The National Medical Association: True North Toward Health Care Equity

Abstract

his year will mark the 121 anniversary of the founding of the National Medical Association T(NMA) and it is a tremendous honor to be the 116 President of NMA to represent the membership. Reflecting on socialized events that led to the founding of the organization, the NMAwas organized with the mission, vision, and intention to achieve health care equity. The NMA is recognized as the largest and oldest national professional and scientific organization in the United States, representing the interests of more than 30,000 African American physicians and the patients they serve, with nearly 112 affiliated state and local societies throughout the nation. Since its inception in 1895, the NMA has been firmly established in a leadership role in medicine and committed to improving the quality of health among minorities and disadvantaged people through its membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, research and partnerships with federal agencies and private organizations. Throughout its history the NMA has focused primarily on health issues related to African Americans and medically underserved populations; however, its principles, goals, initiatives andphilosophy encompass all ethnic groups. As conceptualized by Dr. C. V. Roman, NMA founding member andfirst editor of the Journal of theNationalMedical Association in 1908, “Conceived in no spirit of racial exclusiveness, fostering no ethnic antagonism, but born of the exigencies of the American environment, the National Medical Association has for its object the banding together for mutual cooperation and helpfulness, the men and women of African descent who are legally and honorably engaged in the practice of the cognate professions of medicine, surgery, pharmacy and dentistry.” The initial established mission of the NMAwas to advance the art and science of medicine for people of African descent through education, advocacy, and health policy to promote health andwellness, eliminate health disparities, and sustain physician viability.