Russian American Medical Association

2002 Annual Report

Dear colleagues and friends!

I am happy to inform you that Russian American Medical Association was successfully formed this year. It is the first organization of Russian-speaking professionals in North America and we are very proud of that fact.

Mission
Russian American Medical Association (R-AMA) was created to facilitate and enable Russian American physicians and other health care professionals to excel in patient care, teaching and research, and to pursue their aspirations in professional, humanitarian and community affairs.

Motto
Excellence and Compassion

Vision
- Promote professional solidarity in the pursuit of excellence in patient care, teaching and research.
- Bring to American medicine the distinctive contributions from Russia.
- Advance the American creed of one nation under God, indivisible and with liberty and justice for all.

Values
- Respect for human dignity.
- Commitment to collegiality and ethical conduct.
- Promote the professional advancement of colleagues.
- Pursuit of excellence.
- Commitment to community service.

Main goals of R-AMA
- Education and Academic Excellence
- Humanitarian work
- Networking
- Representation

We work to enable members of R-AMA to:
- Provide the best patient care with compassion.
- Maintain the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
- Help patients to become fully informed and empowered partners.
- Maintain their professional pride in the practice of medicine.
- Advocate for professional freedom.
- Advance their knowledge through continuing medical education.
- Pursue careers in academics, research and administrative field
- Remain current and knowledgeable in contemporary and anticipated legislative and regulatory changes impacting on the practice of medicine.
- Assert equal protection in all their professional pursuits through collective advocacy.
- Promote vibrancy of the R-AMA by facilitating it to embrace change and teamwork, and subordinate personal interest in the pursuit of a shared vision.

We consider democratic principles to be of the paramount importance in the functioning of the Association.

Statistics
The Association has 48 full members from 21 states of the United States and Canada. We also have two honorary members in Russia and South Africa. The database of the Association includes more than 500 Russian-speaking physicians and other medical professionals.

Physicians are a majority of R-AMA members
In residency 22
Practicing 8
Professors 5
Researchers 6
Students 3
Nurses 1
Other medical professionals 3

By specialty:
Surgery 14
Internal Medicine/FP 20
Pediatrics 4
Psychiatry 5
OB/GYN 1
Other 4

Legal status
We adopted the Articles of Incorporation and the Code of Regulations of R-AMA and they were approved by the State of Ohio.

R-AMA received its Tax ID, opened a bank account and a line of credit.

I would like to underline the fact that our Association is not a political organization. We participate in legislative and political process but we DO NOT endorse or support any particular party, group, or political opinion.

Finances
Our finances will come from three main sources: membership fees and donations, sponsoring drug companies and medical equipment manufacturing companies, and fees from Association conferences and other activities. A financial report will be presented to members at each annual Conference and will be available to public per written request.

Plans
We plan to develop in many different directions:
An annual conference will be organized.
We will work on development of several R-AMA programs.
We will soon start a web site of the Association.
We will be working to attract new members and will inform you of all changes in R-AMA to the best of our abilities.

This was a very short report. I would like to thank all people who help us in our work. I am confident that next year will be very successful for R-AMA.

Boris Vinogradsky, MD
R-AMA President

General Surgery
Cleveland, OH