Delegates component and the importance of representation for different societies and individuals. They also addressed current issues such as a proposed rule by the FDA on laboratory-developed tests, the impact of HPV-associated cancer prevention, and the need for fair reimbursement for digital pathology services. Lastly, they emphasized the importance of younger physicians getting involved in their State Medical Societies as well as participating in national advocacy efforts. The AMA plays a significant role as the voice of medicine in Washington on a broad spectrum of issues ranging from regulatory matters to reimbursement through the RUC and CPT advisory processes, so it is critical for cytopathology to have representation. Apply to the AMA Today! https://member.ama-assn.org/join-renew/member-search [member.ama-assn.org].  And https://www.ama-assn.org/amaone/ama-general-group-membership [ama-assn.org] One important thing that we want to highlight is that in order to maintain HOD representation, we need a certain percentage of physician ASC members to also be AMA members. There are also opportunities for resident and fellow members to participate in the resident and fellows section.  Click here for Dr. Margaret Compton's informative article Updates from the 2023 AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting in the January issue of The ASC Bulletin.

Interviewee: Dr.  Joanna Turner Bisgrove Interviewer: Dr. Peter Poullos  Description: Today, we are joined by Dr. Joanna Turner Bisgrove. Dr. Bisgrove is a family medicine physician, Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, and the inaugural chair for the American Medical Association's Disability Advisory Group. Dr. Bisgrove has been involved in healthcare policy for several years and is a staunch advocate for disability inclusion. In this episode, she shares her story as a person with a disability, discusses her leadership at Rush University and in national organizations such as the American Medical Association, and her approach to advocating for students and physicians with disabilities.  Bio: Dr. Joanna Turner Bisgrove is a family physician and assistant professor of family medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.  Prior to joining Rush, she spent the first 14 years of her career near Madison, Wisconsin, and held many local and state leadership positions.  She was medical advisor to her local school district for eight years and co-chaired the Legislative Committee for the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians for eight years, frequently working with state and federal legislators and their staff to develop evidence-based public health policy.  At the national level, Dr. Bisgrove is a delegate for the American Academy of Family Physicians to the American Medical Association's (AMA) House of Delegates. She is the inaugural chair for the American Medical Association's Disability Advisory Group, recently formed at the behest of the House of Delegates, the AMA governing and policy making body. The Disability Advisory Group will be tasked with helping the AMA increase accessibility and inclusivity for physicians, medical students and residents with disabilities, both within the AMA itself and as an advocate for increased accessibility across medicine. Dr. Bisgrove is a lifelong advocate for disability inclusion and the elimination of barriers in everyday society to help make this possible.  Born with a hearing loss that has worsened over time, Dr. Bisgrove is acutely aware of the barriers that persons with disabilities face and determined to fight for policies that are inclusive for everyone.   Dr. Bisgrove's other AMA roles include being a current member of the AMA's Council on Science and Public Health. She is also heavily involved in DEI initiatives as a whole. Upon her move home to Illinois in the summer of 2021, Dr. Bisgrove was appointed to the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Illinois State Medical Society and to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.  At Rush, she is part of Rush's Pursuing Equity Governance Group and its Social Care and Health Equity team.  She is also currently working towards her Masters in Public Health with a focus on achieving health for disadvantaged children and their families.  Transcript: https://bit.ly/DWDI_Podcast_Ep78 Produced by: Lisa Meeks and Pranati Movva Audio editor: Jacob Freeman Digital Media: Katie Sullivan Keywords: disability, health equity, accessibility, family medicine, intersectionality, disability mentoring, medical education, hearing loss, accommodations Website: https://www.docswithdisabilities.org/podcast    

AMA HOUSE - PIANO HOUSE - Prod DJ Edott CHICHI ZULU & SBURHAISHHHH & JAYSOUL & Freddy RSA REMIX!

ASCP is committed to developing policies that improve public health through the practice of laboratory medicine. One of the ways that the Society participates in public policy is through our delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA).  So, what does it mean to be an ASCP delegate to the AMA? How well is pathology represented within the AMA House of Delegates? And why does that representation matter? On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by ASCP delegates to the AMA Dr. William Finn, MD, MASCP, Medical Director of the Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories and Past President of ASCP, Dr. Jennifer Stall, MD, Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist at Hospital Pathology Associates in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Dr. H. Cliff Sullivan, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory at Emory University, to discuss laboratory medicine's representation within the American Medical Association. Our panelists discuss the AMA's function as a professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students and share their experiences as delegates to the AMA from ASCP.  Dr. Finn, Dr. Stall, and Dr. Sullivan explain the responsibilities as delegates to the AMA and offer examples of how ASCP's involvement in the AMA serves the interests of ASCP members and our patients.  Listen in for insight around the AMA initiatives and programs pathologists should be aware of and learn how you can get involved in amplifying the voice of pathologists in the AMA. Topics Covered · How the AMA functions as a professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students· How the AMA fulfills its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health· Who serves as ASCP's full delegates to the AMA and who serves as alternate delegates· How well pathology is represented within the AMA and why that representation matters· How the pathology voice is received in the egalitarian system of the AMA· How ASCP's involvement in the AMA serves the interests of ASCP members and our patients· How to get involved with the AMA Connect with ASCPASCPASCP on FacebookASCP on InstagramASCP on TwitterConnect with Dr. FinnDr. Finn on LinkedIn Connect with Dr.StallDr. Stall on TwitterConnect with Dr. SullivanDr. Sullivan at Emory University Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. BrownDr. Mulder on TwitterDr. Brown on Twitter ResourcesAmerican Medical AssociationASCP Resident CouncilVALID Act of 2021CLIA Law & RegulationsASCP Institute for Science, Technology and Public PolicyInside the Lab in the ASCP Store 

How a physician's quest to ensure patient access to PrEP—a key medication in preventing HIV infection in high-risk patients—has gained national traction with help from the AMA Integrated Physician Practice Section (IPPS). Stephen Parodi, MD, executive vice president of external affairs, communications and brand at The Permanente Federation, and associate executive director for The Permanente Medical Group in Oakland, Calif., discusses how the AMA House of Delegates (AMA-HOD) and AMA-IPPS supported action regarding insurance coverage for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis medication, or PrEP, under the Affordable Care Act (#ACA). American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. For more on the AMA's amicus brief filing and involvement in Braidwood Management v. Becerra case, visit: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/leave-aca-s-zero-cost-preventive-care-intact-ama-tells

Dr. Mark Milstein discusses the main advocacy priorities discussed at the 2022 Interim Meeting of the AMA [American Medical Association] House of Delegates. This podcast is sponsored by argenx. Visit www.vyvgarthcp.com for more information.

Holler 55 - July 2022 (Dark ama, house, gqom, afrobass etc...) by Holler

Welcome to the inaugural episode of HMAConnect, the podcast of the Hawaii Medical Association.  This podcast series will feature topics, interviews and discussions dealing with the most pressing health issues affecting our members and our community.This first episode is an interview with Mr. Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Membership at the American Medical Association.  Conducted during the June 2022 AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting, Mr. Unger shares his insights on the importance of AMA, the role state and county societies play in local health issues, and how a unified voice is crucial for the future of medicine.

Welcome to the third series of The Behavior Change Architect Podcast, hosted by Kerry E. Evers, Ph.D. In this series, we will be focusing on something we can all relate to… food.    So much of our lives revolve around food, whether it's for celebrations, comfort, socializing, or fuel. But can the food we eat be thought of as more than just nutrition? Over the course of the three podcasts in this series, we will be focusing on food as medicine, including discussions on the experience of food and how that affects our wellbeing. Throughout the series, our guest will be Dr. Dexter. Shurney. Dr. Shurney is the president of the Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute, which is sponsoring this series. He is a frequent speaker often recognized for his thought leadership on health disparities research and innovative healthcare business models, and the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.   Today's episode will focus on Dr. Shurney's journey from practicing general surgery to becoming a preventive medicine physician, and his aim to empower people to take better care of themselves. Be sure to listen to this first in the series on Food as Medicine.    IN THIS EPISODE:    [03:25] How Dr Shurney got interested in the topic of food, specifically as medicine. [08:00] What factors assist nutrients to be absorbed in the body? [08:50] What is the difference between whole foods and taking supplements for nutrition? [12:20] The foundation of good health is using food as medicine. [18:30] How to save time by buying bulk and repurposing food.    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    The food we eat has a huge effect on our health and wellbeing. Eating whole foods are a lot more beneficial than only taking vitamins. Other factors, such as who we socialize with when eating food, also make an impact on our health and wellbeing. Along with providing access to healthier foods, it is important to show people to integrate these foods into their diets.   RESOURCE LINKS   Blue Zone Wellbeing Institute   American College of Lifestyle Medicine Website   Dr. Shurney on LinkedIn    BIO:    Blue Zones Well-Being Institute President  Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM Dr. Shurney leads the work of the Blue Zones Well-Being Institute as a “living lab” to create and codify best practices that can be replicated across regions to improve the health and wellness of communities. He ensures the capitalization of local opportunities and enhances the strength of the Blue Zones portfolio to serve communities of greatest need. A frequent speaker often recognized for his thought leadership on health disparities research and innovative healthcare business models, Dr. Shurney is immediate past-president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and continues as one of its representatives to the AMA House of Delegates and Executive Board Committee. He also serves on numerous other boards, including the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP), and Population Health Alliance (PHA).

