American Medical Women's Association:

The Vision and Voice of Women in Medicine Since 1915

Committees & Working Groups

COMMITTEES

Committee Chairs. Chairs of all committees are appointed by the President-Elect and serve at the pleasure of the Board. 

 

STANDING COMMITTEES

AMWA has four Standing Committees: Executive, Governance, Finance & Audit and American Women's Hospital Service. These and other standing committees, consist of two or more Directors, may be designated and appointed by a resolution adopted by a majority of Directors in office, and shall have the powers and duties specified in the Bylaws or in such resolution.

The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of five (5) members: the President, who shall act as Committee Chairman; the President-Elect; the Immediate Past President; the Secretary and the Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall have and exercise the authority of the Board of Directors.

The Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall consist of five (5) members: The Treasurer, who shall act as Committee Chairman; the President and three (3) members appointed by the President. The Finance Committee shall assist the Board of Directors in discharging its oversight responsibilities relating to accounting; financial reporting; financial practices of AMWA; annual budget and outside auditor qualifications, independence and ongoing performance. The Finance Committee regularly reviews the financial affairs of AMWA and makes recommendations to the AMWA Treasurer and Board of Directors. In concert with AMWA Headquarters, considers proposed items of expenditures and prepares and submits a budget for the ensuing year to the Board of Directors at the interim meeting. Reviews the results of the audit; assures that the audit recommendations are appropriately addressed; assures auditors independence from management; serve as liaison between management and independent auditors.  Meeting Information:  The Finance Committee meets the last Wednesday of every month.

The Governance Committee. The Governance Committee consists of six (6) members. The Board of Directors shall appoint the Chair and the members of the Governance Committee, having determined their qualifications. Members of the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and for such term or terms as the Board may determine. The Governance Committee shall assist the Board of Directors in planning; annual review of committee and task group needs; Board orientation and education; composition of the Board including recruitment and nomination of candidates for elected office; leadership succession, Board evaluation; and policies and bylaws.

The American Women's Hospitals Service (AWHS) Committee. In keeping with AMWA's mission to improve care to the medically underserved, AWHS, a project of the AMWA Foundation, provides on-going funding to small, community based, non- profit clinics and hospitals that give care to the medically underserved. It also continues to identify additional clinics and projects for the poor that receive limited financial support, are staffed and directed by women physicians and focus on medical care for all with the emphasis on the care of women and children. It regularly reviews its commitment to clinics and hospitals it supports attempting to provide funds to clinics that give the most direct patient care. AWHS also provides funding to women medical students and residents who travel to medically underserved areas in the U.S. and abroad to work in approved Program/CMEs that care for the medically underserved.

The AWHS Committee shall consist of at least six (6) members including two Directors of the Board. The Board of Directors shall appoint the Chair and the members of the AWHS Committee, having determined their qualifications. Members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and for such term or terms as the Board may determine. The AWHS Committee shall be responsible for selecting projects to sponsor, within its budget of available funds, to deliver clinical services in underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad and shall solicit funds to support these projects. The AWHS contributions and expenditures shall be reported as part of the AMWA budget and the investment of AWHS reserves shall be managed by AMWA's investment manager.

AMWA WORKING GROUPS

The chairs and members of these Working Groups are appointed by and serve the President. Each Working Group keeps minutes of their meetings and reports to the Board. Chairs establish meeting times for the full year, in concert with the AMWA Executive Director and disseminate those dates and times to committee members. Chairs prepare a meeting agenda to be sent to members prior to each call and will arrange for meeting minutes or "Action Items" to be kept and sent to the ED who will distribute to the AMWA BODs. Committee minutes/ Action Items will also be kept at AMWA Headquarters and included in Annual and Interim Meeting Board books. Working Group meetings will not be staffed by AMWA management but will assist with the work of the committees as requested by the Chairs. Email associatedirector@amwa-doc.org to indicate your interest in a working group.

 

Membership Committee 
The Membership Committee is responsible for recruitment and retention programs, recommendations to the Board on membership types and criteria as well as monitoring the membership process with Headquarters.  The Membership Committee will determine, monitor, and strengthen AMWA's initiatives and services with member input. Member Benefits Include:  Advocacy, Mentoring, Networking, Career Development, Leadership Opportunities, Committees and Working Groups, Global and International Opportunities, Fellowships, Grants, Scholarships, Public Health Initiatives, Education & Expertise, Speakers Bureau, Community, Resources, and Awards.  Additional duties include reviewing and approving meeting minutes, reviewing expired memberships, exit survey results, new members, and member benefits.  
Meeting Information:  The Membership Committee meets on the first Friday of every month at 3pm EST.  Email associatedirector@amwa-doc.org if you would like to be part of this committee.
    
