Doctor associations are organizations of medical professionals that provide their members with a platform to discuss issues, share research and present papers. They also advocate on behalf of their membership and often act as liaison between physicians and other medical professionals or government officials. They may also publish newsletters, books or journals and offer professional development programs. They often include societies for specific medical conditions or procedures and support fellowships for training doctors to become experts in their field.
The first doctor association in the United States was established in 1847 and was called the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA had its own newspaper, the AMA Record, and published the book, Rules of Conduct for Physicians. The AMA had many goals, including scientific advancement, standards for medical education, a program of ethics and improved public health. It created a judicial council to deal with ethical issues and a set of standards for hospital residency training.
In the 19th century, the AMA became one of the most prominent medical organizations in the world. It lobbied for social entities, such as the Civil Rights Act and voting rights for African Americans. The AMA also contributed to Medicare legislation. The AMA also had one of the largest political lobbying budgets in the country.
The AMA has a number of committees and task forces that focus on women in medicine, racial justice, LGBT healthcare and more. It also offers leadership certification and mentorship programs for women in medicine, a networking alliance that brings together women across specialties and a series of awards to honor outstanding achievements by women.
In addition to advocacy, the AMA provides its members with practice tools and services including the journal JAMA and the Current Procedural Terminology, an internationally recognized system of standardized terms for medical procedures used for billing purposes. It also sponsors the Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee, a panel of 29 physicians, mostly specialists, who help determine how much the federal government should pay for different physician specialty labor in Medicare prices.
Despite its long and rich history, the AAMC has experienced its fair share of challenges in its mission to serve patients and advance medical knowledge. During this time of uncertainty, the AAMC remains dedicated to its core mission of representing physicians with a strong, unified voice and removing obstacles that hinder patient care. Its strategic plan takes a clear-eyed perspective of the environment, defines priorities and goals, sets agreement around intended outcomes, and charts an effective course for the future. The AAMC is proud to be an essential partner in the quest for improved health and well-being.