The Behavior Change Architect Podcast, hosted by Kerry E. Evers, Ph.D., discusses innovative and evidence-based behavior change strategies designed to increase wellbeing.    The third series focuses on food as medicine and is sponsored by The Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute. In the first episode of the series, we introduced our listeners to this topic with the help of our guest, Dr. Dexter Shurney.   In today's episode, the second in the series, we are welcoming back Dr. Shurney as we delve deep into the state of the research and the topic of misinformation.  Dr. Dexter Shurney is the president of the Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute. He is a frequent speaker often recognized for his thought leadership on health disparities research and innovative healthcare business models, Dr. Shurney is immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.   Join us in this exciting episode as we discuss the current state of research on how food is medicine.     IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:25] What is the Blue Zones Institute? [05:00] One of the core elements in the Blue Zones is how we eat, especially related to increased consumption of whole foods.  [08:50] The diet that was healthy for us 50 years ago, is, for the most part, healthy for us today. [10:30] Understanding the gut microbiome. [11:45] Diet determines our gut microbiome, which assists in maintaining a healthy weight. [14:00] Description of calories in processed foods versus wholefoods.    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Blue Zone communities consume a whole food diet and tend to be healthier and live longer. Eating whole foods has many health benefits including supporting the gut microbiome and maintaining a healthy weight. Choosing whole foods to eat can boost our immunity and assist in preventing disease.    RESOURCE LINKS   How Not To Die by Dr. Mike Greger   How Not to Die Cookbook by Dr. Mike Greger and Gene Stone   The True Health Initiative Dr David Katz   American College of Lifestyle Medicine Website   Blue Zone Wellbeing Institute   Dr. Shurney on LinkedIn   BIO:     Blue Zones Well-Being Institute President  Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM Dr. Shurney leads the work of the Blue Zones Well-Being Institute as a “living lab” to create and codify best practices that can be replicated across regions to improve the health and wellness of communities. He ensures the capitalization of local opportunities and enhances the strength of the Blue Zones portfolio to serve communities of greatest need. A frequent speaker often recognized for his thought leadership on health disparities research and innovative healthcare business models, Dr. Shurney is immediate past-president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and continues as one of its representatives to the AMA House of Delegates and Executive Board Committee. He also serves on numerous other boards, including the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP), and Population Health Alliance (PHA).

Welcome to the third episode in the Food as Medicine series of the Behavior Change Architect Podcast. In today's episode, we are welcoming back Dr. Shurney to discuss how this all impacts our clients, our populations, and ourselves. What can we do to turn our knowledge of food as medicine into better health and wellbeing?    We welcome back Dr. Dexter Shurney, the president of the Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute, our sponsor for this series. As a thought leader in this field, he brings us practical resources for how food as medicine can be incorporated into our programs and our lives.    IN THIS EPISODE:    [02:00] Understanding the challenges and barriers with addressing food choices. [04:00] Convenience of fast food and expenses when choosing the food we eat. [09:00] Hibiscus tea as an alternative to water, to assist in lowering hypertension. [13:00] Ensuring to eat a wide variety of whole foods to receive as many nutrients as possible. [16:00] Food as medicine doesn't mean giving up your favorite foods.    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Food as medicine means eating wholefoods, but also adding natural foods to your current favorite foods or changing the meal to a healthier version. The next decade of research in this area will be focused on the gut microbiome. Food as medicine is not only taking vitamins as a substitute but including a wide variety of wholefoods into your diet.    RESOURCE LINKS   Blue Zone Wellbeing Institute   NutritionFacts.Org   How Not To Die by Dr. Mike Greger   How Not to Die Cookbook by Dr. Mike Greger and Gene Stone   The True Health Initiative Dr David Katz   American College of Lifestyle Medicine Website   Dr. Shurney on LinkedIn   BIO:  Blue Zones Well-Being Institute President  Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM Dr. Shurney leads the work of the Blue Zones Well-Being Institute as a “living lab” to create and codify best practices that can be replicated across regions to improve the health and wellness of communities. He ensures the capitalization of local opportunities and enhances the strength of the Blue Zones portfolio to serve communities of greatest need. A frequent speaker often recognized for his thought leadership on health disparities research and innovative healthcare business models, Dr. Shurney is immediate past-president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and continues as one of its representatives to the AMA House of Delegates and Executive Board Committee. He also serves on numerous other boards, including the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP), and Population Health Alliance (PHA).

Faith Crittenden, MD MPH is a recently-graduated pediatric resident with her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. While a student, she was an active member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). In 2016, she was appointed as the national liaison for SNMA to AMA — Medical Student Section. She has helped the progression of organized medicine in many ways — most recently is a co-author on several historic policies passed through the AMA House of Delegates, such as: Racism is a Public Health Threat, Racial Essentialism, and Combating Police Brutality. This year, she also added Combating Natural Hair and Cultural Headwear Discrimination in Medical Professionalism to this list. Faith was also the Deputy Editor for the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine March 2021 preventative medicine issue. This TedX alumna has also landed coverage around the country through op-eds and articles featured in Health Affairs, Hartford Courant, CT Mirror, Yale Daily, and In-training.org. Faith knows that in order to change the culture of medicine, we must evaluate and critique the health policies of the past, present, and future. In April 2020, she launched a podcast called Coloring Health Policy which focuses on how health policy impacts minority communities, both domestically and internationally. Faith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Minor in molecular cell biology with Honors from the University of Connecticut, and Masters of Public Health in Health Policy from Yale University. Tune in as Faith shares: how she has confronted trauma-informed services in healthcare, and how her early experience shaped her interest in medicine the importance of prioritizing mental health care about her historic role in having racism declared a public health crisis by the AMA how hard she and her team worked to have this policy passed by the AMA her hope that more BIPOC train as physicians in the future — and that these recent policy declarations can help pave the way how to get involved in activism locally, to support ongoing work in racial justice and healing the role of Black men in healthcare reform in America where her advocacy work is headed next: to addressing natural hair and cultural headwear discrimination 

