AMA as a whole is more than just the sum of its parts

AMA Leader Commentary. By J. Edward Hill, MD. June 2/9, 2003.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

SEE ARCHIVES

A message to all physicians from J. Edward Hill, MD, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees.

When describing the AMA to nonphysicians, I sometimes use the fable of the blind men and the elephant. In that story, several blind men examine an elephant with their hands. But since each man examines only a small section of the elephant, each walks away from the experience with a very different perspective.

Many people, even physicians, understand the AMA in this way. For some of us, the AMA is a major lobbying group or a trade association. For others, it is a publisher of books and journals of interest to physicians. Still others see it as an association that helps set standards for medical education, accreditation, quality and ethics.

All of these perspectives are correct. Yet if we remove our blinders and step back a few feet, we will see that the AMA is more than the sum of its parts. To keep such a complex organization functioning at its best is no simple endeavor, but it is a noble one.

How so? At its best, the American Medical Association provides a voice to all of America's doctors. It convenes men and women from every medical specialty and state society, enabling organizations with diverse perspectives to establish shared priorities and goals, for the good of America's health -- and the good of the medical profession.

The AMA is also a catalyst -- an advocate for positive change. At its best, it inspires physicians to confront the biggest issues facing medicine, such as today's medical liability crisis. It also provides the political tools we need to help transform our professional environment for the better.