CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) today launched the Community Health Impact Lab Micro Grants Program, a new national initiative to support physician-led projects that improve health outcomes at the community level.
Through the program, the AMA will award $50,000 grants to 20 physician-led projects that address urgent health challenges in areas with limited access to care. Projects may focus on issues such as food insecurity, maternal health, caregiving support, or other local health needs identified by U.S.-based physicians working in their local communities.
The goal is to spark physician-driven innovation that delivers practical, measurable improvements in community health—and to identify ideas that can be expanded or replicated to benefit more patients nationwide.
“Doctors see every day how factors like food insecurity, housing, and transportation access directly affect patients’ health—often having broad impact across entire communities,” said AMA CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte, MD, MPH. “Through this program and investment, the AMA empowers physicians to design creative solutions that address community needs while using our national reach to scale what works—turning local innovation into lasting, national change.”
To be eligible, proposals must focus on a clear community health challenge affecting patient populations. Projects should demonstrate feasibility, measurable outcomes within the 12-month grant period, and potential to be adapted for use in other communities.
Applications open Nov. 13, 2025, and must be submitted by March 1, 2026. Grant recipients will be announced by April 30, 2026, with projects launching soon after.
Physicians interested in applying can learn more and submit proposals on the AMA Community Health Impact Lab Micro Grants Program webpage.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
