AMA President Dives into Blogosphere

Rohack's blog for the AMA "can only increase their level of engagement in the current health reform conversation," Pho says.

Rohack isn't just hoping to speak to fellow doctors or others who provide healthcare or make policies governing it. He also wants to speak to patients and the general public. "On the Road" is accessible to anyone, he says.

Some weeks, he will have one post, some weeks seven, he says. It depends on how much time he has, and doesn't have, sitting in airplanes "waiting on the tarmac."

Rohack is a bit worried that he may not have time. He already spends full days seeing about 20 patients a day when he is in clinic. Then there is other AMA business and his personal life. But he says it's important enough that he is going to try to find the time.

"It's supposed to be a recognition that as president of the AMA, one has the opportunity to be in meetings ranging from high schools, to colleges, to Congress to the White House, in rural areas and urban areas–the whole breadth of the U.S."

Rohack says that he will do all the writing himself, but yes, he will have an editor.  Someone in the AMA communications office who will make sure he doesn't misspeak.

A board-certified cardiologist, Rohack also serves as the director of the Center for Healthcare Policy and as the medical director for system improvement of the nonprofit Scott & White Health Plan.