Carol A. Bernstein, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  She is also a Senior Scholar in the Department of Education and Organizational Development for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education a member of the National Academy of Medicine's Action Collaborative on Clinician Wellbeing and a Past President of the American Psychiatric Association. J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA is a health care executive with over 20 years of experience. Corey is the Co-Founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation and Corey currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia Physicians Group, the medical group practice of UVA Health comprised of 1200+ physicians and advanced practice providers. Corey also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the UVA Darden School of Business where he recently taught a course entitled “Managing in a Pandemic: The Challenge of COVID-19″. Corey is also the Chair of the Board of the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Corey holds his Masters in Business Administration from the UVA Darden School of Business, his Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson School of Law and his Bachelors degree from Hamilton College The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, (S. 610  and HR 1667) which unanimously passed the US Senate on August 6, 2021, the Health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on October 26, 2021 and the full Energy and Commerce Committee on November 17, 2021 aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. Health care professionals have long experienced high levels of stress and burnout, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem. While helping their patients fight for their lives, many health care professionals are coping with their own trauma of losing patients and colleagues and fear for their own health and safety. This bill helps promote mental and behavioral health among those working on the frontlines of the pandemic. It also supports suicide and burnout prevention training in health professional training programs and increases awareness and education about suicide and mental health concerns among health care professionals.Further reading: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/610?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.+610%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1 https://drlornabreen.org/about-the-legislation/ A Key Differential Diagnosis for Physicians-Major Depression or Burnout? Transcript: SUMMARY KEYWORDSstigma, people, burnout, talk, lorna breen, mental health, physicians, psychiatrist, mental health services, depression, burn out, challenges, medicine, feel, healthcare professionals, heard, licensure SPEAKERSResa Lewiss, Corey Feist, Carol Bernstein  Carol Bernstein. 00:02We really are a long way from where we were. You may know that in 2003, the AMA brought together a panel of experts and issued a consensus statement on physician well being and said this was a big problem and that physician mental health needed to be prioritized and it went nowhere. But we are at a different point in time. And this is about seize the moment.  Resa Lewiss  00:54Hi, audience. Thanks so much for joining me. In today's episode, we are going to speaking about health care, professional mental health, suicide prevention, burnout, depression in all sorts of things in the healthcare professional world. I'm going to start framing the episode by reading you a little blurb from the Dr. Lorna Breen heroes Foundation website. Healthcare professionals have long experienced high levels of stress and burnout and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem. While helping their patients fight for their lives. Many healthcare professionals are coping with their own trauma of losing patients and colleagues in fear for their own health and safety. So with that, as a start, you're going to hear a lot about stigma, the stigma surrounding mental health talking about mental health seeking help for mental health. My two guests are Dr. Carol Bernstein, and attorney Corey Feist. Carol is a psychiatrist. She's a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and obstetrics and gynecology and Women's Health at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. She is also the past president of the American Psychiatric Association. Attorney Corey Feist is a healthcare executive. He's the co founder of the Dr. Lorna brain heroes foundation. He's the brother in law of Dr. Lorna Breen. And he currently serves as the chief executive officer of the University of Virginia Physicians Group. Now, the topic is serious, and it can be triggering for some of you. If at any point, you want to take a break, take a pause, turn off the episode, please do so. And now, let's get to the conversation. When we start, Carol is talking about physician suicides in New York City, and how that was a pivotal moment for talking about health care, professional mental health. Here we go. Carol Bernstein  02:40In 2014, there were two interns who died by suicide in New York City wasn't someone at my institution, but I knew colleagues of the people who were involved. And at the time, I was sitting on the ACGME board of directors. And at our September 2014 board meeting, we had an extensive conversation about what was going on. And as I was listening, and I happened to be the only psychiatrist in the room at the at that time, I'm listening and I'm thinking, oh my goodness, if we can get doctors to look inward at themselves, they'll do a much better job at looking outward at the mental health issues that affect our patients. And that was the stimulus for me. I mean, I'd been involved in graduate medical education my whole career. But depression and suicide per se, had not been an overt interest of mine, although clearly the well being of my trainees had been very important to me throughout my career. But that was the driver. And that was really the kickstart because our we set up a task force at the ACGME that I co chaired with Tim Brigham. And that was really the stepping stone for what subsequently became the action collaborative at the National Academy of Medicine, the action Collaborative on clinician well being, and all of a sudden, I found myself really, really invested in that, particularly because my passion throughout my life has been making good physicians. And if we have physicians who are burned out depressed, anxious, miserable, for whatever reasons, they're not going to be able to give good care to our patients to say nothing of their own lives. Resa Lewiss  04:27Cory You come to the conversation wearing many hats. Why don't we jump right in: Update the audience on the Dr Lorna Breen heroes Foundation, and most recently the health care provider Protection Act. Corey Feist  04:41So Resa, thank you so much for having me today and thanks for having me back. This is this past year we have done so many podcasts and speaking engagements, but this is the first one I've been invited back to so it's really a pleasure to be here with you today. The last 20 months of the Dr Lorna Breenheroes Foundation have been incredibly fruitful in terms of making an impact in the areas of awareness, advocacy, and education of the challenges that the healthcare workforce has right now. In the past 20 months, and since we talked 12 months, we have now reached over 150 million people with the story we've published in the last year, six additional national publications, including an academic publication on physician suicide. We've launched a website called NPSA.org, which is now stands for National physician suicide awareness day.org, which is chock full of resources for hospitals and institutions. We have now been published over 300 articles that all accumulate to the 100 and 50 million people that we've reached. More importantly, though, we have heard from countless physicians, family members of physicians, nurses, family members of nurses about the impact of this storytelling and how the behavior change is followed. In addition to that, we have heard from mental health professionals who have commented about how important it was for us to share the information about Dr. Breen's concerns with regard to her license stigma so that they could pick it up in the language that their physician patients were sharing. weave in. So in that way, we've heard from many that that this work has been life saving, and enabled others to take care of each other. Advocacy has been something that we have spent a tremendous amount of time in as well. The Dr. Lorna Breen, healthcare provider Protection Act unanimously passed the Senate. The House of Representatives currently is voting on the legislation, it unanimously passed the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, it is about to be voted on by the full Energy and Commerce Committee. And then the full committee, I'm sorry, the full House of Representatives, we will have law by the end of the calendar year. And on top of that, because the many of the grant provisions in this new law were already funded in the American rescue plan, which was in the spring, a really early late winter, early spring of 2021. HERSA is already allocating the dollars associated with the Lorna Breen act. So we've made tremendous progress there. I'll end by saying our advocacy work has also extended to states hospitals. On the September 9, we published an article in US News and World Report, which identifies six barriers to stigma. So I'll pause there by saying that we have spent a lot of time and advocacy and awareness. At some point in this podcast. I also get to tell you about our educational work, too, because it's cascading the country. Resa Lewiss  08:14Carol, you have been shaking your head, agreeing, knowing thinking, What is your reflection? Carol Bernstein  08:21Well, first of all, I want to thank both of you both Resa for inviting me and Cory to this podcast and for all of the work that you've both done in educating the general population about these challenges. Certainly, they've been true forever. Cory, I'm really sorry, for the loss that your family experienced. I think it is amazing that you've been able to grab this and use it and turn it into something that from what I've heard about your sister in law, she would be so proud of that you've been able to take it and move it into something that's meaningful and productive for everyone. And that will help not only other doctors, but all of our patients as well. This stigma there, the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association always has a theme. Usually it's a whole lot of words like you hear in a strategic planning mission. The one the one Sentinel word that I ever heard to describe a meeting somebody theme was a psychiatrist named Paul Fink in the 90s. And his theme was overcoming stigma. That is the only that is the only language that I remember from all of the American Psychiatric Association meetings that I ever went to for a theme to show you how long it's certainly been around. It's been around much longer than that. I mean, the stigmatization against mental illness is endemic for millennia. You know, people were always sequestered and hidden and it was shameful. It even took me Most of my career to talk openly about my mother's bipolar illness, and I was president of the American Psychiatric Association, and still never thought to make a public statement about that, because everybody's been impacted in one way or another by some family member who has struggled with a psychiatric illness. And given the macho tradition and culture in medicine. You know, it's certainly been hidden and shameful, and a real problem for those of us in the medical profession as it has been throughout the country for everyone. And I think if we can see people that we admire, and respect and look up to talk openly about the challenges that they have faced, that that will make a difference, and will make it possible for all of us to be more tolerant of each other and to help each other out, which is something that I think, sadly, we've lost in the country in general, and that the COVID pandemic has clearly made much worse. Resa Lewiss  11:04Rather than talking about the stigma of the past, let's talk about the stigma that is still present today, because I just recorded an episode on gun violence with the Chair of trauma surgery at the University of Chicago, and a former emergency medicine chief medical officer, and everybody who's saying yes, like physician should get treatment. Yes, physicians should address their mental health. It's very important for trainees. I think we're hearing people say that more people in leadership position, but I don't know how people feel they can really actualize it because of the stigma that still exists. So Carol, I'm wondering if you can address that. And Cory, please weigh in on what you've learned your thoughts. Carol Bernstein 11:45Well, you're completely right Resa. And I can't even tell you the stories that all of us in psychiatry have heard, which is, if you're a good student, they say to you what, why are you going into psychiatry, you should be going into XYZ. I mean, the good news is, as stigma against about mental illness is reducing, and it's very different now than when I finished medical school, more and more, that we were seeing a huge uptick in the number of students selecting psychiatry as a career. So that's really the very good news. But I think that people are ashamed, you know, we doctors feel very strongly about having to be the best do the best jump through hoops in order to go to medical school, and we are used to succeeding. And when we can't succeed, the shame and embarrassment, and, you know, just feeling really awful is quite profound. And so I think that that's contributory. And the fact that applications for licensure is you know, for credentialing. And I'll tell you, if we have time a little later, I'll talk about a very neat initiative that may come through the AMA House of Delegates, but there are stigmatizing questions on licensure examinations, they question questionnaires, they say, Have you ever been treated for a psychiatric illness? They don't say, Have you ever seen your general practitioner? So it's embedded in our culture, that mental illness seeking help for depression, for anxiety, for suicidal thinking, that all of that is something to be ashamed of, and to be hidden? And that we should know, just pull up your bootstraps? Don't ask for help. It's not okay. And that's through our families through our culture, through the population in general. Corey Feist  13:38I would add three, three points to that. The first is like any, any change initiative starts from the top and then maybe at the bottom, the behavior has to be modeled, right. So the more that we can get the frankly the senior physicians to start talking about their experiences, because I will tell you since the New York Times, first article on Dr. Breen's passing the day after she died, I have heard from more senior physicians about their personal private struggles, then, then about any other group that we've heard from other than their families. And so the more that we can get