AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, with this panel of AMA Advocacy Resource Center attorneys continues their conversation on how the AMA is working with national, state and specialty medical societies to address these key legislative priorities. How are the key issues of prior authorization, scope of practice, and physician wellness playing out? What themes are emerging and how are they different than those of previous years?  

Months into the 2025 state legislative sessions, how are the key issues of prior authorization, scope of practice, and physician wellness playing out? What themes are emerging and how are they different than those of previous years?  Led by AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, this panel of AMA Advocacy Resource Center attorneys talks about how the AMA is working with national, state and specialty medical societies to address these key legislative priorities.

Join this continued discussion on how to the AMA is working to address maternal mortality in the U.S.. The conversation is led by Dr. Willie Underwood III, Urologist and immediate past chair of the AMA board of trustees. Panelists include experts Maryanne C. Bombaugh, MD, MBA, MSc, member of the AMA Council on Legislation, Michael Rakotz, MD, vice president of Health Outcomes at the AMA, and AMA advocacy health equity director Jennifer Brown, JD.

With the U.S. having the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates among developed countries, the AMA continues to sound the alarm to policymakers that a multi-faceted approach is needed, one which includes addressing the leading causes of preventable maternal deaths and investing in the physician workforce to improve access to maternity care. Dr. Willie Underwood III, Urologist and immediate past chair of the board of trustees, leads this panel discussion with experts Maryanne C. Bombaugh, MD, MBA, MSc, member of the AMA Council on Legislation, Michael Rakotz, MD, vice president of Health Outcomes at the AMA, and AMA advocacy health equity director Jennifer Brown, JD.

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, editor-in-chief of JAMA and JAMA Network, and Stephen Parodi, MD, executive vice president of The Permanente Federation continue their conversation on how medical journals and research are evolving to build trust, meet needs of physicians, and leverage AI.

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, editor-in-chief of JAMA and JAMA Network, and Stephen Parodi, MD, executive vice president of The Permanente Federation discuss how medical journals and research are evolving to build trust, meet needs of physicians, and leverage AI.

In part two of this series, physicians continue their discussion on the recent updates the Federation of State Medical Boards made to its recommendations relating to opioids and pain care. Physicians from the Federation include Humayun Chaudhry, DO, president and CEO, Sarvam TerKonda, MD, past chair, and Sherif Zaafran, MD. They join Dr. Michael Suk, Chair of the AMA Board of Trustees to discuss the updates.

Melissa Garretson, MD, member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, and Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, explore the challenges adolescents face online and how physicians can support their overall health. From screen time to sleep deprivation, Dr. Garretson shares strategies to help manage unhealthy social media use.

A one-size-fits-all approach to caring for patients with pain is not a prudent way to manage care. In this episode, physicians discuss the recent updates the Federation of State Medical Boards made to its recommendations relating to opioids and pain care. Physicians from the Federation include Humayun Chaudhry, DO, president and CEO, Sarvam TerKonda, MD, past chair, and Sherif Zaafran, MD. They join Dr. Michael Suk, Chair of the AMA Board of Trustees to discuss the updates.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved cannabis-derived medications for several indications. In this episode, family practitioner Randy Easterling, MD, highlights the current regulatory status of FDA-approved cannabis-derived medications and their approved uses. 

Board-certified physician at Stanford Medicine, Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, and professor and director of Addiction Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, Kevin Gray, MD, discuss cannabis use and its effects on mental health and psychiatric disorders, including psychosocial outcomes from use and potentiation of psychiatric disorders. Common perceptions of use of cannabis for mental health are also discussed. 

Pain expert Samer Narouze, MD, PhD talks about the pharmacology of cannabis, including the chemical structures, mechanism of action in the body, and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. This episode also addresses clinical information related to potential drug-drug interactions and adverse events from use of these products. 

Learn about potential for cannabis addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and overdose. Board-certified physician at Stanford Medicine, Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, reviews screening, models of care, and treatment for cannabis use disorder. 

As opioid overdose deaths surpass 100,000 annually in the U.S., the crisis has reached a devastating peak, and physicians play a critical role in addressing it. AMA President-Elect Bobby Mukkamala, MD, chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Taskforce explores the latest data, policy shifts, and clinical strategies that can help doctors balance pain management with addiction prevention. This episode was created in collaboration with the PermanenteDocs Chat podcast, and is hosted by family physician Alex McDonald, MD.

Ob-Gyn and addiction medicine physician Tricia Wright, MD, MS, DFASAM examines cannabis use during pregnancy, including why pregnant persons might use cannabis, the effects of prenatal exposure, and how to talk with pregnant patients about cannabis use. 

Physicians Samer Narouze, MD, PhD and Ali Zarrabi, MD, focus on the intersection of cannabis use and pain, reviewing the scientific literature. They also highlight adverse events and challenges to utilization of cannabis for pain. 

As access to cannabis products increases in the United States, there are potential health implications for children and adolescents. Maria H. Rahmandar, MD, physician at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, explores the risk factors, screening strategies, and impacts that cannabis use may have in this population. 

Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, immediate past chair of the AMA board of trustees and advocate for physician wellbeing, joins Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to discuss the traditional barriers to overcoming the stigma of mental health in the medical community, how things are changing for the better, and resources for medical professionals in need. This episode was created in collaboration with the PermanenteDocs Chat podcast, and is hosted by family physician Alex McDonald, MD.

In the second part of this conversation, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, and AMA experts continue their discussion on the upcoming physician shortage and how to fix it. Experts include, Dr. John Andrews, vice president of graduate medical education innovations; senior attorney Alexis Pierce; and Christopher Sherin, assistant director in the Division of Congressional Affairs. 

Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, is joined by AMA experts to discuss the impending physician shortage and how to fix it. Experts from the AMA include, Dr. John Andrews, vice president of graduate medical education innovations; senior attorney Alexis Pierce; and Christopher Sherin, assistant director in the Division of Congressional Affairs.  📄 Compendium of graduate medical education initiatives: https://www.ama-assn.org/education/improve-gme/compendium-graduate-medical-education-initiatives