2007 annual report

To our members and partners in the health of America

For more than 161 years, our American Medical Association (AMA) has pursued its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. Today, that longstanding commitment continues to inspire the AMA’s efforts to uphold the highest standards in patient care, practice management and professionalism.

In 2007, as the largest organization of physicians in the country, the AMA marked its eighth consecutive year of financial growth, with net operating results of $24.4 million. But financial performance is not our only measure of success; our success is the strength of our members’ accomplishments on behalf of our profession and the health of the public. We’re pleased to share some of their stories:

Gerald E. Harmon, MD, is a lifelong advocate for the uninsured, having spent a quarter-century caring for patients at a volunteer health clinic. That made him a natural fit for the role of local spokesman for the AMA’s “Voice for the Uninsured” campaign, a multimedia effort urging voters to consider the issue of the uninsured before heading to the polling place. The campaign to expand access to health care for all Americans will continue through 2008.

Cherie C. Cross, a medical student who brings incredible enthusiasm to all she does, is setting up health screening events in medically underserved neighborhoods. A scholarship from the AMA Foundation is helping her realize her dream of becoming a doctor, while involvement in her AMA student chapter is helping her chart the course of her career.

Anil Desai, MD, stood up to a hospital administration that repeatedly sought to wrestle control of medical issues away from its medical staff. The Litigation Center of the AMA and state medical societies joined forces with the medical staff and prevailed in a landmark legal case that has broad implications for the autonomy of physicians across the country. Today, Dr. Desai says he’s so proud of his professional organization that he’s sponsoring a portion of his colleagues’ AMA dues.

Alice Coombs, MD, who grew up in Compton, Calif., saw firsthand how racial and ethnic disparities in health care affected her family and community. Her experiences inspired her not only to become a physician but also to light the way for others to follow. Today, her involvement in the AMA is helping close the gaps in care for minority patients. And she’s opening the eyes of black and Latino schoolchildren to the fact that they, too, can become doctors.

Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, is bringing the quality of medical care in America to new heights. As part of a group of experts called the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement®, he is enabling doctors to measure scientifically how the care they provide matches up with evidencebased guidelines.

The art and science of medicine is ever changing, but the AMA’s commitment to its mission is steadfast. We see a bright future for American medicine: greater emphasis on prevention, wider use of health information technology, a more efficient health care system. Together, we can make this vision come alive. Together we are stronger.

Edward L. Langston, MD
AMA Chair

Peter W. Carmel, MD
AMA Finance Chair

Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA
AMA Executive Vice President Chief Executive Officer