AMA Update

AMA Update is your source for physician-focused news. Hear from physicians and other experts on trending public health concerns, practice issues, and more. Because who’s doing the talking matters.

AMA Update is your source for physician-focused news. Hear from physicians and other experts on trending public health concerns, practice issues, and more. Because who’s doing the talking matters.


All Episodes

AMA Update 559: Tuberculosis in Kansas, ebola virus update, and rising egg prices due to bird flu outbreak 2025

What is going on with eggs in the U.S.? Is there a new strain of bird flu? How do you treat TB? How is TB transmitted? What is the most recent Ebola outbreak? Today’s episode covers tuberculosis cases in the U.S., the outbreak of TB in Kansas City, and the emergence of a new bird flu strain H5N9. AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, also breaks down the ongoing Ebola situation in Uganda. She highlights the implications of these health threats, outlines the importance of infectious disease monitoring, virus tracking, and timely public health response strategies. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🗺️ CDC current avian flu map: https://ama-assn.co/avianflu_map

💻 For bird flu news visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC H5N1 Bird Flu Current Situation Summary (CDC H5N1 technical report): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_H5N1

🚨 If the CDC issues new health warning, get the latest CDC health alert 2024 via the Health Alert Network (HAN CDC website): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_HAN

✈️ Check the latest CDC travel advisory: https://ama-assn.co/CDC_TravelAdvisory

AMA Update 558: Medical mythbuster Joel Bervell, MD, on how to teach kids about medicine and address misinformation

Is social media useful in medicine? What is health misinformation? How is social media impacting health care? How to address medical misinformation online? Science communicator and medical mythbuster, Joel Bervell, MD, discusses what motivated him to become a doctor and shares details for his new STEM show on Youtube «The Doctor Is In,» which is designed to inspire young children to pursue careers in healthcare. Dr. Bervell also shares insights on how social media is changing medicine, and encourages other physicians to follow their passions in creating impactful content. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🎬 Watch “The Doctor Is In” here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDoctorIsInShow

💊 Get more medical mythbusting on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelbervell/

AMA Update 557: AMA Joy in Medicine criteria for 2025 and the importance of recognizing physician well-being efforts

What is Joy in Medicine? Why are there mental health questions on physician licensure? What is the goal of the AMA Joy in Medicine Recognition Program? Kevin Hopkins, MD, physician director of health system engagement at the American Medical Association, explains the ins and outs of the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program. Dr. Hopkins shares examples from past AMA Joy in Medicine honorees, tips for health system leaders, and recent changes for the 2025 application cycle, including updates on medical credentialing language and teamwork assessment. AMA CXO Todd Unger hosts. 

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

💌 Looking for the AMA Joy in Medicine application? Submit an Intent to Apply form for the 2025 Joy in Medicine Program: https://ama-assn.co/JoyInMedicine_Application

🏆 Check out AMA’s Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program: https://ama-assn.co/JoyInMedicine_Program

AMA Update 556: New bird flu outbreak in California, HMPV and COVID: Why is everyone sick in 2025?

Should I be worried about bird flu? How dangerous is the new COVID variant? How does bird flu spread to humans? Is bird flu going to become a pandemic? What is HMPV? AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses the «mystery virus» human metapneumovirus, that HMPV is not new, and shares trends in seasonal influenza and COVID-19 cases. Also covering the latest bird flu news of H5N9 on a California duck farm, as well as a raw pet food recall and the dangers of H5N1 for dogs and cats. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

😷 CDC Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel: https://ama-assn.co/CDC_RespiratoryIllnesses

🤧 Will there be a respiratory virus surge? CDC respiratory virus season information: https://ama-assn.co/CDC_RespiratoryOutlooks

🦠 Looking for info on human metapneumovirus or HMPV symptoms? Get CDC HMPV resources here: https://ama-assn.co/CDC_HMPV

AMA Update 555: Burnout gender gap: Burnout in men vs. women and how to reduce physician burnout

Which physician has the highest burnout? How does gender affect burnout? Why is mental health important for healthcare workers? Our guest, Mary Pan, MD, family medicine physician and chief wellness officer at the Washington Permanente Medical Group, discusses the ongoing issue of burnout among women physicians, the persistent gender gap in burnout rates, and outlines innovative health care support systems like physician mentorship and peer support to improve the well-being of doctors. Dr. Pan shares insights from the AMA’s Mini-Z Survey, which shows that while burnout rates are decreasing, women still experience higher levels of burnout compared to men—especially when it comes to work done outside of regular hours. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

📉 Find more physician burnout statistics in the AMA’s survey: https://ama-assn.co/Burnout_rates2024

📊 Read more about the gender differences in burnout: https://ama-assn.co/Burnout_gendergap

🏆 Check out AMA’s Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program: https://ama-assn.co/JoyInMedicine

🗺️ AMA Joy in Medicine Roadmap: https://ama-assn.co/JoyInMedicine_Roadmap

AMA Update 554: How to improve value-based care: Population health management strategies and benefits of CPT codes

What is value-based care? How does value-based care work? How to optimize value-based care? What is population health management? What is cost control in healthcare? Our guest is Lori Prestesater, senior vice president of Health Solutions at the American Medical Association, discusses the evolution of value-based care delivery and the the three pillars of value-based care: population health and quality management, cost management, and alternative payment models. She shares CPT code news and examples of CPT code changes in healthcare payment models, like the rise of digitally enabled care during the COVID pandemic for telehealth and telemedicine services. AMA CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🔢 For medical billing resources like CPT lookup, medical code list and more, visit: https://ama-assn.co/CPT

🗓️ CPT codes 2024: https://ama-assn.co/CPTcodes

✍️ CPT editorial panel: https://ama-assn.co/CPT_panel

❓ Have questions about CPT codes in medical billing? Get CPT code FAQ here: https://ama-assn.co/CPT_FAQ

AMA Update 553: Ozempic study on weight loss drugs side effects, FDA red dye 3 ban, flu cases and norovirus vaccine

What does Ozempic do? What are the side effects of Ozempic? Is bird flu still around? Is there a vaccine for norovirus? Is red dye 3 banned in US? AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses high rates of COVID, RSV, and seasonal flu, as well as the recent CDC alert regarding hospital testing and treatments for bird flu. Also covering the FDA ban on red dye no. 3, plus new research on how GLP-1 drugs could lower the risk of 42 health conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, substance abuse disorders and more. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🗺️ CDC current avian flu map: https://ama-assn.co/avianflu_map

💻 For bird flu news visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC H5N1 Bird Flu Current Situation Summary (CDC H5N1 technical report): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_H5N1

AMA Update 552: Why lifestyle medicine is growing so fast and the benefits of a lifestyle medicine certification

How to be healthy in the new year: What is lifestyle medicine? Does lifestyle medicine work? What are the benefits of lifestyle medicine? How to become a lifestyle medicine doctor? Our guest and chair of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA, answers the question: What is lifestyle medicine and how it can benefit you? AMA CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 551: California wildfire smoke and how to improve air quality during wildfires, plus norovirus treatments

How bad is flu in 2025? What mask is best for wildfires? Is norovirus still surging? How do you get rid of a stomach virus? AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses the health impacts of wildfires and the harmful effects of wildfire smoke. Also covering the latest viral infections, like the surge in norovirus cases, and respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and flu. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🦠 Looking for a COVID map? Get the latest CDC COVID Tracker map, charts, and data: https://ama-assn.co/CDC_COVID

🧪 Check #FDA COVID test expiration date extensions here: https://ama-assn.co/COVID_testing

📍 Googling «COVID testing near me»? Find where to get COVID test: https://ama-assn.co/COVID_tests