At its Nov. 1 meeting, the TMA Board of Trustees approved changes to the format of the 2026 Annual Meeting and House of Delegates (HOD) to encourage greater participation and engagement from members.

The event, set for May 2, has traditionally consisted of two components: the Annual Meeting, which takes place in the first half of the day and covers predominately business reports and award ceremonies; and the House of Delegates, the association’s policy-making body where delegates introduce, debate and enact resolutions that inform TMA’s governance and advocacy priorities.

Survey feedback received from 2025 delegates showed that members had a stronger interest in the House of Delegates portion of the day. Most desired more opportunities to discuss the subject matter of the resolutions and engage meaningfully on policy formation.

Based on this feedback, the Annual Meeting portion of the 2026 event will occur immediately following the Board of Trustees quarterly meeting on May 1. The change will allow more time for education sessions and deeper review of resolution subjects ahead of the House of Delegates. Agenda items transitioning to the Friday meeting include the informational reports from officers including the annual financial report, committees and outside organizations.

The day-long meeting on Saturday will see the most significant modifications. While attendees can still expect awards ceremonies, regional caucuses, the president’s installation and the House of Delegates, two new components will be added:

• Issues Forum: A policy-focused seminar featuring a deep-dive on two to three major health care issues affecting Tennessee physicians and patients. Thought leaders from various industries would be invited to participate in panel discussions to educate members on current and emerging topics, such as Medicaid financing, private equity, AI in healthcare or maternal health.
• Resolution Review Sessions: A cross-sectional convening of delegates designed to provide more time to review and discuss resolutions without the formality of the House. Delegates would be split into three groups to examine resolutions within an assigned category (e.g. public health, patient care, etc.). The purpose of these sessions is not to revise, amend or consolidate resolutions, but rather to provide an additional educational opportunity to help develop more representative policy outcomes.

The goal of these structural changes is to make TMA’s policy formation process more engaging and inclusive, and allow members who are not delegates to participate in the weekend and dialogue with colleagues on issues to be considered in the HOD. Starting in 2026, all TMA members— regardless of delegate status— may attend both the Issues Forum and Resolution Review Sessions; however, only credentialed delegates will be permitted to vote on resolutions on the House floor. These changes are designed to create more meaningful discussion and collaboration among our members.

Watch for future communications as we plan and share information about the Annual Meeting in the coming months. We appreciate your patience and support as we implement and refine our meeting format.