Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA)
The American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM) holds a vital seat within the AMA House of Delegates (HOD). As the principal organization representing the intersection of medicine and law, our delegation ensures that the unique perspective of dual-trained professionals is integrated into the national policy of the American medical profession.
The Importance of Our Delegation
The AMA House of Delegates is the “legislative body” of American medicine. By maintaining an active delegation, the ACLM is able to:
- Shape National Health Policy: Direct the AMA’s stance on medicolegal issues, expert witness testimony, and professional liability.
- Collaborate with Medical Societies: Work alongside other medical specialties to create a unified voice in Washington D.C. and state legislatures.
Legal Medicine Caucus
Established in 2025, the Legal Medicine Caucus was founded by the ACLM to unite delegates from across all states and specialties who share a common interest in health law and medicolegal advocacy.
The ACLM Delegation has been instrumental in passing key resolutions that protect physicians and improve the administration of justice. Most recently, our delegation successfully advocated for:
- Merit-Based Selection of Administrative Law Judges H-265.985 (A-24)
The Context: In recent years, changes at the federal level moved the appointment of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) from a competitive, merit-based process under the Office of Personnel Management to a direct appointment process by agency heads.
The Problem: ALJs preside over essential medicolegal matters, including Medicare reimbursement appeals, Social Security disability claims, and DEA licensure cases. Direct political appointments risk “politicizing” the bench and reducing the specialized expertise required to adjudicate complex medical-legal cases.
The ACLM/AMA Stance: Through this resolution, the AMA formally supports a return to a merit-based selection process. The policy advocates for ALJs to be selected based on their legal experience, judicial temperament, and specific knowledge of the healthcare regulatory environment, rather than political affiliation.
Why it Matters to You: Whether you are appealing a CMS audit or representing a client in a regulatory hearing, the impartiality and competence of the ALJ are the cornerstones of due process.
- Memorial for Richard Sloan Wilbur, MD, JD, FCLM
The ACLM Delegation and the AMA House of Delegates honored the passing of one of our most distinguished leaders, Dr. Richard Sloan Wilbur, with a formal memorial resolution. Dr. Wilbur was the embodiment of the “dual-degreed professional” and a pillar of the College.
The Memorial: The formal adoption of this memorial by the AMA House of Delegates signifies the respect he commanded across the entire medical profession. His contributions remain woven into the very policies the Delegation fights for today.
A Pioneer in Policy: Dr. Wilbur served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health and Environment and was a former CEO of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS).
Established in 2025, the Legal Medicine Caucus was founded by the ACLM to unite delegates from across all states and specialties who share a common interest in health law and medicolegal advocacy.
AMA Federation
The ACLM actively participates in the AMA Federation, a collaborative network of medical societies that presents a unified front to Congress and federal regulators. Through the power of “Sign-On Letters,” the ACLM has directly influenced critical federal healthcare policy:
- MACRA Stability (July 2024): We co-signed the Federation’s support for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), pushing for an annual, permanent inflationary payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).Recent Achievements & Advocacy Successes
- Medicare Payment Reform (Nov 2024): The ACLM joined the AMA-Federation in a high-priority letter urging Congress to reverse the scheduled 2.83% Medicare payment cuts. We advocated for a 1.8% payment increase to account for the rising costs of practicing medicine and to ensure practice sustainability.
Meet Your Delegates
The delegation is comprised of ACLM Fellows that are elected by the ACLM Fellow. They represent ACLM at the AMA Annual and Interim meetings.
Ellia Ciammaichella, DO, JD, FCLM
Delegate (2029) and Ex-Officio Board Member
Dr. Ciammaichella is a neurophysiatrist and passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. Combining her legal and medical expertise, she champions patient rights and equitable healthcare access. As a leader in disability medicine, Dr. Ciammaichella is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their maximum potential. She is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, brain injury medicine, and spinal cord injury medicine. Her unique understanding of common complications of injuries and anticipated quality of life allows her to create a framework for understanding the extent of damages. She is also on the editorial board of the journal Sexuality and Disability, and a Clinical Assistant Professor, at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine.
Glen McClain, MD, JD, FCLM
Alternate Delegate (2029)
Glen McClain, MD, JD, FCLM, is a first-year anesthesia resident at University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH. Throughout his medical and legal education, he has worked extensively in state and national health advocacy, including as the Vice-Speaker of the American Medical Association Medical Student Section. He currently chairs the Resident and Fellows Section of the Ohio State Medical Association and is involved in local advocacy in Cleveland.
Get Involved
Are you an ACLM member who is also a member of the AMA? Your dual membership is what grants the ACLM our seat in the House of Delegates.
- Join the AMA: If you are not already a member, please join the American Medical Association. A strong physician-attorney presence within the AMA is the only way to ensure health law is a priority at the national level.
- Join the Legal Medicine Caucus: If you attend AMA meetings, join our strategy sessions. The Caucus is where we build coalitions with other states and specialties to ensure our resolutions pass on the House floor. Contact the ACLM Delegation for more information.
- Propose a Resolution: If you identify a medicolegal issue that requires national AMA attention, contact our ACLM Delegation to discuss drafting a resolution.
Contact the Delegation: info@aclm.org