Summary of the 2024 AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting

Registration is open for the Nov. 8–12 interim meeting of the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) where I’ll be representing residents as the as the ACR® RFS Executive Committee AMA Delegate and Advocacy Liaison. Back in June, I was excited to return to another healthcare-policy–driven annual meeting in Chicago alongside leaders, mentors and lifelong friends.

Prior to the AMA HOD meeting, the delegation meets to discuss priority resolutions and reports (i.e., policy items that may impact the profession of radiology or require our input). This prospective review process allows us to create a “mini thinktank” with some of the trailblazers in radiology advocacy, supported by a second-to-none ACR legal and administrative team. For the second year, I served as a lead reviewer for terms of business ranging from AMA governance to AI.

On the first day of the meeting, I attended programming and participated in the policymaking process for the AMA RFS. Leaders of AMA RFS standing committees presented on key issues impacting trainees.

The RFS Committee on Legislation and Advocacy discussed recent trends in legislation including U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the landscape of which is evolving as justices present opinions on litigation touching the operations of federal agencies. A presentation on healthcare in times of conflict by the Committee on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion highlighted the role of physician-activism in ongoing humanitarian crises. The RFS Council on Medical Education shed light on changes to the National Resident Matching Program process and collective bargaining.

After the conclusion of section meetings, the ACR delegation — composed of practicing and policymaking radiologists across the country — attended the opening of AMA HOD, the legislative body of the larger organization.

As representatives of our specialty, the ACR delegation held a caucus with all radiologists and radiation oncologists in attendance through the AMA Radiology Section Council. We discussed many priorities such as deployment of AI, lung cancer screening and CT colonography. Other notable topics included insurer coverage of dental services before and after chemoradiation for head and neck cancer and follow-up testing after an abnormal screening mammography.

To learn more about joining other radiologists active in the advocacy and policy realm, contact me at midani.sally@gmail.com, or explore the links below:

• Join the American College of Radiology®, the largest representative body advocating for radiology/radiation oncology with an emphasis on trainee-centered policies.
• Explore opportunities to serve on committees or apply for an ACR fellowship via our new VolunteerLink.
• Interested in actively participating in calls to action on important policy items impacting radiology? Join the Radiology Advocacy Network, led by expert radvocate Amy Patel, MD, and ACR Government Affairs.
• Join the American Medical Association, where radiology is a growing force in shaping policymaking for the largest physician-led lobbying body in the country. Trainees continue to serve as a driving force behind impactful policies related to health equity and reform.