Association of American Medical Colleges

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to transforming health through medical education, health care, medical research, and community collaborations. Its membership includes all 155 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and more than 80 academic societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC serves the leaders of America’s medical schools and teaching hospitals and their more than 173,000 full-time faculty members, 89,000 medical students, 129,000 resident physicians, and more than 60,000 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the biomedical sciences.

History

The AAMC was founded in 1876 to standardize medical education in the United States. Over the years, it has evolved to address the complex needs of the evolving health care system, including medical education, biomedical research, and patient care. The organization plays a crucial role in the medical education continuum, from pre-medical education through residency training, by providing data, research, and programs that support the medical education community.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the AAMC is to improve the health of people everywhere by advancing the quality of and access to medical education, biomedical research, and patient care. Its vision is a healthy world through better health care delivered by well-trained, diverse, and compassionate physicians and scientists.

Key Programs and Services

The AAMC offers a variety of programs and services to support its mission, including:

- Medical Education: The AAMC supports medical schools and teaching hospitals in training the next generation of physicians through initiatives like the Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) and the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) certificate program.

- Medical Research: It advocates for the importance of medical research and works to ensure that medical schools and teaching hospitals receive the necessary funding to conduct life-saving research.

- Patient Care: The AAMC works to improve patient care by supporting the integration of education and research into clinical practice.

- Diversity and Inclusion: The AAMC promotes diversity and inclusion in medical education and the health care workforce through programs like the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP).

- Advocacy and Public Policy: The AAMC represents the interests of its members before federal and state governments and advocates for policies that support medical education, research, and health care.

Membership

Membership in the AAMC is open to accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada, teaching hospitals, and academic societies. Members benefit from access to a wide range of resources, data, and reports; professional development opportunities; and a platform for advocacy and collaboration.

Publications and Resources

The AAMC publishes a wide range of resources, including reports, data collections, and newsletters, to support the work of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Notable publications include the Annual Medical School Enrollment Survey, the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) guide for applicants, and Academic Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on issues in medical education.

Challenges and Future Directions

The AAMC faces several challenges, including adapting to changes in health care delivery, ensuring diversity in the medical profession, and addressing the financial pressures on medical education and research. The organization continues to evolve its programs and services to meet these challenges and to support the future of health care education and practice.