More than 300 physicians are voting members of the House of Delegates, the Medical Society of New Jersey’s top policy-making body. Other physicians may belong as non-voting members. The House of Delegates holds an annual meeting in April and May. All MSNJ boards, councils, committees, and sections report to the House.

The House is comprised of elected county medical society delegates (one delegate per 100 members or fraction on record at MSNJ). It also includes members of the MSNJ Board of Trustees; councilors; the New Jersey AMA delegation; the Council on Legislation; chairs of other councils; and delegates from the Organized Medical Staff Section, Resident and Fellows Section, Medical Student Section, International Medical Graduate Section, Section on Academic Medicine, and selected specialty societies.

Members wishing to have an idea or change adopted as MSNJ policy are encouraged to present their suggestion to their local county medical society. The county society, if it wishes, may then submit it as a resolution (see sample form for submitting resolution) at the next meeting of the House of Delegates. If adopted by the House and if it has nationwide appeal, it may be forwarded to the AMA for action.

In the case of a county society’s not agreeing with an idea or recommendation, the member may contact a delegate from the society and ask that he or she submit a resolution for consideration by the House. Ideas and action also are developed and sent to the House for consideration by boards, councils, committees, and sections.

For more information please phone 609.896.1766, ext. 244, or e-mail jcrutchley@msnj.org.