A Message from Chair Chris Hancock, MD
The FMA Resident and Fellow Section held elections in conjunction with the FMA Annual Meeting. Following are the newly elected Governing Council members for 2005-2006: Chris Hancock, M.D., Chair; Sharik Rathur, M.D., Vice Chair; Daryl Eber, M.D.; Joel Judah, M.D.; Julia Jenkins, M.D.; Joanna Drowos, M.D.; Lieutenant Janet West, M.D., Marine Corps; and Katherine J. Walsh, M.D.

There are still vacancies on the Resident and Fellow Section Governing Council that we will work to fill throughout the coming year. Contact FMA Director of Membership Ginnie Moore at gmoore@medone.org or call (800) 762-0233 for more information.

My First Month in Practice: What They Never Taught in Residency
Jeff González, MD
It has been over a month now since my first day as a private practice physician. After completing my gastroenterology fellowship at Jackson Memorial/U. of Miami, I joined a seven physician single specialty group in Miami. As a member of an established group I have had the privilege of learning the ropes from my partners who have already gone through the transition. They have fine tuned the office and have gone through the ups and downs of establishing a practice. I have found this to be invaluable. To read this full article, go to the FMA Quarterly magazine online at www.fmaonline.org/pubs/quarterly/oct05_up.asp.

Legislative Update
The House and Senate were in Tallahassee for committee meetings the week of Jan. 9. FMA legislative staff met with individual legislators to discuss a number of issues.

To read the latest legislative bulletin, visit www.fmaonline.org/legis.

Applying for a Florida Medical License: Understanding the Process and Ways to Make It Quick and Successful
If you or prospective members of your group are one of the 3,000 physicians that apply each year for a Florida medical license, the following link is a "must read." www.fmaonline.org/pubs/quarterly/april_apply.asp

Council and Committee Positions
We are currently accepting applications for many council and committee positions. Position descriptions and application deadlines can be found below.

Council on Legislation
Deadline: February 15
The Council on Legislation is composed of 10 physicians, one resident, one student, and one member from AMPAC and the AMA Alliance, it addresses federal legislation and AMA policies that deal with legislative issues. The Council meets six times per year. This is a one-year position chosen by the Board of Trustees. The application can be found on the AMA Web site.

International Medical Graduates (IMG)
Deadline: February 15
The Resident representative serves as a voting member of the IMG Section Governing Council. The IMG Section represents and advocates for IMGs within the AMA. The RFS Governing Council nominates candidates to run in the IMG election. The election is conducted on the AMA Web site and voters are AMA members who have designated themselves members of the IMG Section. This is a two-year term. The application can be found on the AMA Web site.

Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC)
Deadline: February 15
The MAC was established to provide a strong voice within the AMA on minority health and physician professional issues; and strengthen the AMA's ability to represent and respond to the concerns of minority physicians and patients. In particular, the MAC is focused on increasing diversity in the profession, eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities, and increasing the participation of minority physicians in the AMA. The MAC represents its membership through its voting seat in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) and its 9-member Governing Council (GC). Nominees must demonstrate interest and/or experience in one or more of the following:

• Improving minority health and eliminating racial and ethnic health care disparities.
• Promoting diversity in the medical profession.
• Influencing policy and programs through leadership or involvement in organized medicine.

Applications can be found on the AMA Web site.

Women Physicians Congress (WPC)
Deadline: February 15
The AMA WPC is dedicated to:

• Providing a dedicated forum for networking, mentoring, advocacy, and leadership development.
• Advancing advocacy on/understanding of gender-specific medicine.
• Identifying/addressing professional issues affecting women in the profession.
• Increasing female membership, participation, and leadership in the AMA.
• Providing advice and counsel to the AMA on issues of special interest to women physicians and medical students.

Applications can be found on the AMA Web site.

Membership Committee
Deadline: February 1
This committee works primarily on membership and marketing activities. The group will share ideas and form strategies to increase retention and recruitment within the AMA Resident and Fellow Section (RFS). In addition, this group will assist in developing communication and outreach vehicles to increase resident and fellow participation in the AMA. The application can be found on the AMA Web site.

Public Health Committee
Deadline: February 1
This committee deals with issues affecting public health both domestically and internationally. The committee will assist the RFS Governing council in developing policy positions, writing reports, and educating residents and fellow members for the AMA about critical public health issues. The committee will also help residents develop grassroots programs to tackle public health issues in their local communities. Finally, the committee will work with its counterpart in the Medical Student Section to maintain a database of international rotations for medical students and residents. The application can be found on the AMA Web site.