2006 annual report

Year after year, your American Medical Association (AMA) grows even more proud of what we’ve accomplished with your support on behalf of the doctors, medical students and patients of America— and this year is no different. We realize that the health care environment in which our members practice and train is ever-changing—and we thank our members for allowing us the honor of helping them navigate the many diverse challenges facing the medical profession.

The AMA’s members are the primary driver for its continued success. To that end, in 2006, the AMA achieved its seventh consecutive year of financial growth. Our fiscal strength can be attributed to many factors—a successful business unit, smart investments. However, our true strength comes directly from the support of our 2006 members, as membership dues accounted for nearly $47 million in revenues. These dues and business revenues support meaningful advocacy programs and professional support for our members.

The AMA accomplished much in 2006, from launching new resources for members—such as the popular members-only AMA Morning Rounds, an electronic newsletter highlighting the most important, relevant health care news of the day—to co-developing a revolutionary Web-based training program for residents called the Introduction to the Practice of Medicine. This invaluable tool helps residents more fully and effectively master their core competencies.

The AMA also launched a new strategic plan that focuses on 22 of the most important membercentered professional and public health issues that are inextricably linked with comprehensive reform of our increasingly complex U.S. health care system. This systemic strategy, to be refined annually, will guide our efforts to remove the barriers—both financial and nonfinancial—that impede patient access to high-quality care.

The AMA brand was received well by the American public—a recent Gallup poll indicates that our efforts to communicate about what we’re doing are more successful than ever before. And our advocacy work has successfully stopped a 5 percent Medicare physician payment cut while making a strong case for a permanent repeal of the flawed Medicare physician payment formula, among many other accomplishments.

In 2007 and beyond, we will continue to work together with and in support of our members as we move toward our shared goal—to protect and defend the health of America’s patients. Thank you for playing your part in these efforts.

Cecil B. Wilson, MD
AMA chair

Joseph M. Heyman, MD
AMA finance chair

Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA
AMA executive vice president, chief executive officer