AMWA's 96^th Annual Meeting was held on March 31-April 3, 2011 in Arlington, VA, in conjunction with the 19^th Annual Congress on Women's Health.  The meeting presented wonderful opportunities to network, mentor and collaborate on women's health issues and the advancement of women in medicine.  If you were unable to attend this year's meeting, here are some of the highlights!

The meeting opened with AMWA's Annual Advocacy Day, held in partnership with Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health.   The main issue focused on Title X funding, the federal grant program for family planning and reproductive health services for low-income and uninsured patients. In, Attendees participated in a two hour training session where they learned how to advocate on Title X and shared stories from patients prior to meeting with legislators on the Hill. 

Meeting attendees also enjoyed high quality CME sessions provided by the Congress, including topics such as reproductive health, cardiovascular health in women, controversies in mammography, obesity management, memory disorders, cervical cancer screening, and osteoporosis management - and a special session with Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin.  AMWA distributed 5000 patient education brochures on Vitamin D, which were developed in partnership with the Bone and Joint Decade and Healthy Women, a nonprofit organization serving as the nation's leading independent health information source for women.  (Take the Healthy Women Survey found later in this issue of NewsFlash to help us develop future patient education materials.) 

AMWA also held its second annual Networking Alliance meeting, bringing together over twenty professional organizations dedicated to advancing women in medicine.  This year's meeting focused on gender equity and featured presentations by AMWA's Gender Equity Co-chair, Dr. Linda Brodsky and renowned speaker, Sara Laschever, author of Women Don't Ask:  Negotiation and the Gender Divide. 

AMWA's signature event is the Awards Gala.  This year, AMWA's Presidential Award was presented to two exceptional women who have been integral in bringing women's health issues to the forefront: Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, Surgeon General, Vice Admiral USPHS and Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Additional women honored at the Gala included: Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD- Elizabeth Blackwell Award; Katherine Wisner, MD, MS- Women in Science Award; Saralyn Mark, MD-Lila A. Wallis Award; Beatrice Sachs, MD (posthumously)- Bertha Van Hoosen Award; Adrienne Clark- Anne C. Carter Leadership Award; Sarah Hagy- Camille Mermod Award.  

Dr. Mary Guinan was welcomed as the new President of AMWA and Dr. Eliza Chin was thanked for her service to the organization throughout her presidency and tenure on the Board.  AMWA also welcomed new members of the Board including:  Dr. Gayatri Devi, Incoming President, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, Secretary, Dr.'s Eleni Tousimis, Suzanne Harrison, and Kelli Cohen Fein as Directors and the new National Student President, Adrienne Clark.  AMWA continues to provide members with opportunities to network, develop, collaborate, learn, and gain recognition for their contributions to medicine.  For 96 years, AMWA members have lead the charge to promote gender equity in the field of medicine and to promote the unique needs of women's health care. 

Special thanks to The Dorskin Family Fund, PRN Media Health, Mary Ellen Morrow Photography and Morgan Stanley for their Annual Meeting support!  Check out and order pictures from the Annual Meeting here!