| |
October 2002
Volume 66 |
Number 10
|
| |
|
|
New AMA Council Member Beefs
Up Anesthesiology's Influence
James
F. Arens, M.D., Chair
ASA Delegation to AMA House of Delegates
|
On June 19, 2002, in Chicago, Illinois, C. Alvin Head,
M.D., was elected to the Council on Scientific Affairs of
the American Medical Association (AMA). This is a big year
for Dr. Head because on August 1, 2002, he assumed the Chairmanship
of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Medical College
of Georgia in Augusta.
The AMA Council on Scientific Affairs is a 12-member council
that writes reports concerning important scientific issues
currently affecting physicians. As an example, at the June
meeting, the council presented reports on pain management,
standards, generic drugs and geriatric pharmacotherapy.
These reports are carefully completed, very accurate and
are welcomed by the medical community.
Dr. Head had previous experience on this council, serving
as a resident member in 1991-94. Dr. Head served as an alternate
delegate to AMA from ASA in 1994-00 and as a delegate from
2000 to the present.
Dr. Head graduated with an A.S. from Georgia State University
as a Respiratory Therapist and with a B.S. from the same
university. He received his M.D. from Emory University in
Atlanta. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at
Emory and was chief resident during his final year. He then
became a Research and Clinical Fellow at Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston. He served as an instructor in anesthesia
at Harvard Medical School for five years and was appointed
an assistant professor (scientist track) in 2000. Since
1994, he has served as the Medical Director of Respiratory
Care Services at Massachusetts General.
His research interests have focused on nitric oxide and
currently he is studying the effects of nitric oxide on
sickle hemoglobin. He has been the co-principal investigator
receiving National Institutes of Health funding as well
as funding from pharmaceutical companies.
Election to any office or council in AMA is a huge accomplishment.
The House of Delegates is composed of delegates representing:
| State Medical Associations |
330
|
| National Medical Specialty Organizations |
190
|
| Medical Student Regional Delegates |
21
|
| Sections |
6
|
| Service |
5
|
| TOTAL |
552
|
To win, one has to "work" the House. Dr. Head
was sponsored by ASA with strong support from the Massachusetts
Medical Society and the New England Caucus. Rebecca J. Patchin,
M.D., a California anesthesiologist specializing in pain
management and the Chair of the Council on Medical Education,
was Dr. Head's campaign manager and went above and beyond
in assuring Dr. Head's election. The entire Section Council
as well as many other anesthesiologists from other delegations
campaigned effectively. The opposition was strong with two
incumbents and three others competing for three positions.
Just as in all phases of politics, incumbents have a big
advantage, and both incumbents were successful. His major
competition was a Texas pathologist. However, because Dr.
Head did an excellent job in presenting his credentials
before many delegations, he was successful.
This election victory increased ASA's visibility in AMA.
AMA will have to change if it is to remain a viable entity.
Medicine needs an organization to speak in unison on certain
issues. On some issues, various medical specialties will
have differing views, and the reason for the disparity is
often obvious. We must not allow the opponents to use a
"divide and conquer" strategy, however.
Our speciality will greatly benefit from having Dr. Head
in a seat on an important council with the clear understanding
that he represents ASA.
Presently, Dr. Patchin serves on the Council on Medical
Education – but as a representative from the California
Medical Association. A year from now, however, she will
run for a seat on the AMA Board of Trustees as a candidate
from ASA with strong support from the California delegation.
ASA is getting a baptism by fire in entering AMA politics.
With candidates possessing the backgrounds of Al and Rebecca,
though, hopefully the spoils will belong to the victor.
Congratulations, Dr. Head, on your appointment as Professor
and Chair at the Medical College of Georgia and for your
election to the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs.
|
|
James
F. Arens, M.D., is Dr. R. Lee Clark Professor and Chair,
Department of Anesthesiology, Division on Anesthesiology
and Critical Care, University of Texas M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. He was ASA President
in 1989. |
|
return to top
|