Physicians were elected during the 2017 AMA Annual Meeting to the office of president-elect and to seats on the AMA Board of Trustees.
The AMA House of Delegates (HOD)—gathered in Chicago—voted Barbara L. McAneny, MD, an oncologist from Albuquerque, New Mexico, into office as the Association’s president-elect.
“It is a deep honor and privilege to be elected a leader of an organization that is committed to serving as a strong physician voice and a dedicated patient advocate,” said Dr. McAneny. “The AMA will play a pivotal role in the changing health care environment as our nation confronts pressing health care issues. With vision and perseverance, I look forward to creating a brighter future for patients and the medical profession.”
Dr. McAneny (@BarbaraMcAneny) has served as a member of the AMA Board of Trustees since 2010 and as the board’s chair in 2015–2016. From 2009 to 2010, she chaired the AMA Council on Medical Service. Previously, she served on the board of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and was the society’s delegate to the HOD. In addition, she has held leadership roles with the New Mexico Medical Society, Greater Albuquerque Medical Association and New Mexico Chapter of the American College of Physicians.
A practicing oncologist, Dr. McAneny built a cancer center that provides comprehensive outpatient medical and radiation oncology care and imaging. She created a cancer medical home model, called Come Home, that has cut costs and improved patient outcomes.
Trustees elected
The newest members elected to the Board of Trustees include a Michigan otolaryngologist, an emergency medicine resident and a medical student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine.
S. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, an otolaryngologist who lives in Flint, Michigan, was elected. His parents were physician-immigrants. He previously served in the young physicians sections of the Michigan State Medical Society and the AMA as well as the Genesee County Medical Society. He chairs the board of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. That organization has led the response to the recent lead water crisis.
Ryan Ribeira, MD, MPH (@RyanRibeira), was elected as the resident-and-fellow representative on the AMA board. He is an emergency medicine resident at Stanford University. In 2013, he served a one-year term on the Board of Trustees as a medical student. Dr. Ribeira has served for nine years within the HOD, and also has served in roles with the California Medical Association and its political action committee.
“Now, more than ever, physicians need to speak with a united voice as we engage in the national discussion on health care,” Dr. Ribeira said in a statement. “I look forward to working with this incredible group of physicians as we advocate for our health care system and for our patients.”
Lastly, delegates elected Karthik V. Sarma to the Board of Trustees. Sarma is a dual degree candidate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UCLA’s medical school. His research focuses on the development of novel artificial intelligence techniques for medical applications. He has received several awards, recognitions and grants for his work, and has written more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications. Sarma previously served a one-year term on the AMA Council on Medical Service.
“The practice of medicine is in the midst of great change, and as the youngest member of the board, I look forward to bringing my experience and perspective on innovation to our discussions,” Sarma said in a statement. “I will support the AMA’s critical efforts to ensure that the continual changes in health policy, technology and the practice of medicine all lead to our common goal of improving the lives of our patients.”
Read more news coverage from the 2017 AMA Annual Meeting.
