Your Michigan Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) worked hard on your behalf during the AMA’s Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 7-12, 2024. Under the leadership of Mark C. Komorowski, MD, Chair, Christie L. Morgan, MD, Vice Chair, and Courtland Keteyian, MD, MBA, Secretary-Treasurer, Michigan submitted seven resolutions and several Delegation members served on key committees and Councils.
The highlight of the meeting was the election of S. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, as the AMA President-Elect. Doctor Mukkamala served on the AMA Board of Trustees and is a former President of the Michigan State Medical Society. His successful campaign was coordinated by Doctor Morgan and Joshua Richmond, MSMS Senior Director of Membership.
As has become the tradition, Michigan Delegates and Alternate Delegates were highly visible during the meeting with E. Chris Bush, MD, Theodore B. Jones, MD, and David W. Whalen, MD, serving on Reference Committees D (Public Health), Constitution and Bylaws, and C (Medical Education), respectively. Council members Michael Chafty, MD, JD (Legislation), Betty S. Chu, MD, MBA (Medical Service), Pino D. Colone, MD (Constitution and Bylaws), and Louito C. Edje, MD, FAAFP, MHPE (Medical Education) presented Council reports and input during committees. Jann Caison-Sorey, MD, continued to serve as Chair of the AMA’s Committee on Conduct at AMA Meetings and Events and Brooke Buckley, MD, FACS, spoke at the Opening Session in her role as Chair of the AMPAC Board of Directors. Other Delegation members were assigned to respective Reference Committees to speak on behalf of Michigan’s resolutions, provide input on issues of concern, and monitor debate.
Doctor Komorowski reiterated that “Michigan physicians continue to be well-respected within the AMA HOD.” He also shared, “I am proud of the Delegation’s efforts to advocate for polices that support physicians and their ability to care for patients, promote science, and improve health outcomes.”
Michigan’s resolutions are listed below.
| No. | Title and Resolved Statement(s) | Final Action |
| 218 (A-24) | Designation of Descendants of Enslaved Africans in America RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association work with appropriate organizations including, but not limited to, the Association of American Medical Colleges to adopt and define the term Descendants of Enslaved Africans in America and separate if from the generic terms African American and Black in glossaries and on medical school applications. (Directive to Take Action) | Referred for study. |
| 250 (A-24) | Endorsement of the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association (AMA) amend policy D-140.968, “Standardized Advance Directives,” to read as follows: Our AMA will endorse the “Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act,” which was drafted and adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 2023, and work with our state medical societies to advocate for its adoption in the states. | Referred for study. |
| 251 (A-24) | Streamline Payer Quality Metrics RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and major national insurance carriers to streamline each year’s patient quality metrics across their respective programs. (Directive to Take Action) | Adopted as substituted to read as follows: RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association will continue to advocate for improvements in private payers’ quality programs. |
| 320 (A-24) | Anti-Racism Training for Medical Students and Medical Residents RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association advocate that the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and Association of American Medical Colleges mandate, rather than encourage, anti-racism training for medical students and medical residents. (Directive to Take Action) | Policy H-65.952 was reaffirmed in lieu of Resolution 320. |
| 413 (A-24) | Sexuality and Reproductive Health Education RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association reaffirm AMA Policy H-170.968, “Sexuality Education, Sexual Violence Prevention, Abstinence, and Distribution of Condoms in Schools,” and continue to advocate for the adoption of developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health education and reproductive rights curriculum. (Reaffirm HOD Policy) | AMA Policy H-170.968, “Sexuality Education, Sexual Violence Prevention, Abstinence, and Distribution of Condoms in Schools,” was reaffirmed. |
| 434 (A-24) | Universal Newborn Eye Screening RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association amend AMA policy, Standardization of Newborn Screening Programs H-245.973 by addition and deletion as follows: Our AMA: (1) recognizes the need for uniform minimum newborn screening (NBS) recommendations; (2) encourages continued research and discussions on the potential benefits and harms of NBS for certain diseases; | Not adopted. |
| 716 (A-24) | Impact of Patient Nonadherence on Quality Scores RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association study the issue of patients and parents not adhering to primary care physicians’ recommendations such as preventive screenings and vaccinations resulting in a deficiency of quality metrics by primary care physicians for which the physicians are penalized, identify equitable and actionable solutions, and report back at Annual 2025. (Directive to Take Action) | Adopted as amended to read as follows: RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association study the issue of patients and parents not adhering to physicians’ recommendations such as preventive screenings and vaccinations resulting in a deficiency of quality metrics by physicians for which the physicians are penalized, identify equitable and actionable solutions, and report back at Annual 2025. |
For highlights from the AMA Annual Meeting, visit https://www.ama-assn.org/house-delegates/annual-meeting/highlights-2024-ama-annual-meeting. If you have questions regarding the Michigan Delegation to the AMA, please contact Stacey P. Hettiger at shettiger@msms.org.
