1961 to 1979

1961
The American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC) is formed to represent physicians' and patients' interests in health care legislation

AMA recommends a nationwide vaccination using the Sabin oral vaccine against polio

AMA takes responsibility for updating Standard Classification of the Nomenclature of Disease

AMA establishes Continuing Education Advisory Committee to develop standards and mechanisms for the evaluation and accreditation of all programs of continuing medical education

1962
Dr. Edward Annis gives speech in Madison Square Garden, in response to President John F. Kennedy's speech on Medicare delivered in the same location.

AMA publishes the first edition of the Style Book; this becomes the American Medical Association Manual of Style in 1989

AMA holds the first National Congress on Mental Health

AMA establishes Committee on Medicine and Religion to encourage communication between physicians and clergy on the most effective care of patients

1963
AMA publishes first edition of Current Medical Terminology, a system of preferred and supplementary terms and descriptors for diseases

AMA Council on Medical Education and Hospitals becomes Council on Medical Education

AMA establishes the Committee on Environmental Health

1964
AMA adopts a report on the hazards of cigarette smoking

1965
AMA scientific meeting had largest attendance and is referred to by the New York Daily News as the "Biggest Doc Bash Ever"

AMA adopts a statement recognizing the dangers of air pollution and provides a medical basis for governmental action

AMA holds the first of seven Western Hemisphere Nutrition Congresses

AMA News becomes weekly publication

AMA membership exceeds 200,000

1966
AMA publishes first edition of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), a system of standardized terms for medical procedures used to facilitate documentation

AMA encourages physicians to promote exercise as a means to better health

AMA organizes and administers Vietnam Medical School Project (1966-1975)

1967
AMA coordinates Volunteer Physicians in Vietnam program administers Vietnam Medical School Project (1967-1973)

The United States Adopted Names Council is established to determine nonproprietary designations for chemical compounds

1968
AMA Physician's Recognition Award program is established, providing certificates to physicians who qualify by completing required amounts of continuing education

AMA adopts a statement on infant mortality with 14 recommendations for reducing the infant mortality rate in the US

1969
American Medical Association News becomes AMNews

1970
AMA urges the FAA to require all airlines to separate nonsmokers from smokers

AMA Center for Health Services Research and Development is established

AMA opens membership to osteopaths

1971
AMA creates Department of Field Service with twelve regional offices to provide on-site assistance to state and county offices

AMA publishes the first Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment

First edition of AMA Drug Evaluations published, a source of comparative evaluative information on drug therapy

AMA adopts report to Board of Trustees reviewing changes needed to increase the number of women physicians

1972
AMA opens membership to students and residents

AMA launches war on smoking, urging the government to reduce and control the use of tobacco products and supporting legislation prohibiting the disbursement of samples of tobacco

Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical Education established to accredit residency programs

1973
AMA urges physicians to cooperate in a national program to combat hypertension

1974
AMA presents recommendations to insure adequate protection of individuals used in human experimentation

1975
AMA establishes a National Commission on the cost of medical care

Woman's Auxiliary to the AMA becomes the AMA Auxiliary

AMA adopts resolution opposing sex discrimination in medical institutions

1976
AMA Section on Medical Schools established

AMA encourages handicapped access to public facilities

AMA endorses and encourages establishment of a permanent Office of Surgeon General of the US Public Health Service

1977
Liaison Committee on Continuing Medical Education established to accredit continuing medical education courses

AMA adopts resolution seeking an increase in participation of women physicians in organized medicine

AMA sponsors first meeting of the Resident Physicians Section

1978
AMA supports state legislation mandating the use of seat belts and other protection restraints for infants and children

AMA reorganizes House of Delegates to include representatives of national medical specialty societies

AMA develops national policy endorsing hospice care to enable the terminally ill to die in a more homelike environment

Go to the 1980s