those at the top of that hierarchy, which is in that hierarchy and medicine, speaking, and then modeling the behavior would be is is one critical piece. The second I would say is that the expectation of our learners about the environment that they're going to mature into is very different. They have different expectations, and this has been evolving. I've been in healthcare over 20 years and I've heard about the evolution of, you know, work life balance and the demands by the future Gen. But I do think that particular to mental health, the expectations, and the openness, which this generation that is coming up is speaks about their mental health is a little different, is a little different. The third thing I would say, and this is to Carol's point, and this was the article that we published in US News and World Report, we found these six areas where stigma is, is really institutionalized or incorporated into questionnaires. It's incorporated into the medical plan, design of map of the medical plan that you have as a doctor at a hospital where it requires you to use the same services of your hospital. But when it comes to mental health, that just reinforces stigma. We've heard about it when it comes to your mental health medical records, being able to be subpoenaed in a malpractice case that you're a defendant. So then there's and then there's the credentialing and the licensure and all the questions. And one of the things that we've done, though, and I truly, I've heard that, that this is already making an impact is just to ask hospitals to publish for their own what the current state is in your hospital. In New York, you're in New York, does licensure require disclosure in New York? It does not. And I know that because Dr. Breen was convinced it did. She was convinced beyond any doubt that by obtaining mental health treatment for the first and only time in her life, that she was going to lose her license. So for us, this is personal. But just by publishing a report card to those who you work with, you know, knowledge is powered in this case, it can it really, it can allow folks to obtain, you know, it removes a barrier to obtaining access to mental health care that otherwise, otherwise would, you know, would be there, absent that knowledge. So, so those are the three points that I would make, I'm totally in agreement on the stigma thing. I'm also very, I would just say hopeful that where we are now, and maybe some of the some of the silver lining of the pandemic, is, I don't know anybody who doesn't have a mental health challenge right now for the pandemic, regardless of your walk of life. And so maybe just maybe it comes becomes part of the common conversation more common than it was before? Carol Bernstein  17:32Well, I'm, I'm hoping this is a tipping point, I actually thought before COVID That we were at a tipping point, because of all the changes in medicine, I wanted to make at least one other point, which is, and it relates obliquely, to the stigma thing. And by the way, just so everyone knows that the Federation of State medical boards published a template for what the question should be on licensure exams that are not stigmatizing. And in many states who had stigmatizing questions have changed their licensure requirements. So that's really important. And Cory, you're absolutely right about New York, there isn't a single stigmatizing question on our licensure application. I do want to say that reimbursement for mental health services from Medicare for Medicaid from our commercial insurance companies is abysmal. A GI Doc can do a colonoscopy that takes them 10 minutes, I'm making up the numbers gets $3,000 to do it, and we get $100 for spending 45 minutes with a patient. So stigma really impacts directly the access to care issues, which is another part of the problem. It's not just the stigma. It's having people available, who can provide the mental health services and we don't have enough. And part of the reason that we don't have enough is because the system the system that we live in, believes that it's more appropriate to reimburse for cardiology procedure than it is for a mental health service. Resa Lewiss  19:08Yeah. You mentioned about something coming through the AMA House of Delegates. Carol Bernstein  19:13Well, I'm very, I was very excited about this, because it's in a teeny little way, it may be a way to address some of the stigma issues. So now that we've conquered licensure, which I think we have, now it moves into credentialing. And if you look at your own our own institutions, there are still stigmatizing questions on the credentialing applications. And I think I hope it makes its way through the AMA house of delegates that Kim Templeton at the University of Kansas is pushing forward a resolution that would say to Jayco to CMS, that you will ding hospital systems that have discriminatory questions on their credentialing applications. So it's not even saying it's taking the regulatory advice. MIT and turning it on its head and say, you're going to get dinged, you're not going to get payment, you're going to get a problem if you continue to have stigmatizing questions on your credentialing applications. And I think that's a big way to start to make change where it has to happen, besides the amazing, incredible advocacy work that Corey has been able to do with Congress, which is astonishing to me, and thank you. Corey Feist  20:27It's my pleasure Carol truly is. Resa Lewiss  20:31So Carol, before the show, I typed your name into PubMed, and I looked at that on what you've published, and a few titles caught my attention. One specifically was the differential diagnosis between major depression and burnout among physicians and can you walk Resa Cory and the audience through these distinctions? Carol Bernstein  20:54Well, thank you very much for that Resa. I in several of my colleagues, I think that piece I wrote with Laurel Mayer and Maria Oquendo. And Maria happens to be the chair at Penn Laurel runs the resident mental health services at Columbia. And she was directly involved after Dr. Breen's untimely death. So we've talked a lot about what that means. And what's important is that the symptomatology can be similar what you feel when you're depressed, sad, apathetic, isolated, no energy, loss of interest, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, all of those symptoms you can be experiencing when you're burned out. But at least from you know, we talk about burnout as being a response to the environment. And it's kind of a simple way to make a distinction, but usually burnout will respond to rest time away, time with friends, colleagues, and you'll feel better, and we don't know yet that it responds to any depressant medication. And, and it is the response to systems are better at issue, not your own personal physiology, which may contribute to depression. Depression, on the other hand, can look the same. But if you're feeling depressed, no matter what you do, or where you go, you're still going to feel terrible. And what's really important to distinguish between the two is that burnout looks to the system for the solution. And depression looks to mental health for the solution. Now, there it is a Venn diagram, there is an interface, but you don't want to be saying to somebody who's depressed, oh, we just have to adjust the regulatory environment in the hospital. Conversely, you don't want to be saying to somebody who's burned out, go see a psychiatrist. So we want to be as careful as we can and understanding what the differences are. And that the two can work synergistically. People who are depressed can be experiencing burnout worse, and people who are burned out, can if they're susceptible, if they have a, what we call a diathesis. for depression, they can get depressed, given the circumstances. Resa Lewiss  23:15You said something about if someone is burnt out, you don't want to send them to a psychiatrist. Can you just clarify that a bit? Carol Bernstein  23:21Well, I'm talking in in a purely linear fashion, I'm very much about for burnout, trying to look at systemic solutions, and not putting the onus on the individual to feel better, which is, which is why I say that. But of course, if you're burned out, seeking mental health treatment may help you find some individual solutions to the situation since we know that systemic change is very hard to manage. We need efforts like the one Cory has initiated with Congress to really do it on a large scale, and what's happening with the National Academy. But so I don't want to say you shouldn't go to see a psychiatrist. I'm just saying, we want to be sure a not to miss depression, when it's really happening, and get treatment for people who need it. And if people are burned out not to forget that the bigger issue here is the system, and that we don't want to put the onus on the individual to fix it. Resa Lewiss  24:20Yeah. Thanks for that clarification. Go ahead, Cory. Corey Feist  24:22Yeah, I'd like to reinforce with what Carol just said there, because if I've heard from one doctor, I've heard from probably 1000, that when it comes to burnout, we don't need more meditation apps. That is That is literally a quote I have heard hundreds of times and let me be clear, I love meditation apps. I meditate all the time. I learned about meditation when I went back to business school and it was very stressful. So it is definitely very effective. But to Carol's point, and this is the big challenge that the entire healthcare industry has here is that it is found itself in a in a position where it The way that healthcare delivery is designed, burns out right now 55% of the workforce. And that is not a sustainable delivery system. So we have to redesign the coal mine. And what I've heard from those physicians and nurses who have said, If you give me another meditation app, I'm going to shove it right back in your face is redesigned my workplace so I can do my job. So I can thrive. So I can feel valued, by shifting by telling me that I just need to go get a meditation app, or do yoga, or even take the day off, what you're telling me is, this is my problem to solve. And you have abdicated or in some ways, just put a bandaid on the solution. And that's where I think we've got to do both we absolutely because right now the workforce is really, really struggling. And so we've got to give them interventions right now to support them in whatever that that fashion. But our longer term play, or I should say, maybe our intermediate and longer term play is gonna be to redesign this so that we prevent these in the future. Carol Bernstein  26:08And just to add completely, completely agree with Corey, that the challenge that we have is that the individual solutions are the easier ones to talk about. It is much harder to say no. I mean, I like the idea of Chief wellness officers, sorry, one person is not going to fix the system. We need an army of people. And they're different. They're different in different specialties. The challenges, they're different in different workplaces. They're different for different disciplines, nurses have certain challenges, physicians have others. The Transport Workers have others. I mean, there are multiple layers to this, that all require targeted solutions at on a systemic level. But people get so overwhelmed by that, that they say okay, here's another meditation and I'm like, No, I'm, I'm sorry, I haven't managed to do meditation yet. i People say would probably help. It probably would. But I'm very much about the system. And I'm about linking mental health services and adequate good accessible services to the system for the people who need it. Resa Lewiss  27:23People that still feel a stigma yet want to reach out and seek services, the surfaces that Corey referred to that sort of went unfilled, you know, the free therapy that was available throughout the pandemic. How would you help people and encourage them? Carol Bernstein  27:42Well, first of all, I think it's getting better. I think people are more will as we talk about it. And the narratives, the stories hearing about Dr. Breen hearing about our own struggles as people, people we respect and look up to, I mean, I remember even when Victor Dzau at one of the National Academy meetings, talked about wanting to change specialties, and how demoralized he felt in the work he was doing to a room of 4000 people, this very powerful person, admitting that he had struggled, that's huge. So that's a big way that we can do it. But it's still challenging. I mean, people, I feel that some of the future for my field is working alongside our colleagues in emergency medicine, and in medicine, and in surgery, so that we can sort of whisper in your ears, because people still feel shamed and embarrassed about going to see a psychiatrist. So it's getting better, though it really is. Corey Feist  28:45One of my hypothesis, Carol, and this is backed by the data from the American Medical Association's coping with COVID-19 survey, is that because of the stigma, many physicians would feel more comfortable in a peer support type of model. So it'd be helped me understand a little bit about your thoughts on whether a peer support model would be at least an intermediate step along that spectrum. Carol Bernstein  29:09It's not just intermediate, Cory, actually, thank you for asking the question. Because I have become increasingly interested and intrigued by the concept of peer support. I think that that's useful again, in any field, not I mean, law, okay. You're a lawyer, right? I think teachers I think all of us you know, when we're especially you truck drivers, whomever, you know, that we gain a lot from connecting to our peers. And as I don't think that most people in health care are going to need to be referred to psychiatrists or mental, other mental health professionals because of their burnout. But I think to the extent that we can connect with each other, and have peer support that that's wonderful, and I know that the Health and Hospitals Corporation in New York City really rolled out a huge initiative to try to develop programs that would enable people who are interested in having peer support, whether it was someone in your discipline someone of your age, someone older, someone in a different site. So yes, and yes, and yes, I think that I don't think it's just intermediate. I think that that is a potential solution, that that will be very helpful, both in the short term and the long term. Resa Lewiss  30:30Amazing. Now I knew Carol had expertise but I actually didn't understand that breadth and the depth of her expertise until doing some background reading and research for the show, and having her join for this conversation. I'm deeply appreciative that there are healthcare professionals focused on dealing with the health of healthcare professionals. Amazing work by both Cory and Jennifer of the Dr. Loner Breen heroes Foundation. They have been tireless in what they're doing and it's amazing to see how they have moved the needle. Coming up, we have some episodes on Health Design, which is one of my favorite topics on which to speak. And I have a conversation that's been pending with Dr. Aletha Maybank. Stay tuned, and we'll see you next week. 

