12.18.23 OMA Board Book

The rules of the AMA’s HOD explicitly states the following: 1. The organization (association) must meet one of the following criteria: • 1,000 or more AMA members; • At least 100 AMA members and that twenty percent (20%) of its physician members who are eligible for AMA membership are members of the AMA; OR • Have been represented in the House of Delegates at the 1990 Annual Meeting and that twenty percent (20%) of its physician members who are eligible for AMA membership are members of the AMA. Why is the OMA making these membership changes? One of the core strategic objectives of the OMA is to serve in advocacy roles for the patients we serve. To best represent our patients’ voice to drive legislative, policy, and practice changes, the seat at the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) that is held by the OMA is critical to maintain. 2. Physicians should comprise the majority of the voting membership of the organization. This change is necessary to ensure the continued representation of the OMA in the AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD). In 2013, the AMA recognized obesity as a disease and as such, the AMA is actively engaged in combatting the obesity epidemic in partnership with the OMA and other member organizations. The OMA’s leadership at the AMA is critical to achieve the OMA’s key advocacy objectives.

Hear more from Dr. Ethan Lazarus, the OMA’s HOD Representative:

PLACEHOLDER: Will add linked video of Dr. Lazarus here