SMA Increases Support for ASA and PIT Leadership Conferences

With a mission to “Improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education”, the Southern Medical Association has always believed in fostering the professional development and growth of its young physicians and physicians in training. During her 2021-2022 term as SMA President, Dr. Donna Breen set forth an initiative to increase funding for awards, scholarships, and membership to further promote the education and support of future generations of physicians.

With the recent passage of an SMA Board resolution, the annual budget for SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly (ASA) and for the Physicians-in-Training (PIT) Leadership Conference was increased to $153,000. Drawn from SMA’s Research and Education Endowment Fund, these funds will allow for additional opportunities at these events and for the Association.

 “SMA understands that the young physicians and physicians-in-training are not only the future of our Association, but they are also the future of medicine,” SMA Executive Director Randy Glick said. “With the increase in these funds, we will be better able to invest heavily in these future leaders, as well as in our meetings as they are the engine that drives membership and sponsorship which are necessary for future growth.”

For SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly, the resolution provides $100,000 in support of the meeting itself and $18,600 allocated toward scholarships and monetary competition awards presented at the Assembly. This resolution also provides $25,000 in support of the Physicians-In-Training Leadership Conference and $9,400 in competition awards to be given at this meeting.

If you would like to contribute to SMA’s Research and Education Endowment Fund, please visit: https://sma.org/donation/. Your tax-deductible donation will continue the legacy of supporting today’s young physicians becoming tomorrow’s healthcare leaders and innovators.