AMA CXO Todd Unger reviews COVID-19 vaccine numbers and trending topics related to the pandemic over the past week with AMA Director of Science, Medicine and Public Health Andrea Garcia. Also covering the latest on COVID-19 treatment pills, expanding eligibility for booster shots, what the uptick in cases in Europe could forecast for the U.S., as well as flu outbreaks and press releases from the November 2021 Special Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.

Discussion with AMA's Chief Health and Science Officer, Dr. Mira Irons, to review COVID-19 vaccine numbers and trending topics related to the pandemic over the past week. Also covering 600,000 deaths, Novavax details, the Delta variant and the June 2021 Special Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.

This interview was recorded in April, 2020, as data about the effects of COVID on Black people and other marginalized communities was released. The information shared by Dr. Cody Stanford is even more impactful today, as systemic racism continues to impact the physical and mental health of BIPOC people in many different ways. In this series on healthcare and social disparities, Dr. Jill Wener, a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist, meditation expert, and tapping practitioner, interviews experts in multiple fields relating to social justice and anti-racism. In this video, Jill interviews Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, fellowship trained obesity medicine physician and scientist. Dr. Stanford shares her knowledge and insights about health disparities amongst minorities, both before and during coronavirus. In particular, she discusses risk factors for obesity and how obesity and chronic stress due to systemic racism affect outcomes amongst Black patients. Dr. Stanford shares how bias has affected her own daily experience, and what you can do to learn more about your own bias (even if you think you don't have any!). Dr. Stanford is a fellowship-trained obesity medicine physician scientist who cares for children, adolescents, and adults. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Heart Association, and The Obesity Society. She is widely published in peer reviewed journals such as NEJM and Annals of Internal Medicine, in popular press outlets such as the NY Times, and as a featured expert on numerous broadcast television outlets such as CNN. She served as the keynote speaker on obesity for the AMA House of Delegates prior to their decision to acknowledge obesity as a chronic disease at their 2013 meeting. She currently serves as vice chair for the AMA Minority Affairs Section. LINKS Unsure if you have bias? Take the Harvard Implicit Association Test on race: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html Learn more about Dr. Stanford: Website: https://www.weightcenter.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/fstanfordmd Instagram: www.instagram.com/fstanfordmd ** You can learn more about Dr. Wener and her online meditation and tapping courses at www.jillwener.com, and you can learn more about her online social justice course, Conscious Anti Racism: Tools for Self-Discovery, Accountability, and Meaningful Change at https://theresttechnique.com/courses/conscious-anti-racism. Find the Conscious Anti-Racism book at https://tinyurl.com/y689563j Join her Conscious Anti-Racism facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/307196473283408/ Follow her on: Instagram at @jillwenerMD Twitter at @jillwenerMD Facebook at @jillwenerMDmeditation LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jill-wener-md-682746125/

Dr. Susan Bailey: Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist/immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, was elected president of the American Medical Association in June 2020. Previously, she served as president-elect of the AMA for one year, speaker of the AMA House of Delegates for four years, and as a vice speaker for four years. Dr. Bailey, […] The post TMBS E133: Susan Bailey MD President of the AMA appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

More About Dr. Susan Bailey: Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist/immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, was elected president of the American Medical Association in June 2020. Previously, she served as president-elect of the AMA for one year, speaker of the AMA House of Delegates for four years and as vice speaker for four years. Dr. Bailey, who has been active in the AMA since medical school when she served as chair of the AMA Medical Student Section, has held numerous leadership positions with the AMA. These include serving as chair of both the Advisory Panel on Women in Medicine and the AMA Council on Medical Education, as well as representing the AMA on the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Board of Medical Specialties, and COLA. Her long history of service in helping guide organized medicine extends to the local and state levels as well. She has served as board chair and president of the Tarrant County Medical Society, and as vice speaker, speaker and president of the Texas Medical Association. Dr. Bailey is an allergist in private practice and has been with Fort Worth Allergy and Asthma Associates for over 30 years. She completed her residency in general pediatrics and a fellowship in allergy/immunology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., and is board certified in allergy and immunology, and pediatrics and has been awarded the title of Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. In addition to receiving her medical degree with honors from the Texas A&M University College of Medicine as a member of its charter class, Dr. Bailey was later appointed to the Texas A&M System Board of Regents by then Gov. George W. Bush, and has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University and of Texas A&M University College of Medicine. Dr. Bailey is married to W. Douglas Bailey, has two sons and one grandson, and is an elder and longtime choir member of her church.

Today we’re talking to Dr. Terry Grimm, the AUA’s lead delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, which just wrapped up its November  2019 Interim Meeting.  Dr. Grimm is a urologist in Lexington, Ky. 

In this "in-between-isode" of Anamnesis, MedPage reporters Joyce Frieden and Shannon Firth share highlights from AMA 2019, the annual meeting of The American Medical Association. CHICAGO -- Members of the AMA House of Delegates gathered to elect officers, address policy, vote on a host of measures, and ... plunge into controversy. Episode produced by Joyce Frieden and Shannon Firth Hosted and sound engineering by Greg Laub Music by Jason Asistores, MD aka flatfives.

Hello, and welcome to the ASCO Journal of Oncology Practice podcast. This is Dr. Nate Pennell, medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic and consultant editor for the JOP. The opioid crisis continues to be a major public health issue, with increasing attention at both the state and national level. Efforts to address this issue are highly relevant to oncologists, because we treat a unique population of cancer patients for which opioid prescriptions are an established standard of care. So how will these efforts to address the opioid crisis impact the care of our patients? And what role can oncologists play on this issue? Today, we're going to be talking about this topic with Dr. Ray Page medical oncologist and hematologist at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Fort Worth, Texas, who currently serves as chair of ASCO's Clinical Practice Committee, is on the ASCO Government Relations Committee, and is the current ASCO delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, about his new editorial titled, "Opioids and Cancer Pain, Patients' Needs and Access Challenges," which will be published in the April 2019 JOP. Ray, thanks for joining me today. Thank you. So can you start out by giving our listeners a little background on the magnitude of the opioid problem in the US. Sure, Nate. Let me just first say, the opioid epidemic is real and is startling. The CBC reported that in 2017 that over 72,000 in the United States died from drug overdoses. And this included over 47,000 people who involved in drug overdoses of opioids. And most of us have heard from the media that the biggest increase in use is through that synthetic opioid fentanyl. And it's often laced with heroin. And the recent volumes that have confiscated at the US border are enough to kill ever single US citizen. And the escalation of opioid abuse is really complex societal issue. And it includes contribution from all of those social determinants of health and mental illness. And when policymakers sometimes they like to look at a one size fits all kind of solution, which means they oftentimes want to largely focus on physician prescribing habits and just regulating patient access to opioids. Is there evidence that this kind of solution of targeting opioid prescriptions is impacting opioid prescribing in cancer patients? There is a negative impact there. But let me just say that cancer pain is very real and it's very frightening. And we know that cancer pain is historically undertreated. 8 out of 10 advanced cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain. And about 55% of cancer patients and 40% of cancer survivors experience chronic cancer related pain. So upwards of 43% of cancer patients and 10% of survivors use opioids to manage chronic cancer pain. Because of the heightened media awareness about the opioid epidemic, cancer patients are really experiences a lot of fear firsthand. Many of my patients have expressed to me that they actually have a fear of dying from taking opioids. And there's also of addition. And then on the other hand, they also have a fear that they may not even be able to get their hands on pain medicines at all. That actually is a really interesting topic that I hadn't thought of because I have the same problem with my patients worrying about taking opioids. You think that this being so much in the public eye is really influencing cancer patients' ideas about whether they should be taking opioids or not. They feel like they're at risk for addiction and contributing to the problem. Our cancer patients I think do have those real concerns and they have fear over it. And we're actually seeing that about a 1/3 of cancer patients and survivors are actually having difficulty to getting access to their prescribed opioid medications. And that has continued to increase markedly since just a few years ago in 2016. And the vast US oncology practices are concerned that restrictions on opioid prescribing is going to ultimately result in undertreatment of cancer pain. So it's these kind of dynamics what makes it difficult for physicians to treat pain, particularly cancer and cancer survivors. And while judicious prescribing is important, patients with cancer and cancer related pain, they need to have consistent access to pain control. Well, I think we can all agree on that. Before we talk about how we can protect cancer patients' access to these drugs, can you talk a little bit about what is being done sort of at the state and national level to address the opioid crisis and sort of how that's impacting our cancer patients? Yeah, absolutely. The opioid epidemic will continue to be a bipartisan priority for both state and federal governments with currently over 100 state bills that are out there that are identified. In a lot of upcoming state legislative sessions, there will be consideration of bills that are related to such things prescription fill limits and prescription drug monitoring programs and opioid prescribing guidelines. And we're all expecting to see bills that are going to be related to the identification of outlier prescribers and bills that are promoting the utilization of opioid alternative therapies in the cases of both acute and chronic pain. Just on the federal level, you know in 2016, President Obama, he signed the first major federal addiction law in 40 years. And that was the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act. And that bipartisan legislation authorized evidence-based prevention and treatment programs and recovery programs and law enforcement initiatives to help prevent overdose death and proper prescriptions. And as you had asked, in 2017 when President Trump came into office, he announced that his administration was declaring an opioid crisis and made a national public health emergency under federal law. And as a result, the White House office of the national drug control policy directed numerous federal agencies to address the opioid problem. But that was largely within their current budgetary confinements. But I think actions by both administrations had positive impacts on the opioid problem primarily just by initiating activity in our government agencies. So when the various laws and policies are passed, do they have built in protections for vulnerable populations that need access to opioids, like cancer patients? Yeah, that's one thing that we've pushed a lot for. And in general, most of them do. And so President Trump signed a sweeping legislation in 2018 that was touted as the single largest bill to combat the drug crisis in our countries history. And there was a lot of efforts to do things like expanding access to treatment for substance abuse disorders and those kind of things. But, for example, January 1st of this year, as part of that law, it included new opioid prescribing policies that will impact Part D beneficiaries and the prescribers. And this includes such things as real-time safety alerts on pharmacy dispensing of opioids and drug management and utilization tools and the improvement of communications between the pharmacists and the physicians. But as you asked, one important note about this legislation that was passed is that residents of long-term care facilities and those that are in hospice care and patients receiving palliative care or end of life care, and patients being treated for active cancer related pain, they are exempt from a lot of these interventions. Well, it's good that at least someone is considering our patients in this. But I know that certainly-- I believe ASCO has quite a bit of concern about maintaining access to patients. So what role is ASCO playing in this issue? You know, Nate, ASCO is very sensitive to the needs, to address the opioid crisis and to support thoughtful and evidence-based interventions aimed at decreasing substance misuse and abuse and overdose death. However, ASCO really continues to advocate for appropriate access to pain medications for cancer patients, recognizing that that typical one size fits all solution risks oftentimes marginalizing our cancer patients and their needs. And so in 2016, ASCO released an ASCO policy statement on opioid therapy which emphasizes the unique pain management needs of patients with cancer and especially those with advanced disease. And in this policy statement, ASCO points out a lot of core principles to balance public health concerns and cancer patients' needs. Well, I really like the fact that ASCO is focusing not so much on specific individual needs, but rather making sure everyone recognizes that there is no one size fits all solution here and also you know acknowledging that there is a real problem with opioid misuse in the United States, but that our patients need to be considered carefully in this. One of the things I liked about your editorial was focusing on how physicians might actually be able to learn about managing pain in cancer patients and not necessarily just focusing on the use of opioids. Can you talk a little bit about that? Yes, sure. You know, just in general, as we all know, as oncologists, we rely heavily on the use of opioids. But we should never rely solely on the use of opioids. And we need to determine if opioids are indeed the right drug for particular type of cancer-related pain. And so ASCO published recent clinical practice guidelines for chronic pain management in cancer survivors that gives advice on careful assessment of pain and its effects on function and of the possible risk associated with an opioid. And so I generally recommend that clinicians review some of these practice guidelines because many of these recommendations can help reduce opioid prescribing and actually consider other good, viable non-opioid alternatives, such as using pain specialists and other interventional procedures. Yeah, I think everyone would benefit from being aware of the problem and making sure that they are using opioids appropriately. I guess I'm just a little concerned about how all this attention is impacting our patients and their access to drugs. We did a JOP podcast, oh, I think a year or so ago with Dr. Bruera, who is a palliative care specialist at MD Anderson, who published a study showing that palliative care physicians were actually prescribing significantly less morphine equivalents for cancer patients. And there was a lot of alternative treatments, such as tramadol, that were being used. And we had a nice discussion about how perhaps some of that was a good idea. But they're also putting sometimes patients at risk of being under treated. Yeah, that dynamic is very complex, because I think we all realize that are certain types of pain that do get effectiveness with opioids to get appropriate pain relief. But the palliative doctors are usually very good and many oncologists also about entertaining those alternatives. And so oftentimes there are many kinds of cancer pain syndromes, both acute and chronic that can be managed with non-opioid alternatives. We as oncologists, we realize that this is a really vulnerable patient population. And we'll continue to develop and utilize all the latest advances in the comprehensive management of cancer in accordance with published evidence-based physician developed guidelines. However, we also want to design the statutory and regulatory requirements do not unduly restrict access to opioids and acknowledge the need to exempt cancer-related pain in our opioid policies. And I think that's absolutely critically important. And you know this is exactly the kind of function that societies like ASCO and the AMA really exist for, to protect our patients and the physicians who are prescribing these necessary medications to our patients. Well, it's been my pleasure to share this publication with you. And I hope it will be an important educational tool for the oncologists to work on to deal the opioid access problem for our patients. Thank you so much for joining me. I also want to thank all of our listeners out there who joined us for this podcast. The full text of the paper will be available online at ascopubs.org/Journal/JOP in April 2019. This is Dr. Nate Pennell for the Journal of Oncology Practice signing off.

