Association of American Medical Colleges

Association of American Medical Colleges
Name	Association of American Medical Colleges
Founded	0 1876
Location	Washington, D.C., United States
Key people	David J. Skorton (President & CEO)
Focus	Medical education, research, healthcare
Website	https://www.aamc.org

Association of American Medical Colleges. The Association of American Medical Colleges is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming health through leadership in medical education, biomedical research, and patient care. It serves as a unifying voice for the nation's medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies, working to advance a continuum of education from pre-medical preparation through professional practice. The AAMC develops critical tools like the Medical College Admission Test and administers centralized application services, while also engaging in significant advocacy on issues affecting academic medicine and public health.

History

The organization was founded in 1876 by representatives from 22 medical colleges, including Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Harvard Medical School, seeking to standardize and elevate the quality of medical education across the United States. A pivotal moment in its history was its endorsement of the influential 1910 Flexner Report, which led to sweeping reforms in medical school curriculum and accreditation. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded its role, establishing the Liaison Committee on Medical Education as the accrediting body and later creating the American Medical College Application Service in 1970 to streamline admissions. Its headquarters moved to Washington, D.C. in 1951 to better influence federal policy related to health professions training and National Institutes of Health research funding.

Organization and governance

The AAMC is governed by a Board of Directors composed of leaders from its member institutions, including deans from medical schools like the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and CEOs from major teaching hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital. The association's president and chief executive officer, a position held since 2019 by Dr. David J. Skorton, formerly of Cornell University, oversees a professional staff in Washington, D.C. Its structure includes three major membership councils representing the nation's medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Key operational units focus on areas like diversity initiatives, student affairs, and healthcare innovation.

Functions and programs

The association's core functions center on supporting the entire medical education continuum. It operates the American Medical College Application Service and the Electronic Residency Application Service, which are central hubs for medical school and residency applications. It provides extensive resources for curriculum development, faculty affairs, and continuing medical education through its MedEdPORTAL publication. The AAMC also conducts major workforce studies and data collection, maintaining the AAMC Data Book and producing analyses on physician supply, which inform institutions like the Congress of the United States and the Department of Health and Human Services. Its programs actively promote diversity and inclusion across the profession.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The AAMC develops and administers the Medical College Admission Test, a standardized, multiple-choice examination required for admission to most medical schools in the United States and Canada. The current exam assesses knowledge in foundational concepts from disciplines like biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, along with critical analysis and reasoning skills. Scores from the MCAT are a critical component evaluated by admissions committees at institutions ranging from the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The AAMC provides extensive preparation materials and practice exams through its official website to support prospective students.

Advocacy and policy

The association engages in robust advocacy at the federal level, primarily in Washington, D.C., to promote policies that strengthen the nation's healthcare system and support academic medicine. Key priorities include securing sustained funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and Title VII health professions programs. It advocates for Medicare policies that support graduate medical education and the mission of teaching hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic. The AAMC also provides analysis and testimony on issues such as healthcare disparities, the Affordable Care Act, and student debt, influencing lawmakers and agencies including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Member institutions

Membership comprises all 155 accredited U.S. medical schools, including prominent institutions such as the Stanford University School of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It also includes over 400 teaching hospitals and health systems, like the Veterans Health Administration hospitals and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and more than 70 academic societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation. This coalition represents a powerful collective voice in shaping the future of medical education, biomedical research spearheaded by entities like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and clinical care delivery nationwide.

Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Medical education organizations in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1876