The Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP) recently attended the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates from June 5-10. Hosted in Chicago, Ill., this event brought nearly 700 physician and medical student delegates together to discuss emerging issues related to the public health of patients, communities, and healthcare professionals.

A highlight of the event was an education session titled Physician Wellness – Resilience in Action, featuring WPHP Executive Medical Director and Federation of State Physicians Health Program Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Chris Bundy, as a panelist. Hosted by the AMA Academic Physicians Section and Organized Medical Staff Section, this presentation covered the following topics:

• Explored key drivers of physician distress
• Explained the barriers and supports that impact successful physician re-entry and long-term career stability
• Discussed evidence-informed wellness and reintegration strategies to strengthen return to practice pathways and improve physician retention within healthcare systems and organized medicine

The other esteemed panelists for this session were George Abraham, MD, MPH, MACP, FIDSA, FRCP, Immediate Past Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards, Emeritus President of the American College of Physicians, and Chief of Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., and Tracey Ziegler, MBA, BSN, RN, LifeGuard Program Director at the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. The session was moderated by Heather Farley, MD, MHCDS, Group Vice President of Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability at AMA.

This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for WPHP to convene with AMA leadership, including Michael Tutty, PhD, MHA, FACMPE, Senior Vice President of the Career Advancement Collective at AMA; Daniel Blaney-Koen, JD, Senior Legislative Attorney at AMA; and Dr. Farley. Dr. Bundy also connected with Barbara Schneidman, MD, MPH, WPHP Board of Directors Chair and Past Vice President of Medical Education at AMA.

In addition to meeting colleagues from across the nation, WPHP also engaged with local Washington healthcare leadership. At the Organization of State Medical Association Presidents (OSMAP) Membership Meeting, WPHP met with Jennifer Hanscom, CEO of the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), and Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, WSMA President and WSMA Delegate to AMA.

Alongside Ray Hsiao, MD, Chief of Psychiatry and Mental Behavioral Health Services at Seattle Children’s, Vice Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and American Psychiatric Association Speaker of the House; Matthew Grierson, MD, Medical Director of Sound Spine and Joint Physicians and WSMA House of Delegates Speaker of the House; and Dr. Bush, WPHP attended the AMA Candidates Reception to campaign for Dave Cundiff, MD, MPH‘s election to the AMA Council on Science and Public Health. Dr. Cundiff is a Washington-based physician specializing in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine.

WPHP is grateful for the opportunity to have shared insights and exchanged ideas on physician health and well-being with our colleagues at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. We look forward to applying what we have learned as we continue to advance the health and well-being of Washington’s medical community.

Featured photo (from left to right): George Abraham, MD, MPH, MACP, FIDSA, FRCP; Chris Bundy, MD, MPH; Tracey Ziegler, MBA, BSN, RN; Heather Farley, MD, MHCDS.

Photo (from left to right): Matthew Grierson, MD; Chris Bundy, MD, MPH; Bridget Bush, MD, FASA.

Photo (from left to right): Ray Hsiao, MD; Chris Bundy, MD, MPH.

Photo (from left to right): Chris Bundy, MD, MPH; Barbara Schneidman, MD, MPH.