Guarding the Patient-Physician Relationship in the Midst of Seismic Change

The United States is in the midst of not one, but many epic changes in healthcare. Ongoing structural reform in payment and delivery models will transform the lives of 320 million Americans and directly affects one-fifth of the nation’s economy. Advances in genomic medicine, pharmaceutical science, health information technology and other areas will enable patients to live longer, healthier, happier lives. Central to the success of these many changes is the preservation of a patient-physician relationship, which is built on mutual trust and respect.

Steven J. Stack, M.D. is the 170th President of the American Medical Association (AMA), the national organization dedicated to empowering the nation’s physicians to continually provide safer, higher quality, and more efficient care to patients and communities. Dr. Stack is the first emergency physician and youngest AMA President since 1854, and he is reflective of the AMA's diverse representation and inspiring strategic vision to improve health outcomes for the nation, transform medical education, and support physicians in sustainable and fulfilling practices. A student of the Classics and a nationally recognized expert in health policy and health information technology, Dr. Stack will explore the imperatives for health system reform undertaken with the patient-physician relationship at its core.