Where We Stand
Section: Governance
Policy: Values, Objectives and Core Purposes of OMA

Values, Objectives and Core Purposes of OMA

OMA adopts the values, objectives and core purposes as follows in keeping with the mission of serving and supporting physicians in their efforts to improve the health of Oregonians:

  1. To establish and maintain high ethical, educational and professional standards, the OMA shall:
    • Define and enforce the principles of medical ethics
    • Provide judgment and correction of breaches of ethical and professional standards by physicians in the practice of medicine
    • Encourage physicians to continually improve their knowledge and proficiency in medicine
    • Provide institutional accreditation for continuing medical education
    • Conduct review of professional liability claims against members

  2. To provide benefits and services to aid members in their professional pursuits, the OMA shall:
    • Sponsor and endorse group insurance programs
    • Develop and conduct programs to reduce the incidence of professional liability claims
    • Sponsor and conduct courses in practice management
    • Provide methods and mechanisms to assist physicians in distress
    • Provide business and professional services designed to assist members in their professional activities
    • Work to keep Oregon physicians-in-training in the state upon graduation by promoting appropriate venues and networking

  3. To enhance goodwill, cooperation and unity among physicians, OMA shall:
    • Maintain an effective and democratic policymaking body (House of Delegates), representative of county and specialty societies
    • Solicit membership from all styles of practice and philosophies; encourage participation and identify to all physicians and physicians-in-training, and physician assistants (PAs) the value of association membership
    • Provide timely dissemination of information pertinent to medical practice
    • Provide assistance to hospital medical staffs in identifying staff issues and provide leadership in addressing such issues
    • Provide appropriate meeting facilities to enhance an atmosphere for camaraderie, social intercourse and cooperation among members
    • Conduct meaningful liaison with county and specialty medical societies
    • Maintain worthwhile and effective committees composed of members representing geographic and specialty interests
    • Recognize and reward physicians for exceptional leadership and productive participation in association and community affairs

  4. To vigorously advocate the public’s and profession’s interest in matters of health and medicine, the OMA shall:
    • The Government Affairs Department shall maintain an effective relationship with the legislature and other governmental agencies to achieve the goals of the OMA
    • Sponsor an effective political action program (OMPAC)
    • Continuously link with other organizations and institutions having an interest in health care and medicine, and coordinate the political activities of physician medical organizations throughout the state to achieve synergy in advocating for our patients and our doctors
    • Encourage members to actively participate in the affairs of their communities
    • Enhance the health of the public by improving public health policies and practices
    • Work with public health professionals and agencies to improve and ensure the health and well-being of all Oregonians
    • Take an active leadership role in the area of patient safety

  5. To promote and defend the physician’s freedom to practice medicine in the patient’s best interest and to the patient’s best advantage, the OMA shall:
    • Provide individual consultation to its members
    • Serve as a resource to members in evaluating alternative methods of medical care delivery and the ramifications of participation in such systems
Adopted at the interim House of delegates, 2003.
Revised at the annual House of Delegates, 2011.


OMA reasserts its commitment to upholding its values as outlined within "Where We Stand" to its constituents and the broader Oregon community and further commits to communicating to its constituents and the Oregon public its stance on ongoing major changes in health policy in a timely, accessible, and transparent fashion, using means such as the OMA website, email, and social media outlets.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees, June 2017.

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