  Understand your body as a total machine, the heart, the skin, the brain, the penis and everything in between. From young to old, these parts need your care and attention, learn the basics from experts in men's health. Guests: • Martin M. Miner, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Urology, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Co Director of the Men's Health Center, The Miriam Hospital Providence Rhode Island; • Aaron Spitz, MD, Voluntary Faculty, Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Urologist with a specialty in Infertility and Men's Sexual Health Clinic with Orange County Urology Associates, Frequent guest on The Doctors Channel, author of the Penis Book, and lead Delegate American Urological Association to the AMA House of Delegates. • Larry Goldenberg, MD, Professor of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, Fellow the American College of Surgeons, Recipient of the Order of Canada for contributions for Men's Health, Chairman of the Canadian Men's Health Foundation.  

Disclaimer The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.     Dr. Clifford A. Hudis Welcome to this ASCO in Action podcast. This is ASCO's monthly podcast series where we explore policy and practice issues that impact oncologists, the entire cancer care delivery team, and most importantly, of course, the individuals we take care of, people with cancer. My name is Clifford Hudis, and I am the CEO of ASCO as well as the host of the ASCO in Action podcast series. For today's podcast, I am really pleased to have as my guests - and you heard that right, plural - Doctor Ed Balaban, one of ASCO's delegates to the American Medication Association House of Delegates and Doctor Kristina Novick, an alternate delegate to the AMA House of Delegates. Both Dr. Balaban and Dr. Novick recently represented ASCO at the AMA House of Delegates meeting where they advocated for cancer policy priorities. During our conversation today, we'll get an update on the AMA meeting, we'll hear more about some of the key issues that we discuss, and then we'll spend some time talking more broadly about ASCO's role at the AMA. Dr. Balaban and Dr. Novak, welcome, and thank you for joining me today. Now, let's start with a general overview of the AMA House of Delegates, what this governance body is and why, as a medical specialty society, ASCO should care about its activities. Dr. Balaban, you have served for many years as an ASCO delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, and I want to take this opportunity first to thank you for that service. But second, I want to ask you what exactly is the role of the House of Delegates? And how does it influence what the AMA actually does? Dr. Edward Balaban So Dr. Hudis, thank you very much for inviting both Dr. Novak and myself to speak for a moment about this because it is something that I don't think that the general membership really understands or appreciates. So the AMA House of Delegates, it's an amazing collection. It's also known as the House or the HOD, and it turns out to be the principal policy-making body of the AMA. It is in a democratic forum that represents views and interests of a number of member physicians and, in fact, represents close to 170 or so societies. We meet twice a year, and the whole idea of meeting is to eventually establish policy in medical, professional, and governance matters that have to do with the AMA business activities and principles of the AMA. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis And how many members are there? And exactly how are the members selected? Dr. Edward Balaban So the delegates right now-- and I say right now because it does change based on the number of AMA members within each representative society. But right now, the delegates number around 620, I believe. ASCO, right now, we have six delegates. Three of them are full delegates and three are alternate delegates. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis All right. So ASCO has three delegates who are appointed plus three alternate delegates. Is that right? Dr. Edward Balaban That's right. The full delegates are voting delegates. And we'll get into the details of that, I'm sure. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis So what actually happens? You have 620 delegates get together. I assume you're in a big ballroom at a hotel in Chicago. And what exactly goes on in that meeting room? Dr. Edward Balaban So, again, we meet twice a year. We meet shortly after the ASCO annual meeting in June and spend a fair amount of time in Chicago then. And then we meet once again in November at another site. The meeting itself, each time, lasts maybe three or four days but the preparation for the meeting goes on for months. And in fact, Dr. Novak and myself and the rest of the delegation are beginning to think about November's meeting now. So the way this goes-- the way it all happens is a bit complicated, but it's fairly straightforward nevertheless. We as representing ASCO and I guess medical oncology come to understand some of the more important issues that are facing practice, no matter what setting it might occur in. Those issues then lead to crafted resolutions that are presented eventually to the House of Delegates. We go over them based on ASCO policy as well as the interests that lie within the delegation itself and frankly what we hear from the different committees within ASCO. As we're putting together resolutions, the other societies-- and again, there are a number of societies, 170, 180 societies. They're putting together their resolutions, too. In addition to that, problems that had been discussed in the past at the AMA that have made their way to the board or various committees, those reports are being formed. Dr. Edward Balaban And so there is a gathering of all those resolutions and all of those board reports that become available perhaps a month, six weeks, maybe eight weeks prior to the beginning of the meeting itself. Each one of those resolutions and board reports that are then reviewed in our case by ASCO and a staff. And oh, by the way, I should say right off the top that ASCO staff is superb, and nothing happens without their help. But we review each resolution that's pertinent to the world of medical oncology. We develop our own resolutions as best as we can. We start to share them with other societies that we feel might be interested. And then eventually, those are all submitted to the AMA and then we gather. The first day in Chicago or wherever we meet is usually sort of the time to start to politicking. And it really is in the truest sense that. We review those resolutions. We review our thoughts. Others meet us in hallways and meeting rooms and committee spaces that want us to participate and/or get our thoughts on different problems. Those resolutions then make their way to a panel where we testify for them. Either Cristina or myself or one of the delegation stands up and says, "This is what we have our concerns with from ASCO. We would like the AMA House of Delegates to think about this." Those resolutions are then thought through by a committee that is an aside committee. It's made up of maybe five or six people. And again, this occurs the day before the actual House itself meets in that big ballroom that you just mentioned. Dr. Edward Balaban That committee then decides, "Well, that resolution that Dr. Balaban just presented, that is already AMA policy," or, "That does hold some water," or, "We need to think about is whether we want to go forward with that or not." The following day, that is when we met in that big ballroom, a whole bunch of us. And it's all the voting delegates, the 600 and so, alternate delegates. There's usually a number of international organizations there. Press is there. Observers from around the country are there. And each one of these resolutions that need to be talked about are then brought forth. The debate sometimes can be very quick but sometimes, it could be fairly contentious and confrontational sometimes but fortunately, that's not always the case. It's done in a very structured, Parliamentarian way. And then at the end of all that, there is a vote that the AMA House of Delegates either accepts or rejects the particular resolution that, in our case, ASCO has presented or reaffirms it into data and/or policy that the AMA already has or wants to re-look at it and send it down the road to be looked at, again, at the board level or at some committee level to come back. Dr. Edward Balaban It all sounds terribly complicated. The business of the House of Delegates can spread over two or three days. It is always an amazing process with so many folks with so many different ideas. And you would think that at the end of all that that there has to be great chaos, but year after year, meeting after meeting, I'm always impressed how we walk away from there with a consensus. And it may not be exactly like you wanted but it makes sense at the end of all that meeting. So it is a complicated process. It's a difficult one to explain. It's a bit of a learning curve to be part of it but once you see it happen, you understand that something good has taken place. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis Well, that's great. We're going to come back a little bit maybe and talk about execution or implementation, what all of this leads to. But maybe first, I want to ask Dr. Novick-- first of all, I want to say thank you for joining us again today. Your role in all of this is as an ASCO alternate delegate. So tell us, what exactly does that mean? Dr. Kristina Novick Well, thank you very much, as well, for having me today. So I think as Dr. Balaban has explained is that ASCO's allocated three delegate positions and three alternate delegate positions. And together, we make up what we call the ASCO Delegation to the AMA. Being an alternate delegate allows me to participate in the House of Delegates and support ASCO's activities. We work together as a group often several months before the meeting to try to create a list of priorities that we can then formulate into resolutions. During that time, we're often working with other specialty societies that have similar priorities. We try to gain their support for our objectives. And likewise, they reach out to us to gain support for their objectives. We then create this list of resolutions that we submit for the meeting. And often, we end up reviewing probably over 100 to 200 resolutions just for each meeting. With the help of ASCO staff, we review these resolutions and we come up with position statements for the resolutions, especially when some of them are related to ASCO's priorities and policies. So as an alternate delegate, really, what I get is pride in being part of the medical oncology community and being an ASCO member. We're a small but mighty delegation. We only make up 0.5% of the delegates but we find that we have friends not only in the cancer caucus but also within other organizations that have similar priorities. And then we have the respect of the House representing our patients who are vulnerable in terms of their cancer diagnoses. