From South Carolina to Chicago

By Dr. Gerald Harmon, MD, Trustee to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees

Dr. Harmon, a family medicine specialist from Georgetown, was recently elected to serve on the AMA Board of Trustees during the 2013 AMA Annual Meeting. Here, Dr. Harmon talks about his experience on the campaign trail.

Several of us from South Carolina were busier than usual in June at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.  I was offered as a candidate for the AMA Board of Trustees with official support from our state, the Southeastern Delegation to the AMA, the AAFP, the SCAFP, and the Young Physician Sections of the SCMA and the AMA, as well as the Federal and Military Medicine Councils at the AMA.

I participated in over 23 formal interviews with Delegates from various states and sections, went to dozens of receptions, and gave a two-minute speech before the entire House of Delegates on Saturday afternoon at the meeting.  

The interviews began on Friday morning at 11:45, continued until 8 p.m. that evening, then resumed at 7 a.m. the next morning.  The last ones were on Monday afternoon before the election was held Tuesday morning. Thanks to an overwhelming effort and show of support by your SCMA Delegation and many colleagues from California, New York, Wisconsin, Washington, and the entire Southeast, we won our election!

The AMA Board of Trustees has, in addition to twelve "regular" doctors, a resident and a student member as well as a "public" member who is not a physician.  Others seated at the table include the Speaker, the Vice-Speaker, the President, the President-elect, and the immediate Past President. This is very similar to our own SCMA Board of Trustees.

I have since been to Chicago and participated in a two-day "orientation" and attended my first full board meeting at a three day planning session. I have been assigned as a Board Representative to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs and to the Minority Affairs Section.  

The three main strategic vectors currently for the AMA are:

1. Improving Health Outcomes (with an emphasis on Diabetes and cardiovascular disease) 
2. Transforming Medical Education 
3. Improving Physician Satisfaction and Sustainability of Medical Practice

I look forward to working with the AMA to help them uphold these missions and representing my home state of South Carolina. I encourage you to contact me at Gerald.harmon@ama-assn.org if you have any matters or issues you feel need to be brought to national attention.

Thank you for your support throughout my campaign, I look forward to representing you, and I encourage you to continue to tune into The Voice where I look forward to telling you more about my new adventure as an AMA Board Member.