In his final speech as American Medical Association (AMA) president, Jack Resneck Jr., MD, delivered a message of hope, progress, and unity while acknowledging the “very real” threats to the medical profession. Resneck expressed concerns about the country’s divisiveness and the future of the profession, citing a survey that found only 57% of doctors would choose medicine again if they were starting their careers. He blamed burnout on disinformation, payment cuts, administrative burdens, and state courts interfering with the patient-physician relationship. Resneck also criticized the lack of action on gun violence and political leaders who “fuel fear and sow division.”
Perseverance in the Face of Challenges
Resneck used the metaphor of a marathon to describe the challenges faced by physicians in their profession. He encouraged doctors to view their work as a relay, where a flame passes from person to person, protecting something far bigger than any individual or leg of the course. Resneck highlighted the tenacity of physicians, who persevere no matter the odds, in advocating for medical misinformation, fixing a broken Medicare system, and pushing back against lawmakers who want to dictate treatments and medications. He also praised the progress made by the AMA Recovery Plan, which aims to ensure the sustainability of the profession, and cited the association’s advocacy efforts in preserving Medicare telehealth expansions, stopping scope of practice expansion state by state, and helping rein in prior authorization abuses.
New Leadership and Future Directions
The AMA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting also saw new leadership elected. Bruce A. Scott, MD, an otolaryngologist and president of Kentuckiana Ear, Nose & Throat in Louisville, Kentucky, was voted AMA president-elect by acclamation, while ob/gyn Lisa Bohman Egbert, MD, of Paragon Women’s Care in Dayton, Ohio, was voted HOD speaker-elect by acclamation. Elections for HOD vice speaker will take place on Tuesday.
In his closing remarks, Resneck addressed medical students and young physicians, encouraging them never to lose their passion for humanity and healing. He reminded all delegates of the privileges and responsibilities of the profession and urged them not to let their patients down. Despite the challenges facing the medical profession, Resneck’s final speech delivered a message of hope and progress, emphasizing the resilience and perseverance of physicians in the face of adversity.
Leave a Reply