If you are a resident or fellow physician and a member of the AMA, you have a great opportunity to influence AMA policy and help implement initiatives for residents by serving on the AMA Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) Governing Council. At the council's Annual Meeting, held June 8-10 in Chicago, Ill, we will elect the RFS Governing Council for 2000-2001. In addition to providing an opportunity to work on issues of concern to residents and fellows, serving on the RFS Governing Council offers an enjoyable opportunity for professional growth.
Governing Council members are required to attend the AMA Annual and Interim Meetings (at least 4 days each) and 4 Governing Council meetings (2 weekend days each) and to represent the RFS at various other meetings. The additional responsibilities of each position are listed below.
The Vice Chair is liaison to the resident representatives to AMA Councils and Committees and assists the chair with management of the RFS.
The Secretary is responsible for general communications to the RFS, including summaries of all meetings and communications at the Annual and Interim meetings.
The Delegate and Alternate Delegate present and coordinate testimony and advocate before the AMA House of Delegates for policies that benefit residents. They analyze topics under discussion by the AMA to identify issues important to residents and they summarize actions taken by the House of Delegates.
The 2 Members-At-Large run special projects (such as community service projects) for the RFS and act as the primary liaisons to resident representatives from state and specialty societies.
If you would like to discuss any of these positions, please contact me or another member of the RFS Governing Council through the AMA Department of Resident and Fellow Services (DRFS). You might want to contact your state and specialty societies for assistance with your campaign. A booklet, Tips on Running a Successful Campaign, is available from the DRFS. To register for the Annual Meeting and submit your application, send a statement of interest and a curriculum vitae to the DRFS by April 28.
An overview of the schedule of events for the 2000 Annual Meeting was provided in last week's Resident Physician Forum. For additional information on the Annual Meeting or on the RFS Governing Council, please contact the DRFS at (312) 464-4751; fax (312) 464-5845 or send an e-mail to gloria_robertson{at}ama-assn.org. Applications are available on the Web at: http://www.ama-assn.org/mem-data/special/rps/amarps/elecapp.htm.
