AMWA had a successful 2023 Annual Meeting, receiving praise from President Biden. The partnership with MWIA resulted in valuable educational presentations. Dr. Elizabeth Garner was introduced as the new AMWA President, and Dr. Susan Thompson Hingle as the President-Elect.
AMWA’s involvement in healthcare advocacy includes representation at the White House ACA Anniversary Event (Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgeaber) and support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid expansion, American Rescue Plan, and Inflation Reduction Act.
AMWA’s Gun Violence Solutions Committee submitted an action plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The organisation also supported Black Maternal Health Week and offered free Preventing Racial Bias in Perinatal Care training in partnership with Diversity Science. Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month was honored through film and with Dr. Eliza Chin at the White House.
For Women’s History Month, AMWA promoted oral histories of women leaders, film screenings (find at Media AMWA on the AMWA website), and discussions centred on the historical fiction novel, The Unlocked Path, by Janis Robinson Daly. Tribute was paid to the late Judy Heumann, a disability rights advocate.
AMWA remains dedicated to promoting sex and gender health through a digital flyer campaign, film screenings of Ms. Diagnosed, webinars, and National Women’s Health Week participation. AMWA leaders spoke on the topic in a Citi Program webinar to promote sex and gender health in research protocol evaluation.
Notable AMWA members were recognised for their contributions and achievements in healthcare: Dr. Jenna Podjasek (Particles in the Air), Dr. Kimberly Templeton – Creative Change Maker (Lancet), Dr. Padmini Murthy – ‘Top Global Health Advocate 2022’ (IAOTP), Dr. Tamara Chang (2022 Gold Stevie Woman of the Year in Healthcare), Dr. Mary Rorro (Volunteer Service Award from President Biden), Dr. Vineet Arora (American College of Physicians keynote address), Dr. Paula Doyle (EndoGlow) (winner, AMWA Innovation Challenge), and Dr. Florence Desrosiers (Kathryn Ko, MD, Artist in Residence).
AMWA advocated for various healthcare issues, including maternal and infant mortality, healthcare access, cervical cancer prevention, fentanyl awareness, an assault weapons ban, and access to abortion care. We have joined in requesting $10.5 billion of HRSA funding and opposed judicial interference in FDA approvals (stress on scientific expertise). Pay equity and maternal health were also emphasised.
AMWA collaborated with Physician Just Equity on understanding the peer review process. The organisation supported National Infertility Awareness Week and hosted the 2nd Physician Fertility Summit with MWIA co-sponsorship. AMWA also supports the Equal Rights Amendment and participated in international events alongside MWIA, including the World Health Assembly and the World Trade Association (meet/greet with the Director General and co-hosting a gender medicine roundtable).
AMWA expresses gratitude to MWIA for their support in empowering women in medicine.
Dr Karen Poirier-Brode, National Co-ordinator
*IAOTP – International Association of Top Professionals
*HRSA – Health Resources and Services Administration (US government)