Less than 20% of doctors are in the AMA

I was equally struck, however, by the President’s appeal to physicians for help. “I need your help, doctors” he said. Making such an appeal before the American Medical Association seemed logical. Yet doctors across the country watching that same scene felt frustrated. I heard from hundreds of them, which leads me to believe there were many thousands more.

Increasing numbers of physicians do not see the AMA as their representatives. Less than 20 percent of physicians are AMA members and most of these physicians are not politically engaged. Furthermore, many physicians feel the organization has focused narrowly on representing physicians’ pocketbook interests while doing little to advance the patient-centered ideals that continue to drive many physicians.