The American Medical Association (AMA) is an association of doctors and health care professionals. Its mission is to advance the art and science of medicine and improve the public’s health. It publishes the Journal of the American Medical Association and a list of Physician Specialty Codes, a standard system for identifying medical specialties in the U.S. The association’s leadership makes policy decisions through a democratic process by the House of Delegates. Its guidelines for corporate relationships and Internet products reflect AMA’s mission.
The European Private Doctor Association (EPDA) promotes best medical practices through networking, training events, and case study discussions. It is an alumni association of the Geneva Health Institute and is open to international physicians. Members of EPDA practice a holistic approach to health care, measuring health outcomes using both medical and social criteria to improve patient wellbeing. Ultimately, they aim to improve patient care by addressing the quality of life across the spectrum. The FDA also provides topical resources for family practitioners, including a database of the most commonly-used drugs in Europe.
Members of the AMA were traditional medical doctors. Its members fought for a high standard in medical education. Many medical schools continued to turn out unprepared doctors, largely due to a lack of educational standards. While many schools accepted all students, many did not. The AMA also sought to prevent the popularity of “quack” medicines, which were widely available prior to the development of modern drugs. These medicines contained secret ingredients and had no clinical value, but were widely used before the advent of modern drugs.
Founded in 1908, the Korean Adventist Church began medical mission work in 1908. The church’s first two decades were spent promoting friendship among Adventist doctors. They worked to strengthen the Adventist faith, and hoped that their mission as physicians would inspire others. In the years since, the Adventist Doctor Association has been actively involved in medical missionary work throughout Asia. And, the ADA also organizes academic seminars. So, what exactly is the AMA?
The National Hispanic Medical Association was formed in 1994 and represents over 50,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the U.S. The group aims to improve the health of Hispanics and eliminate health disparities. In addition to supporting this group, the National Hispanic Health Foundation has established a scholarship program that awards up to $1.3 million to outstanding students. It also supports programs that support the public’s health. If you have a passion for health, consider supporting the AAMC.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the AMA was still opposed to a national health insurance program. It continued to lobby against such plans, and it lobbied the Roosevelt administration to get a plan into place for federal employees to receive medical care. The AMA continued to oppose national health insurance, however, and created the Bureau of Medical Economics in 1931. It spoke out against any plans that would change doctor compensation. The AMA also opposed the introduction of compulsory insurance for the indigent.