We are the AMA
We are the AMA when we work together:
- Caring for patients.
- Advocating for quality health care.
- Providing expert medical advice.
- Learning, teaching and advancing medical education.
- Managing our businesses.
- Exemplifying professional standards.
- Supporting each other and the medical profession.
Below are some of the ways you can engage with the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association and become an active part of your association.
From community advocacy to AMA governance (Representative Forum, Board of Directors and committees) to participation on a national level: get involved and tell us what issues are important to you and your fellow resident physicians.
Emerging Leaders in Health Promotion Grant Program
Do you have a great health promotion idea? The AMA's Health Issues Council wants to hear about it!
The HIC has committed funds to support a grant program for health advocacy initiatives of medical students and resident physicians. A partnership between the AMA, HIC, medical student associations and the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA), the grant is intended to:
- Promote development of the physician's role as advocate for healthy populations.
- Provide experience in health promotion as integral to medical practice.
- Facilitate growth of leadership and advocacy skills in a mentored environment.
Grant amounts are flexible, with a minimum of $1,000 per grant.
Learn more about the health promotion grant program
PARA delegates to the AMA RF
Two resident physician representatives from the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta are eligible to attend the RF and have voting privileges. These representatives are elected or appointed by PARA.
The RF is the ultimate authority of the AMA. RF provides direction to the Board of Directors and has over 125 physician member delegates representing:
- Sections of medicine
- provincial zones
- AMA past presidents
- the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta
- universities
- PARA
- medical students
Meet your current PARA delegates to RF
Catch up on RF reports and resolutions
PARA observers on the AMA Board of Directors
A resident physician representative is an observer (non-voting) at meetings of the AMA Board of Directors.
The board develops and implements policy, as advised by the RF. The 10 directors are elected by and from the members of the RF.
Officers of the board include the president, president-elect and immediate past president. The general membership elects the president-elect, who goes on to become president and then immediate past president. Each term is for one year.
Meet your current observer to the AMA Board of Directors
PARA representatives on AMA committees
Committee activities offer you the opportunity to get involved and provide input. Through AMA initiatives, members speak out for:
- Patients and quality health care.
- Physicians.
- A provincial medical consensus on health care.
To volunteer, please contact your AMA PARA representative on the RF. If more than one resident physician volunteers for the same position, your representative will organize a selection-and-voting process before forwarding the name of the volunteer to the AMA.
Standing committees with PARA representatives
- Constitution and Bylaws
- Fees Advisory
- Financial Audit
- Health Issues Council
- Nominating
Advisory committees with PARA representatives
- Committee on Achievement Awards
- Physician and Family Support Program Advisory Committee
Learn more about AMA committees
Resident physicians and the Canadian Medical Association
Don’t forget: The AMA is a provincial division of the Canadian Medical Association. Your membership entitles you to the benefits, services and advocacy of both associations.
The CMA learns about resident physician concerns through the national residents’ association, which has representation on the CMA Board of Directors and its five core committees.
The CMA unites the voice of the medical profession in Canada. It draws on the passion, knowledge and skill of its tens of thousands of members to advocate for a healthy population and a vibrant medical profession.
Address new challenges in health care
Medical innovation, new technologies and big data bring challenges and opportunities, and the CMA is facing them head on. Play your part in improving health care by contributing to grassroots and national initiatives. As a member, you can take on issues that matter by joining our CMA Health Advocates.
Bring a patient perspective
The CMA is committed to supporting its members' efforts to empower and care for their patients. They’re working to bring a patient perspective to everything they do — to strengthen and enrich their advocacy work, like seniors’ care and to help develop policies that resonate within and beyond the profession.
Engage with stakeholders across the medical community
The CMA connects physicians, physicians-in-training, patients and medical community partners across Canada to expand knowledge and influence. You can get involved by contributing to the CMA Health Summit, Communities of Interest or the Ambassador Program initiatives.
Help build a more vibrant medical profession
The CMA is partnering with physicians and physicians-in-training across Canada to improve health care performance and build a strong future for medical culture and professionalism. The CMA makes it easier for its members to connect with colleagues to address critical health concerns. The CMA is pressing forward on policies and programs that will help maintain health, well-being and professional satisfaction.
- Engage with CMA and help shape CMA Policy
- Visit cma.ca and click Get Involved in the main menu to learn about additional ways you can engage with the CMA.
CMA physician leadership resources
Achieve clinical excellence with virtual care tools, clinical resources, professional development courses and innovation grants provided by CMA Joule, a CMA company. Joule offers member incentives that can save you thousands of dollars in subscription fees every year. Leadership resources include access to Physician Leadership Institute in-house courses and much more.
