By Dr. Adriana Bonansea-Frances

Every day, physicians advocate for our patients in the exam room, at the bedside, and in our communities. Yet some of the most important decisions affecting the practice of medicine are made far beyond the walls of our offices and hospitals. From reimbursement and prior authorization to scope of practice, physician workforce shortages, and access to care, the policies that shape medicine in Florida are often decided through organized physician advocacy.

That is why the Florida Medical Association Annual Meeting, taking place July 31-August 2 at the Hilton Orlando, is such an important event for physicians across our state.

Each year, physicians from county and specialty medical societies gather at the FMA Annual Meeting to conduct the business of organized medicine through the House of Delegates. The House of Delegates is where physicians debate issues, set policy, and determine the advocacy priorities of the Florida Medical Association for the year ahead.

Business is introduced into the House of Delegates through resolutions. A resolution is much more than a formal proposal. It is an opportunity for a physician to identify a problem affecting patients or the profession and offer a solution. Many of the policies that have shaped the FMA’s advocacy efforts began with one physician deciding to raise a concern and put it in writing.

This year, the Miami-Dade County Medical Association is honored to lead the South Florida Caucus, comprised of delegates from the Broward County Medical Association, the Miami-Dade County Medical Association, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society. Together, the Caucus reviews proposed resolutions and determines which ones should move forward to the FMA House of Delegates as priorities for South Florida physicians and the patients we serve.

I am grateful to the physicians across South Florida who took the time to identify the challenges facing our profession and our patients. The South Florida Caucus is reviewing proposals and will soon submit their resolutions to the Florida Medical Association House of Delegates for consideration this year.

These resolutions reflect the priorities of physicians in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. They address issues that matter deeply to our profession and to the communities we serve. Now, as we prepare for the Florida Medical Association Annual Meeting, we look forward to participating in the debate, sharing the South Florida perspective, and working with colleagues from across the state to shape meaningful policy.

The House of Delegates is where ideas become action. Through discussion, amendment, and debate, resolutions can become official FMA policy and ultimately influence legislation, regulation, and the future direction of healthcare in Florida. The work of advocacy does not end when a resolution is submitted; in many ways, that is only the beginning.

Advocacy is not optional in medicine. If physicians do not help shape healthcare policy, others will do it for us. Our voices, informed by experience and grounded in the needs of our patients, are essential.

For physicians practicing in Miami-Dade County, I invite you to join the Miami-Dade County Medical Association. Through the MDCMA, you can strengthen your voice, engage in meaningful advocacy, and help shape the future of medicine in our community and throughout Florida.

Dr. Adriana Bonansea-Frances is President, Miami-Dade County Medical Association.