Health Equity

MSDC was one of the founding members of the American Medical Association in the 1850s, and today's members continue the tradition of leadership in the association. The recently concluded Special Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates had a DC flavor in the discussion and elections.

The first note from the meeting was that it was the last meeting for MSDC Delegate Dr. J. Desiree Pineda. Dr. Pineda served for many years as an alternate delegate and was elevated to full delegate two years ago upon the retirement of Dr. Joseph Gutierrez. Dr. Pineda retires from the delegate position to serve as an At-Large Director on the MSDC Board and was properly applauded for her service numerous times during the meeting.

At the meeting MSDC continued its tradition of leadership, especially among young physicians. At the Resident and Fellow Section (RFS), Dr. Angela Wu was elected delegate from DC to the RFS while Dr. Nehal Naik and Dr. Tenesha Moody were elected as alternate delegates. This is in addition to Dr. Matthew Lecuyer (MSDC Board member and Alternate Delegate) serving as incoming Chair of the Residents and Fellows Section.

At the meeting itself, MSDC was heard on numerous issues. Delegate Dr. Raymond Tu and Alternate Delegate Dr. Neal Barnard testified in reference committee and on the House floor on a few issues, including a new policy on broadband access and medicine. Of particular interest to the DC delegation was an AMA Board of Trustees Report 13 on the study of forced organ harvesting by China. The report was the result of a prior resolution sponsored by DC asking the AMA to study concerns about reported forced harvesting of organs in China as part of illegal medical tourism in the country. The House adopted the report after years of work by DC and allies.

The next AMA House of Delegates meeting is in June 2022 potentially back in-person in Chicago. New MSDC Delegate Dr. Kirstiaan Nevin will participate in her first meeting both as a delegate and as president of the Society.