Founded in 1885, the American Medical Association (AMA) is a doctor organization that represents doctors nationwide on the most important professional and public health issues. The AMA’s mission is to promote the art and science of medicine, protect the public health and improve the medical profession. AMA members work together through a democratic policy-making process and an ethical code to address the most critical health care issues facing patients and society. In addition, the AMA provides members with practice tools and services to help them succeed in their careers. The AMA also promotes the highest standards of patient safety and ethical behavior.
During the early years of the AMA, physician clubs were the gathering places for physicians to discuss clinical and professional matters. The first club was Kappa Lambda, which was formed in 1818. The purpose of the club was to tame the violent tendencies of some physicians and to avoid duels, a popular pastime at that time. The AMA was built on the foundation of Kappa Lambda.
A few years later, the AMA took on a more political character and began to aggressively lobby for legislation related to the practice of medicine. It also developed a code of ethics that was adopted in 1921. The AMA’s code is still used to guide doctors in their practices today.
In the 1960s, the AMA urged its members to participate in a national vaccination program using the Sabin oral vaccine against polio. It also launched a war on smoking, encouraging physicians to help in a program to reduce and control the use of tobacco products. It lobbied for laws prohibiting the disbursement of tobacco samples, and it passed resolutions opposing acts of discrimination against AIDS patients and supporting legislation to protect patient-physician confidentiality.
The AMA’s efforts to promote the careers of women in medicine also gained momentum in the 1970s. It drafted a pamphlet for high school guidance counselors called “So You Want to Be a Doctor?” The AMA also established scholarship and loan programs, junior branches, awards and mentorships for women in medicine. These efforts helped overturn prevailing assumptions about women’s intellectual abilities and their traditional responsibilities as wives and mothers.
As of 2020, the AMA has about 216,100 active members who pay an annual membership fee. The membership fees cover the cost of the AMA’s activities in areas of professional and public health, including medical education, research and advocacy. Members can receive a wide range of benefits, from free access to the JAMA Network for physicians and their staff to AMA-negotiated discounts on student loan refinance for residents. The AMA also offers a variety of insurance plans to assist with retirement planning and providing coverage for family members. Its members have the right to vote on all matters pertaining to the AMA’s policies. Every AMA policy is assigned a letter prefix and number that identifies it within the organization. Policy decisions are made through the AMA House of Delegates and the AMA Board of Trustees.