AMA swears in first African American woman president

Atlanta psychiatrist Dr. Patrice Harris is now the first African American woman to lead the AMA in its 145-year history.  “I hope to be tangible evidence for young girls and young boys and girls from communities of color that you can aspire to be a physician,” Harris said in a statement. “Not only that, you can aspire to be a leader in organized medicine,” she said. She plans to focus on medical education, addressing chronic disease, and ensuring access to health care. Harris is taking over for Dr. Barbara McAneny, a New Mexico-based oncologist. The AMA also elected Dr. Susan Bailey, an immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, to be its next president starting in 2020, making this the first time in the organization’s history that the AMA will be led consecutively by three female physicians.