Public Relations Committee
The public relations committee (PRC) will support the AMWA Board in its responsibility to enhance AMWA's public standing.  This will include the creation, maintenance and distribution of a content and communications strategy for relaying information to AMWA members and the public throughout the calendar year.  The duties of this committee/working group will include, but are not limited to website, email communications including Newsletters, Newsflash, and Connections, online communities including the AMWA blog, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Linked In, SERMO, and Doximity, Videos, Marketing, and Corporate Sponsors.  The PRC will form a Social Media Subcommittee to address the needs of AMWA's growing online communities. 
Meeting Information:  The Public Relations Committee meets on the last Friday of every month at 5pm EST.  Email Co-Chair Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla fhaffizu@aol.com  if you would like to be part of this committee.
   
Mentoring Task Force
 

The AMWA mentoring task force aims to create cohesive and structured mentoring relationships between AMWA physicians, residents, and medical students.  The mentoring task force coordinates mentor-mentee relationships and matches them not only based on specialty or academic interests, but also based more broadly on their personal and professional background. The mentoring task force ensures development and progression of AMWA's mentoring program and ensures the success of mentor-mentee relationships. Please email programming@amwa-student.org if you are interested in participating in the mentoring task force. 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting/Program. The Annual Meeting/Program Committee works with Headquarters to plan events surrounding the Annual Meeting. This Committee makes a recommendation to the Board on what organization to align with for the Annual Meeting, identifiers speakers/guests to invite and plans other events as needed.

Archives. Responsible for the collection and proper maintenance of essential historical documents of AMWA, either in the National Office or in a safe repository designated by the Board of Directors (currently at Archives and Special Collections on Women in Medicine, Drexel University); the collection and preservation of historical material pertaining to women in medicine; and the preparation of exhibits and other educational activities.

Awards Committee. Administers all awards presented by AMWA except as otherwise provided in other committee charges. Develops procedures for the administration of all AMWA awards and considers researches and recommends new awards; develops procedures for selecting the recipients of awards granted by AMWA to ensure continuity, uniformity, and procedural consistency in the selection process. The committee submits its recommendations for awards to the Board of Directors for approval.

Fundraising. This committee works with AMWA Staff to seek new fundraising opportunities and collaborations for AMWA Board of Directors consideration.

Gender Equity Task Force. The American Medical Women's Association Gender Equity Task Force (AMWA GETF) strives to accomplish gender equity as a fact of life in society, and to engage in activities, action and collaborations pursuant to this goal, beginning with the healthcare industry of which women physicians are one component.

Global and International Outreach.  Each member of AMWA holds a Membership in the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA).  The global and international outreach committee maintains and develops opportunities and relationships for and among medical women worldwide.  

Policy/Advocacy. Informs members of public issues of interest to AMWA; informs the Board of Directors of proposed federal or significant state legislation related to women in the areas of medical care, health and welfare; and represents the AMWA before legislative and administrative agencies.

Senior Physicians. Provides educational and social opportunities to senior members of the Association; provides ongoing education about medical Program facing physicians treating the elderly; utilizes the expertise of senior members in the activities of the Association; encourages networking between senior members and mentoring between senior members and medical students; and advises the Career Development Committee on issues of importance to senior members.

The Women's Health Working Group. The American Medical Women’s Association has always placed Women’s Health Issues as a priority.  Many of the prior Women’s Health projects have made an impact on education and healthcare delivery in Women’s Health. From the AWHS international clinics to the Reproductive Health and Breast Care Curricula to the Women’s Health Textbook and CME courses of the 90’s, women’s health has been at the forefront in the AMWA mission, and we have been active in speaking out in the policy arena for Universal Healthcare as a Women’s Health issue.  In the ensuing years, the group’s focus has been primarily in creating a web based repository of women’s health educational and curricular materials through the Sex and Gender Women’s Health Collaborative (formerly called the Advancing Women’s Health Initiative).  Click here to learn more about AMWA's Sex and Gender Women's Health Collaborative and get involved!