The AMA Senior Physicians Section (SPS) held its 2024 Interim Meeting on Friday, Nov. 8 in Orlando, Florida.
SPS education sessions
The SPS sponsored two education programs on Friday, Nov. 8. The first program, "The Latest Guidance on STIs and Immunizations for Older Adults," (PDF) featured Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, AMA Board of Trustees.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among older adults have more than doubled in the United States between 2000 and 2022 for adults aged 65 and older. The CDC and ACIP have been actively reviewing and updating guidelines regarding STIs and immunizations including the HPV vaccine. The program was moderated by Virginia (Ginny) Hall, chair of the SPS Governing Council.
A second education program, "The Connection Between Menopause, Cardiovascular Disease, and Health Disparities," (PDF) discussed the link between menopause and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The risks are increased by health disparities in management and treatment of patients’ menopause symptoms. Understanding the connection is essential for improving health outcomes among women, particularly the significant racial and ethnic disparities that currently exist.
Speakers were Helana Pietragallo, MD, obstetrics & gynecology, Allegheny Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Annabelle S. Volgman, MD, cardiology, director of the Rush Heart Center for Women, Chicago, Illinois.
SPS resolutions
The SPS Assembly meeting included a discussion of policy items relevant to senior physicians as well as senior patients. The SPS Governing Council reviewed House of Delegates (HOD) resolutions and reports related to senior physician issues, including SPS resolutions:
- Resolution 003: On the Ethics of Human Lifespan Prolongation
- Resolution 208: Medicare Part B Enrollment and Penalty Awareness
- Resolution 911: Adequate Masking and HPV Education for Health Care Workers (including those over age 45)
- Resolution 912: Assuring Representation of Older Age Adults in Clinical Trials
- Resolution 913: Sexually Transmitted Infections are on the Rise in Senior Population
For additional information on the 2024 SPS Interim meeting, visit the section's agenda and resources page.
