AMA-CMA relationship

February 21, 2019

Dear Members:

As physicians, we know the issues confronting the profession and health care can transcend borders, and that our collective advocacy efforts can have a real impact. For this reason, it’s important our provincial and national associations work together to meet your needs and advance better health care.

Today, we’re pleased to announce that the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association are establishing a new partnership, which is outlined in a principle-based Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Through the MOU, we’ve established a process to align our member-engagement activities and partner on joint initiatives that advance our shared priorities. A key feature of the MOU is a commitment to spend a portion of the CMA dues collected in Alberta on these initiatives in areas of common interest, including:

• Healthy physician work environments
• Wellness and prevention of burnout
• Diversity and gender equity
• Physician leadership
• Health care innovation
• Indigenous health
• Informatics
• Preparing physicians for the future
• Supporting students and resident physicians

Please note that conjoint membership is not required under the MOU. AMA members will be asked for input on this matter in the near future as we prepare for a session at our Representative Forum in March.

We’re proud to be formally acknowledging the strength and importance of the AMA-CMA relationship with this new MOU and will be sharing more details soon. If you have any questions or comments in the meantime, you can:

• Email us at the addresses listed below, if you would like to receive a reply;
• Share your perspectives with colleagues on the AMA member-only Discussion Board or the CMA’s new community engagement platform (member login required for both); or
• Comment publicly below on this President’s Letter.

We look forward to the opportunities ahead of us and to working side-by-side with Alberta members on the issues that matter to you.

Warm regards,

Dr. Alison Clarke, AMA President
president@albertadoctors.org

Dr. Gigi Osler, CMA President
gigi.osler@cma.ca