In 2020, Texas physicians will hold the largest reins of power at the American Medical Association.
The AMA Board of Trustees last week chose Russell W.H. Kridel, MD, a facial plastic surgeon from Houston, as its new chair-elect. Dr. Kridel has been a board member since 2014 and served as secretary of the board last year. He will become chair following the AMA’s annual meeting in June 2020.
Dr. Kridel’s election follows the AMA House of Delegates’ choice of Sue Bailey, MD, an allergist from Fort Worth and former Texas Medical Association president, as the new AMA president-elect. She will be inaugurated as the AMA’s 175th president – and its sixth woman president – at the June 2020 annual meeting.
“These new positions give Texas incredible input and direction of the AMA as an organization,” said San Antonio pathologist David Henkes, MD, chair of the Texas Delegation to the AMA.
“Now is the time for Texans to further their influence in national health care policy by increasing membership and votes in the AMA. Texas has the largest state medical society in the country but still does not have the largest number of state delegates to the AMA. We need your help to further promote the policies of Texas and the TMA at the national level.”
The Texas influence extends beyond Drs. Kridel and Bailey.
Texas physicians continue to hold seats on the AMA Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs, Council on Legislation, Council on Long Range Planning & Development, Council on Medical Education, Council on Medical Service, and Council on Science & Public Health, and on the AMPAC Board of Directors. Physicians, residents, and medical students from Texas also serve in the leadership of numerous other AMA organizations.
Last Updated On
June 17, 2019
Originally Published On
June 17, 2019