The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal Jan 2019 Final 2 | Page 6

by CASEY L. PENN
A Changing of Seasons at AMS and at the Capitol
Predictions and Possibilities Related to the Society
and the Upcoming Legislative Session
“To everything
(turn, turn, turn)
There is a season
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every
purpose, under heaven”

– Pete Seeger
S
urrounded by the brilliant reds and golds of autumn at its peak, the Arkan-
sas Medical Society settled into a new season during its fall – and final –
meeting of the House of Delegates. From the rustic Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs,
Speaker of the House Gene Shelby, MD, moderated the vote that immediately eliminated the policy
making body that was established in 1875. The dissolution did not result from an impulse decision,
but followed after years of analysis, discussion, and reflection by faithful attendees and, by proxy,
the Society in full.
This change began during the 2017 AMS Annual Session when a committee was appointed to
analyze the relevance of the House of Delegates. The committee was chaired by Omar Atiq, MD, and
also included Drs. Shelby, Alan Wilson, Scott Cooper, and Steve Magie. At the 2018 Session, Dr. Atiq
shared the committee’s findings and recommendations, which included eliminating the House. After
discussion and additional recommendations related to the transferring of House responsibilities, at-
tending members voted to support the committee’s recommendations, which were then sent to the
Bylaws Committee to be formatted to share at the fall HOD meeting.
150 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY
VOLUME 115