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis So maybe you could expand a little bit and talk about what some of the policy priorities that we actually worked on to advance in the June meeting. Are there any specific ones that come to mind that you think our listeners should be aware of? I mean, I guess, for example, PBMs or 340B or opioids. Are any of those issues that you could illuminate for us? Dr. Kristina Novick We had a number of resolutions that we submitted this year. The ones that really do come to mind are, first of all, the pharmacy benefit managers resolution. We found that there was a lot of interest, not only from our organization and the experience that we've had within oncology with pharmacy benefit managers but also other specialties have also expressed frustration as to what has occurred with their involvement over time. In particular, ASCO's resolution asked for data gathering on the impact of the pharmacy benefit managers, on clawbacks in direct and indirect remuneration fees. The House of Delegates agreed with us on this and also wanted to gather data on the top 25 medical pre-certification requests with exploration as to what percentage of those ultimately were approved after physician appeal. I thought this resolution was really important because we know that pharmacy benefit managers, they end up controlling the drug benefits for over 210 million Americans, many of which are Medicare Part D participants as well. In addition, there were other resolutions that were focused on pharmacy benefit managers such as the state of Michigan was concerned about the regulation of compounded medications by pharmacy benefit managers and requested that the FTC and FDA get involved with increased regulation. And the board of trustees as well further outlined AMA's efforts to combat restrictions that were created on prescription and dispensing of opioid analgesics by pharmacy benefit managers and requested that we oppose their control of dose or duration limits on our prescription and on dispensing. Dr. Kristina Novick In addition, we also looked at the 340B program. I think that there's going to be a lot of interest in this as we try to further control drug costs. The 340B program, for those that aren't familiar with it, was a program that was actually created decades ago in an effort to try to increase the affordability of supporting patients who are underinsured or uninsured and have their access to medications that often can be quite expensive which is something that our patients in oncology experience quite often. Over time, the program's been used especially by large hospital systems as a way to try to increase the reimbursement that they receive for medications that they dispense to their patients. And we had questions as an ASCO delegation as to whether this was really going to the benefit of the population that it was originally intended for. So our resolution asked for increased transparency and oversight of the program. We believe that you need to use those savings in order to help the patients that are underinsured and most need that support. Ultimately, the AMA supported this but they also wanted to investigate our request that we no longer use the disproportionate share hospital adjustment to determine the eligibility. So we'll hear back from them in the fall of 2018 as to what the conclusions are of that report. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis So I think it sounds like these resolutions and some others that we were promoting were received favorably. I hinted though with this question a moment ago, with them passed, can you tell our listeners exactly what this means? How does the passage of one of these resolutions actually lead to a practical change in our environment? What happens next to make this part of our new reality? Dr. Kristina Novick So resolutions typically are either new policy or directives that take action. Essentially, new policy can be used to support further action by the AMA as issues arise within the legislature, within courts, within allocation of resources by the AMA which is a very large organization. They can also be used to help coordinate efforts by other organizations. The directives that take action are more specific, and the AMA will report back as to what actions they have done and also what they've achieved in response to those directives. So essentially, the House of Delegates, because it meets twice a year, directs these directives and the activities of the AMA. And in between the meetings themselves, the board of trustees acts as the body that will make the recommendations as to what the AMA needs to do to achieve the directives if there's any question in that regard. So what will happen from here is the board of trustees will be reviewing the resolutions that have been passed and then create the list of priorities and objectives to pursue over the next year. And the AMA has a tremendous amount of advocacy that it's able to do. But I think the most important thing that it can do is help coordinate these efforts across states, societies, across specialty societies which is something that we wouldn't be able to do just on our own. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis So the real boots on the ground as it were amounts to advocacy at the state and national level, talking to legislators, talking to regulators, talking for that matter I guess to other stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem and trying to influence practical rules and regulation and policy. Is that a fair summation when it's all said and done? Dr. Kristina Novick I think that's a great way to summarize. Essentially, if you go meet with a legislator, it's very easy for them to dismiss you although we do have a lot of clout, I think, coming from the oncology perspective. But still, it's easier to divide us up into different specialties and say, "Well, psychiatrists want this and dermatologists want that." But when it turns out that we all share common objectives, we can approach them and say, "The medical community, this is what we want. This is what is best for our patients." It's a lot stronger, I think when it comes from that perspective. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis That's great. So before you go and I turn back to Dr. Balaban, I'm just curious as to what your perspective is on the fact that we have this very exciting, new milestone for the oncology community at the last AMA meeting and that was that Dr. Barbara McAneny was sworn in as the president of AMA. She's the first oncologist to serve in that role. What do you think that role means for ASCO and the oncology community? Dr. Kristina Novick We are very excited about Dr. McAneny taking over as president of the AMA. She certainly brings not only a medical oncologist perspective to the leadership of the AMA but she also brings the perspective of a physician who is taking care of underserved populations, who is a patient advocate before all else. And I think we're all going to benefit from that leadership that she's shown over the years in that regard. She's also been very good at being a role model in terms of how to practice medicine in a sustainable fashion which is something that we need. So I am incredibly excited about her leadership and her accomplishments of rising to this position within the organization. A lot of leaders within the AMA will come from large delegations. And as I said, we're not a large delegation. We're a specialty society that has three delegates spots, three alternate delegate spots. But the fact, I think, that we have now also as our advocate the president of the AMA, I think that there's going to be a lot of potential opportunities for medical oncology to get additional help from the AMA on our key issues and to be more involved as well. So I think it was very exciting to see her take that position. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis So Dr. Balaban, I know you've known Dr. McAneny for many, many years. And I was really touched and I thought it was a thought-provoking comment during her inauguration where, if I remember correctly, she made a plea to move away from the term providers. And I think it was a plea to focus really on physicians. I don't know if I'm misremembering that, but it struck me that it was an important semantic distinction. Knowing her, knowing her passion, knowing her years of service to the community, to ASCO, to her patients, what's your perspective on how she'll be different as an AMA president? Dr. Edward Balaban Like you mentioned, she's been involved with the AMA in every facet of the AMA, oh, my gosh, for years. And as Cristina mentioned, this is almost precedent-setting. Neither she nor I can remember a specialty society having a successful campaign for presidency. Barb did say exactly that. She moved away from the idea of provider because to her-- and I shouldn't speak for her but she has shared enough with me and with the AMA. Provider's sort of a tone of a definition that's part of the system. And when I say the system, I mean as it currently is in the medical community. Well, the one thing that she has proposed is that she would like to fix this system. And she'd like to readjust it, reset it, rethink it, re-personalize it that we are just not providers. We are the physicians. We are the people that drive it. We are the people that make those decisions that will make it flounder or be successful. So she has tried to reroute this, and she can do it because she does relate. As Dr. Novak said, she can communicate so well, whether it's the Navajo Indians in New Mexico or with the CEOs in Chicago. She has traveled all those different areas. Dr. Edward Balaban And she does not mince ideas or words. She'll say very effectively what needs to be done. And Barb and I, as with most people on the planet, we'll go back and forth on a number of things. But I could tell you that we're all very pleased to be, in a sense, on her coattails. But let me just add to that that when it comes to oncology patients, I have come to learn at the AMA that our patients and our problems tend to be first and foremost almost Barb will say a canary in a coal mine. Maybe it's with the expensive and difficult drugs that we use and the difficult diseases that we face and the multitude of problems that we do run into with each and every one of our patients, whether it's physically or economically or socially or whatever, we tend to run the tip of the iceberg. And so other societies, other world within AMA will come to see what oncology thinks. And Barbara represents a huge spokesman in that area. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis Well, that's really great. And I think that we're all excited by this turn of events and the unique opportunities that the year ahead will bring, and also I think the lingering impact in the years that follow we'll be able to have on the AMA. So with that, I want to again thank both Dr. Balaban and Dr. Novak for joining me today for this ASCO in Action podcast. For the listeners, I'd like to remind you that you can always learn more about ASCO's work with the AMA, and you can continue to follow ASCO in Action for news and updates. You can visit ASCO Connection to read great recaps of the meetings that are usually written by Dr. Balaban himself. And you can find them online at connection.asco.org searching for Balaban, and that's B-A-L-A-B-A-N. So until next time, thank you all for listening to this ASCO in Action podcast.  

Andrew Gurman MD, the immediate past president of the American Medical Association, and a hand surgeon from Hollidaysburg, PA, is the guest on this week's edition of the Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast. Dr. Gurman discusses healthcare issues for Baby Boomers and the need for health insurance reform in the US. [spp-player] About the Guest [caption id="attachment_5331" align="alignleft" width="150"] Andrew Gurman MD[/caption] Andrew W. Gurman, MD, an orthopaedic hand surgeon from Hollidaysburg, Pa., was the 171st president of the American Medical Association. Prior to becoming AMA president in June 2016, Dr. Gurman was an active and highly visible member of the AMA Board of Trustees, and both speaker and vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates during a period of change and refocus for the organization. In August 2016 Dr. Gurman was named one of Modern Healthcare magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare (No. 27). As the first hand surgeon and only the second orthopaedic surgeon to have served as AMA president, Dr. Gurman believes strongly that nurturing the profession is crucial for America's physicians and the generation who will one day take their place. Born in New York City and raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Dr. Gurman is a graduate of Syracuse University. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, in 1980. Dr. Gurman's advocacy work in medicine began early as a student delegate to the AMA Student Business Session, precursor to the AMA Medical Student Section of today. After completing his surgical internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the combined Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein program in New York City, and a fellowship in hand surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Gurman entered practice in central Pennsylvania and became active in the local medical society and civic organizations. In addition to being a past president of the Blair County Medical Society in Pennsylvania, Dr. Gurman's distinguished record includes past service as vice speaker and then speaker of the Pennsylvania Medical Society House of Delegates, and as a two-time chair of the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Political Action Committee. He has also served as professional chair for the United Way campaign and as a member of the board of trustees of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Gurman resides in Hollidaysburg with his wife, Nancy. They have two grown children, and one grandchild.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology. Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology. Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology. Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology. Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology. Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.

