As we start the new year and reflect on the past, I am thrilled to report AMIA has had a great 2022. Despite the challenges of inflation, market losses, and uncertainty, our organization is strong.
AMIA’s 2022 Annual Symposium was the second-most attended in AMIA’s history! The conference brought together more than 2,400 enthusiastic informaticians from 49 states and 31 countries. The meeting featured an engaging opening session panel on leveraging consumer data for health promotion, the new and entertaining Informatics Debates, the conclusion of the inaugural AI Evaluation Showcase highlighting comprehensive evaluations of AI solutions, and an inspiring closing keynote on informatics for accessibility. The energy was palpable, leaving us all with the knowledge that AMIA is defining the future of informatics.
In addition to fostering high-quality informatics science, our priorities in 2022 were growth, diversity, and maintaining a solid financial footing during difficult times. We’ve experienced growth in both individual and organizational membership. Our individual memberships grew to 5,585, and we’ve seen substantial growth in our organizational memberships, adding five new health systems and 13 corporate members, with individuals from these institutions actively engaging in all aspects of AMIA’s activities. AMIA’s staff, led by CEO
Tanya Tolpegin, has achieved substantial improvements in operational efficiency. The work of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, under the leadership of Tiffani Bright, has been extraordinary. The Annual Symposium featured 38 scientific, thought-leadership, and networking activities related to DEI. AMIA is now collecting robust sociodemographic data that will allow us to track progress over time. Additionally, I am thankful for the members of the Board and the Finance and Investment committee, overseen by chair Dr. Daniel Wu, who have guided us toward a balanced budget for 2023. With discipline and prioritization, AMIA has been able to sustain and nurture our core activities and launch new initiatives, including the 25 x 5 Documentation Reduction Task Force and AMIA Health Informatics Certification (AHIC), despite substantial financial headwinds.
I could not be more grateful for the engagement of members like you. To all who participated in our three scientific meetings, numerous virtual events, 22 working groups, or 15 committees, I thank you. We look forward to engaging and spending time with members at the 2023 AMIA meetings: Informatics Summit in Seattle, WA, March 13-16; Clinical Informatics Conference in Chicago, IL, May 23-25; and Annual Symposium in New Orleans, LA, November 11-15, 2023. We have heard members’ health and safety concerns about meeting locations. While relocation is not logistically or financially feasible due to steep cancellation fees and availability of sites that meet our needs, our meeting chairs and leaders remain committed to continuing and improving the options for virtual participation for AMIA’s conferences. There are so many reasons our members may not be able to attend a meeting in person or fully engage, and accessibility is a key priority for 2023. Look for exciting changes to enhance access to individuals with a variety of disabilities and access challenges!
In 2023, I have asked our AMIA leadership to focus on growth, communication, and ownership. As our field of informatics is inherently interdisciplinary, there is substantial overlap with activities of professional societies of our component disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and clinical medicine. In the coming year, we will look for opportunities to forge strategic partnerships with such organizations and to promote activities that benefit AMIA and our partners. I look to form technical and clinical tasks forces to identify opportunities. Please contact me if you are interested in participating.
Transparency and communication are also top priorities. AMIA leaders will continue to make themselves available in person at AMIA meetings, and new links on AMIA.org allow you to contact us directly. Board meeting minutes are posted on the AMIA website, and AMIA Board members will offer office hours in early 2023. Stay tuned for details! Finally, I challenge all AMIA members to own the success of our organization. Participate in our working groups and attend our virtual and in-person events! We have revived new member orientations at our meetings, and if you have any questions about how to get involved, do not hesitate to contact our staff, board directors, or committee leaders. Contact information is available through the AMIA member directory.
On a closing note, I would like to thank you as a member of AMIA, for making 2022 an outstanding year. AMIA is a member-driven organization. It is through the science, service, and community of the AMIA organization, important innovations in informatics happen. You are the future of AMIA and the future of informatics. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in 2023!
Gretchen Purcell Jackson, MD, PhD, FACS, FACMI, FAMIA
AMIA President and Board Chair