Recent events
Immediate Past President Bruce Scott, MD, President Bobby Mukkamala, MD and President-elect Willie Underwood, MD, represented the AMA at the 2025 World Medical Association (WMA) General Assembly.
Held in Porto, Portugal, from Oct. 8-11 the assembly:
- Convened world leaders to discuss the health and physician issues of the greatest global concern.
- Inaugurated WMA President Jacqueline Kitulu, MD, of the Kenyan Medical Association and voted as Jung-Yul Park, MD, of the Korean Medical Association as WMA president-elect.
- Adopted global health policies inspired by AMA House of Delegates policy, including an AMA-led document advocating for physician well-being. Read more about the recently adopted WMA policies and AMA-led WMA policies.
About the Office of International Relations
The AMA is engaged in targeted areas of international activity under the guidance and direction of the Office of International Relations (OIR).
Although the AMA's domestic focus is primary, the AMA increasingly addresses health care issues in a “global neighborhood.” The OIR:
- Provides a global perspective for the AMA and maintains the relationships with national medical associations and global health care organizations.
- Builds relationships with counterpart national medical associations to leverage the AMA’s expertise, develop contacts, and open opportunities.
- Works through the World Medical Association (WMA) to promote AMA’s objectives and policies.
- Assists in securing AMA representation at the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly.
- Engages with other countries to learn how they structure their health care systems, and how they deal with common issues like care in rural areas, shortages of physicians, poverty, and disparities.
In addition, the OIR leverages its experts to engage with international influencers, including:
- AMA Councils (Council on Science and Public Health, Council on Medical Service, Council on Medical Education, Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs) and staff
- Specialty societies
- Medical education and licensure entities
- Human rights organizations
- The United Nations (UN)
- The World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO)
- The Department of State
- The Department of Defense
- The Department of Health and Human Services
Supporting and representing physicians
The OIR is dedicated to serving as a champion of physicians in globalized health care.
Learn more about the AMA’s international involvement or join the AMA today.
