AMSUS Represented at AMA Women Physicians Summit

Military Medicine, Spring 2006

RADM Joyce Johnson, USPHS (Ret.), represented AMSUS during the American Medical Association (AMA) Women Physicians Summit held in March in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the AMA National Advocacy Conference. The annual event brought together women physicians from across the United States. The two-day program offered exceptional speakers. Janet Reno, JD spoke about health care and its interface with law, especially while she was Attorney General and States Attorney in Florida. She talked about issues such as drug courts and the lack of substance abuse treatment programs in prisons. Most of the speakers focused on medical or health policy issues such as Patrice Harris, MD whose topic was the link between government and medicine. Former director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health, Susan Wood, PhD., focused her presentation on the FDA, detailing the approval process, and also talked about some of the regulatory and social aspects of the contraceptive, "Plan B," and its potential over-the-counter use. Noted heart specialist and AMA member, Marianne Legato, MD, provided an exceptional overview of women's health and gender-specific medicine. Other speakers had a leadership focus such as Mary LoVerde who talked about keeping balance in one's life; Laurel Leslie, MD who had an interactive session on temperament and teamwork; and Marsheila DeVan who, in another interactive session, focused on improving public speaking skills.

During the two-day session attendees were afforded the opportunity to describe the organization they represent. RADM Johnson talked about AMSUS, its membership, Annual Meetings, Military Medicine, and other relevant activities. She also encouraged those doing research on women's health with a direct application to the military, to consider publishing in the journal. RADM Johnson is currently a member of the Military Medicine Editorial Board.

This is the first time in recent past that AMSUS was represented at the Women's Summit. She found it to be very valuable and that it is important for AMSUS to be repre sented in organized medicine such as these AMA events. The AMA, through the various initiatives it supports, has a significant impact on the practice of medicine, and therefore on AMSUS members of all disciplines. Through this involvement, AMSUS can influence AMA positions, and leverage AMA's strength to better meet AMSUS goals.