AMA Annual Meeting Marred by Election Violation Charge

— President-elect candidate Willarda Edwards accused of vote-trading, denies any wrongdoing

by Joyce Frieden, Washington Editor, �鶹��ý June 13, 2022

This article is a collaboration between �鶹��ý and:

CHICAGO -- The usual rhythm and gentle camaraderie of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates annual meeting was broken Monday morning when a controversy erupted over the conduct of one of the association's candidates for president-elect.

"It is with a heavy heart that I read the following announcement," House Speaker Bruce Scott, MD, said to the more than 600 assembled delegates. Scott said that a complaint of a possible campaign violation had been filed with the association Election Committee against AMA board of trustees member Willarda Edwards, MD, MBA, one of three candidates in the upcoming election for president-elect, which will be held Tuesday morning.

"Committee members interviewed the complainant and multiple other individuals said to have knowledge of the circumstances. In addition to conducting multiple interviews, the committee reviewed evidence that was deemed credible and corroborated that a campaign violation did in fact occur," he continued. The complaint alleged that in violation of the AMA's election rules, a "quid pro quo" had been arranged between the House of Delegates' Southeast delegation -- which includes delegates from Edwards' home state of Maryland as well as from 17 other states and territories -- and another delegation.

"The other delegation would support Dr. Edwards' current candidacy, and Southeast would support a future candidate from the other delegation," Scott explained. "Furthermore, Dr. Edwards herself acted to take advantage of this arrangement." He said he was presenting the report to the House, and that "the House -- you -- are the final arbiter with your votes."

Edwards then spoke to the delegates, denying any wrongdoing. "I do not believe that I did engage in campaign violations," she said. "I've been in the House of Delegates for 30 years, and you know me as a process person -- a person who truly believes in the process and trying to follow the complexities of our election campaign." She told the delegates that she was "very available to answer any questions you may have regarding this 'misunderstanding,' as I would say."

In an interview following the announcement, Edwards affirmed to �鶹��ý that she was still a candidate for president-elect. "I am totally innocent of any charges regarding going outside the rules of the AMA. This is my fifth election, and if anyone could say anyone followed the rules, it was Willarda Edwards."

She said she thought the misunderstanding occurred when someone misinterpreted something she said to them regarding the election process. "I believe that that's what this issue stemmed from; I believe that that person misunderstood what my intent was, and whenever there has been any discussion about this issue of vote trading -- I don't engage in that conversation," Edwards said. "That person can definitely tell you that I did not do that." She added, "I hope that people, if they were in support of me before, they will continue to support me in the election tomorrow morning."

AMA board of trustees member Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, another president-elect candidate, declined to comment on the announcement. William Reha, MD, a delegate from the Medical Society of Virginia who is planning to run for the vice speaker's seat next year, called the controversy "very sad."

Correction: An earlier version of this article had the word "seemed" instead of "was deemed" in Scott's third paragraph quote.

Joyce Frieden oversees �鶹��ý’s Washington coverage, including stories about Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court, healthcare trade associations, and federal agencies. She has 35 years of experience covering health policy.