As a doctor, you have many professional associations that help you get the best medical care and education. Some of these organizations are national, while others are regional or specific to a certain specialty. Your association helps you fight for medical care reform, protects your rights as a patient and gives you a voice in the political arena. Several of these groups are also involved in continuing education and certifying physicians. They can help you understand the latest health news and trends.
AMA has one of the largest lobbying groups for doctors, and it is a leader in the effort to tackle the biggest challenges facing medicine today. The group’s efforts have included lowering death rates from chronic diseases, improving access to affordable healthcare and fighting for equal pay for women. Whether you are a newly licensed physician or an experienced practitioner, the AMA can provide valuable resources to help you succeed in your career.
This powerful organization has its roots in a bloody duel between two Transylvania University graduates that took place in 1818. The event spurred the creation of a club that tamped down on duels and other violence among doctors. In the mid-1840s, members of this club, called Kappa Lambda, began meeting to discuss forming an organization that would be open to all physicians. That organization became the American Medical Association. Today, the AMA is one of the most respected organizations in the world.
The AMA is governed by a House of Delegates and a board of trustees in addition to its executive management. It publishes the AMA Code of Medical Ethics and maintains the AMA Physician Masterfile containing data on United States physicians. The AMA also created the Current Procedural Terminology coding system, which is used for documenting medical procedures.
It has long been the goal of the AMA to extend medical benefits to all citizens. It has had to battle discrimination over the years and it is still working toward equity for African Americans in particular.
According to Yamiche Alcindor, an NBC News reporter, the AMA has recently begun to grapple with racism in its past. She points out that until 2008, the AMA barred Black doctors from its hospitals and excluded them from the membership of some state and local medical societies.
The AMA has taken steps to rectify the past wrongs, and it is now one of the most influential lobbying groups for doctors. It is a powerhouse that advocates for its members in the courts and legislative bodies across the country. It is working to remove obstacles that interfere with patient care and lead the way in preventing diseases, confronting public health crises, and driving the future of medicine to tackle its biggest challenges. In the process, the AMA is coming to terms with its own racist past and making amends for its role in excluding Black physicians. That is an important story. We’ll continue to follow it here on NBC News.