The American Medical Association (AMA) was established in 1837 and has developed into a well-known and influential professional organization that represents the concerns of medical doctors, the medical profession, and health care delivery systems. The national headquarters for the AMA is located in Chicago, Illinois, but the organization is active throughout the nation.

[Page 72]The AMA actively lobbies federal, state, and local government offices, health care systems, and other regulatory agencies to promote the interests of physicians and to advance the medical profession. The AMA has established a large network of professional partnerships to achieve its goals. It actively encourages research about health care practices and policies, medical education, public health promotion, and doctor–patient relationships.