The Association is organized as a representative democracy, thus each member and related organization can have an impact on its agenda, policies and programs.
Policy Making Procedures
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees meets four times a year and is responsible for making policy decisions, amending the OMA Bylaws, electing new members and approving the annual operating budget.
The state is divided into 20 trustee districts, made up of one or more county medical societies. Some of the less populated counties have been combined with other geographically close societies to become a single trustee district.
Other members of the board include the association officers, past presidents, AMA delegation and trustees elected to represent the interests of state specialty societies, young physicians, rural physicians, hospital and health system based physicians, physician assistants, residents and medical students.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee, consisting of the general officers and two member-at-large positions, meets ten times a year. Officers are elected annually by voting members (those in active practice, governmental services, residency/fellowship programs and life members).
The Executive Committee is responsible for hiring the executive vice president, maintaining the headquarters building, preparing the budget and overseeing financial transactions. It also makes interim policy decisions, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees.
Committees and Sections
Committees and Sections develop the majority of OMA policy in reports and recommendations submitted to the Board of Trustees. Committee appointments are made annually by the president after soliciting suggestions and/or volunteers from the leadership and general membership. A list of all committees can be found later in this section.
Finally, the Board may order a binding vote of the membership on any policy question. While this formal mechanism is seldom used, the OMA has ordered three advisory referenda on controversial policy issues in the last 15 years. The results of such membership polls are used to guide the house in establishing or adjusting OMA policy.