The ongoing and likely continued impact of COVID-19 has led to a change in plans for the 171st Annual ISMA Convention, scheduled for Sept. 11-13. 

On June 14, the ISMA Board of Trustees (BOT) voted unanimously to cancel the in-person event to protect the health and safety of members, their families and their patients. Instead, ISMA will convene a limited virtual meeting of the House of Delegates to conduct essential business and transition leadership.

The BOT also voted to table any new resolutions until 2021. 

“Although policymaking will not occur at this year’s limited annual meeting, your board stands ready to address policy issues as they arise and report back to the House when appropriate,” said BOT Chair J. Elizabeth Struble, MD, and Speaker Andrew Trobridge, MD, in a joint letter. “As the current pandemic situation continues to evolve, ISMA’s physician leaders and staff will be working very hard to ensure that the needs of our members are being met.”

BOT members discussed various factors that led to their decision, such as the high-risk age group of many attendees and the potential for a second wave of coronavirus cases this fall. The AMA canceled its in-person annual meeting and consideration of resolutions in June, and other Midwestern state medical associations have done the same.

District meetings and elections 

The BOT also eliminated this year’s in-person district meetings, which were originally set for spring and summer 2020. Pursuant to the bylaws, ISMA will conduct electronic elections for each district to elect a district president, trustee and alternate trustee, as needed. 

“Your voice is important, now more than ever,” Dr. Struble and Dr. Trobridge said in the letter. “Please share any urgent pandemic advocacy or other issues with your board trustees for consideration on behalf of your fellow physicians and their patients.”

Read the entire letter from Drs. Struble and Trobridge here, and look for additional communications from ISMA on convention and district meeting plans.