Guest: Lori Heim, MD Host: Eric Tangalos, MD The medical home model is designed to increase efficiency by providing a central primary care practice as the coordinator of care for patients. But while efficiency is important, the patient-centered component of this model is just as crucial. Dr. Lori Heim, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, emphasizes the patient-centered concept for medical homes, and provides real-world examples. How can you re-tool your office to be more accessible to your patients, both in a physical sense, and through better communication strategies? How helpful are patient satisfaction surveys in determining potential areas of improvement for your practice? And let's face it— physicians will spend a significant amount of time outside of the traditional office visit ensuring well-coordinated care for their patients under this model. Dr. Heim recognizes that the fee-for-service payment system will need to change for the medical home concept to thrive, and discusses the payment models that best support the patient-centered medical home. How can the entire medical neighborhood or community be incentivized to fully engage in the medical home model? Dr. Eric Tangalos hosts.

Guest: William Golden, MD Host: Eric Tangalos, MD There's often a disconnect in the continuity of care, creating inefficiency and increased healthcare costs. How can our healthcare system better coordinate transitions of care, especially for patients with chronic conditions? How can we create a system that incentives better coordination of care and long-term management of patients? Join ReachMD for a special broadcast recorded at the AMA House of Delegates meeting with guest Dr. William Golden, chair of the American College of Physicians delegation and medical director of health policy for Arkansas Medicaid. Hosted by Dr. Eric Tangalos. Catch all of ReachMD's coverage and commentary from the 2010 AMA House of Delegates meeting: Highlights From the 2010 Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates AMA House of Delegates: In Conversation With the New AMA President

Guest: Cecil Wilson, MD Host: John Armstrong, MD It's been a big year for medicine, and the next promises to be just as significant. Although health system reform was sorely needed, there are still components that need to be addressed, not the least of which is the flawed Medicare payment formula. The new AMA president, Dr. Cecil Wilson, who is an internist from Winter Park, Florida, discusses how the AMA will work to improve the healthcare system and increase patient access to care in the coming year. Dr. Wilson also stresses the need for physicians to become more involved in organized medicine and as AMA members. Join host Dr. John Armstrong for ReachMD's continuing coverage of the AMA House of Delegates meeting. Presented in Cooperation with Catch all of ReachMD's coverage and commentary from the 2010 AMA House of Delegates meeting: Highlights From the 2010 Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates AMA House of Delegates: Strategies for Better Care Coordination

Host: John Armstrong, MD Reporting from the floor of the 2010 AMA House of Delegates meeting, host Dr. John Armstrong gets reactions from key players about some of the most significant proposed resolutions. Public health issues discussed at this year's meeting include the health impacts of the gulf oil spill, mammography guidelines, smoking in multi-unit housing and personalized medicine. Tune in for a round-up of these issues and more of today's biggest questions in medicine, including the future of medical education, the National Health Insurer Report Card, the new health system reform law and the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (or SGR) formula related to Medicare payments. Presented in Cooperation with Catch all of ReachMD's coverage and commentary from the 2010 AMA House of Delegates meeting: AMA House of Delegates: In Conversation With the New AMA President AMA House of Delegates: Strategies for Better Care Coordination

Guest: Peter Hollmann, MD Guest: Ronald Crossno, MD Host: Eric Tangalos, MD Guest: Charles Cefalu, MD MS What are the most significant issues to be addressed in long term care medicine, and how will long term care medicine be affected by healthcare reform in the years ahead? Tune in to hear host Dr. Eric Tangalos reporting from the 2009 American Medical Association House of Delegates Meeting, where he is joined by Dr. Ronald Crossno, from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Dr. Peter Hollmann, from the Rhode Island Medical Association; and Dr. Charles Cefalu, from the American Geriatrics Society. How will one of the American Medical Directors Association's resolutions about nurse as agent that passed at the AMA meeting help improve efficiency in long term care facilities? Hear ReachMD's complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting: AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack's inauguration speech President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Dr. Rohack discusses President Obama's plan for healthcare reform Delegates respond to President Obama's address Perspectives from members of the AMA Board of Trustees Voting round-up and one-on-one with Dr. Steven Stack

Guest: Steven Stack, MD Host: John Armstrong, MD Guest: Samantha Rosman, MD Join host Dr. John Armstrong at the American Medical Association's House of Delegates Meeting in Chicago. Dr. Armstrong sits down with two members of the AMA's board of trustees, Dr. Samantha Rosman, a fellow in pediatric emergency medicine at Boston Medical Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Dr. Steven Stack, chairman and medical director of the department of emergency medicine at St. Joseph Hospital East in Lexington, Kentucky. This interview took place June 16, 2009, the day after President Barack Obama's speech to the AMA House of Delegates Meeting outlining his aspirations for healthcare in America. Dr. Stack and Dr. Rosman discuss their reactions to the President's speech. ReachMD brings you complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting. Listen now! President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Delegates Respond to President Obama's Address Leaders in long term care medicine react to the 2009 Delegates Meeting AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack's inauguration speech Dr. Rohack discusses President Obama's plan for healthcare reform Voting round-up and one-on-one with Dr. Steven Stack

Guest: J. James Rohack, MD Host: John Armstrong, MD How will the AMA shape healthcare reform? The day after President Barack Obama's historic address to the AMA, host Dr. John Armstrong gets reaction from Dr. J. James Rohack, cardiologist from Bryan, Texas, and the American Medical Association's 164th president. Dr. Rohack discusses ways to achieve the common goals of working toward universal and affordable healthcare coverage, and also addresses the issues of liability reform and a public plan option. ReachMD brings you complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting. Listen now! President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Delegates respond to President Obama's address Leaders in long term care medicine react to the 2009 Delegates Meeting AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack's inauguration speech Perspectives from members of the AMA Board of Trustees Voting round-up and one-on-one with Dr. Steven Stack

Guest: Steven Stack, MD Host: Bruce Japsen Join host Bruce Japsen for an overview of some of the major votes from the American Medical Association's 2009 House of Delegates Meeting in Chicago. Afterward, he sits down for an in-depth discussion of the issues with Dr. Steven Stack, an emergency physician from Lexington, Kentucky, and a member of the AMA board of trustees. ReachMD brings you complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting. Listen now! President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Delegates Respond to President Obama's Address Leaders in long term care medicine react to the 2009 Delegates Meeting AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack's inauguration speech Dr. Rohack discusses President Obama's plan for healthcare reform Perspectives from members of the AMA Board of Trustees

Guest: J. James Rohack, MD The American Medical Association (AMA) has inaugurated Dr. J. James Rohack, a cardiologist from Bryan, Texas, as the Association's 164th president. In his inaugural address as AMA president, Dr. Rohack covered a range of issues central to the ongoing debate over healthcare reform in the United States, chiefly that we improve access to high-quality, affordable health care for all of our patients. "I can promise that our AMA is committed to offering guidance, our expertise, the benefits of our relationship with patients, and the powerful voice of our profession, to help the powers that be make the right decisions," said Dr. Rohack. "This is an effort that will define our organization, define our nation and define each and every one of us." ReachMD brings you the entirety of Dr. Rohack's speech, along with complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting. Listen now! Dr. Rohack discusses President Obama's plan for healthcare reform President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Delegates respond to President Obama's address Leaders in long term care medicine react to the 2009 Delegates Meeting Perspectives from members of the AMA Board of Trustees Voting round-up and ...

Host: John Armstrong, MD President Barack Obama delivered a lengthy address on his vision for health system reform to delegates of the American Medical Association (AMA) at their 158th annual meeting in Chicago. The speech generated a range of reactions from physicians in the audience. Host Dr. John Armstrong captures their sentiments on the floor of the meeting hall. How will this speech affect America's physicians? Will President Obama ensure that our concerns are represented in the health system reform debate? Tune in to hear the unfiltered responses from your colleagues in medicine! ReachMD brings you complete coverage of the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Meeting. Listen now! President Obama's keynote address to the AMA House of Delegates Leaders in long term care medicine react to the 2009 Delegates Meeting AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack's inauguration speech Dr. Rohack discusses President Obama's plan for healthcare reform Perspectives from members of the AMA Board of Trustees Voting round-up and one-on-one with Dr. Steven Stack

Guest: Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD Dr. Nancy Nielsen, the incoming president of the American Medical Association (AMA), delivers a moving inaugural speech to the 2008 AMA House of Delegates in Chicago. Dr. Nielsen touches on several major issues, with a broad focus on the economic challenges and scientific demands of rebuilding our healthcare system. She calls on the healthcare community, the insurance industry, employers and our government to work cohesively with our patients to battle "our real enemies: disease and untimely death."

Guest: Ronald M. Davis, MD Dr. Ronald M. Davis, the outgoing president of the American Medical Association (AMA), delivers his final speech as president to the 2008 AMA House of Delegates in Chicago. Dr. Davis speaks to many issues, including the legacy we choose to leave on people we meet during the course of our lives.