The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with 271,660 members as of 2022.
The AMA is an organization that focuses on improving the health of people through a wide range of activities, including research and development, advocacy, education, and public service. Its members include physicians and medical students, as well as those involved in the business of health care.
Historically, the AMA was founded as a loose group of local and state medical associations in response to a lack of consistency in standards for medical education. They believed that medical schools tended to have curriculums that were more associated with ‘traditional’ healing arts, such as homeopathy, that did not adhere to scientifically-based medical practices and could have been detrimental to the health of patients.
In 1901, the AMA adopted a more national structure and elected a House of Delegates to decide the direction the association should take. In 1902, it became a nonprofit corporation, and its headquarters were moved to Chicago.
As the United States moved toward World War II, the AMA was instrumental in recruiting and coordinating doctors into the military. The association helped ensure that no Ohio communities were left without medical services because of drafted physicians.
The AMA has also been active in combatting discrimination and in promoting racial equality throughout the country, particularly in the medical field. The AMA has been at the forefront of initiatives to address racial inequalities and racism that affect the quality of medical care, and it has been an active member of the White House Commission on Racial and Ethnic Affairs since 2006.
Another aspect of the AMA’s long history of fighting for justice is its efforts to protect the rights of physicians. The AMA has been actively working to improve access to medical care, especially for poor and minority populations, by helping to pass laws that ensure that all patients have the right to choose their physician, and by educating the general public about health care options.
For example, the AMA works with other health care organizations to promote a patient-centered medical home model of care. This model seeks to provide high-quality, compassionate and comprehensive care to every patient at the highest medical standards possible.
In addition, the AMA has been an advocate for medical malpractice reform and for improving the quality of medical care. It is a leader in the fight to prevent medical errors and to promote safe and effective use of medications, diagnostic tests and surgery.
The AMA is also active in a number of other important areas, such as public health and women’s health. It is also a strong supporter of medical research, particularly biomedical research that advances the understanding of human health.
The AMA is also very active in the political arena, and its members have been very influential in shaping US policy on many issues related to health care. It has been an active supporter of the Affordable Care Act, which provides health insurance to millions of Americans, and it has been a strong supporter of Medicare and Medicaid, two of President Barack Obama’s most popular social welfare programs.