Potential changes to the practice of rotating the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) presidency through provincial associations and the process for electing the president are among reforms being examined by the CMA's recently appointed Governance Review Task Force.
Although proposed changes to these procedures have been previously dismissed, CMA Chair, Dr. Louise Clouthier, and task force Chair, Dr. Dan O'Brien say there's now a need to review all facets of CMA's structure, which has essentially remained unchanged since it was formed in 1909. The 2 made the case for reforms during an information and consultation session Aug 19, prior to the CMA General Council in Vancouver.
Other elements of the review include the process for selecting representatives to the annual General Council and for appointing members to CMA's board of directors.
“Essentially, what we've asked the task force to do is look at how the organization is structured and how it functions, to make sure it meets the needs of the physician members,” Clouthier said in an interview.
The presidency is now determined on a complex, rotational basis among provincial associations, based on such factors as geographic location and the number of physicians within a province. Essentially, the provincial association that is next hosting CMA General Council elects the new president from among its members, and his or her appointment is ratified at the CMA annual meeting.
O'Brien said all facets of CMA's structure and operations are on the task force's table. It will make its recommendations for change at the CMA's 2008 annual meeting in Montréal. — Wayne Kondro, CMAJ
Footnotes
A longer version of this article was published at www.cmaj.ca on Aug. 20, 2007.