Mission:
To promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

Our guiding principles set the aspirations that we endeavor to achieve:

• AMA is one enterprise, highly capable, well coordinated and focused on high impact results.
• AMA believes that there is a national imperative to chart a successful course for health care delivery that will improve the health of the nation.
• AMA embraces the need for change and believes physician leadership is critical to the successful evolution of health care in a patient focused delivery system.
• AMA will build on its legacy of leading , setting standards for medical education, and advancing medical science to serve as the premier voice for the core values of the medical profession.
• AMA has the unique combination of talent with practical skills and intellectual capabilities, the financial resources, and influential multi-sector relationships to be a leading voice in the transformation of health care.

Since 1847 the American Medical Association has promoted scientific advancement, improved public health, and invested in the doctor and patient relationship. AMA History is a rich narrative that demonstrates the important role the institution and its members have played in the development of medicine in the United States. Learn more about the AMA's beginnings and its founder, , and use the  to follow the Association's history.

The AMA Archives, the memory of the American Medical Association, is composed of over fifty collections that document this rich history. It is more than a repository of information; it is a dynamic resource for AMA Members. Among the highlights of the collection are the popular Historical Health Fraud and Alternative Medicine Collection, photographs, memorabilia and other artifacts.

The AMA Digital Collection is a great resource for those interested in the Association’s history. It holds over 230 titles from the AMA Archives in full text, searchable format, and covers more than 160 years of AMA activities, policies and actions.