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AMA inaugurates David O. Barbe as new president
David O. Barbe, MD, a family medicine practitioner, was sworn in as the American Medical Association’s 172nd president last night.
According to a press release, Barbe will focus his tenure on improving health outcomes for Americans living with prediabetes and hypertension; accelerating change in medical education and preparing students for today’s health care system; and enhancing physician satisfaction and practice sustainability.
“Family medicine gave me the opportunity to return to my hometown — a low-income, underserved area — and make a difference in the lives of patients in my community,” Barbe said in the press release. “It is because of the patients I see day in and day out that I understand firsthand the AMA’s unwavering goal of health insurance coverage for all.”
Barbe has practiced family medicine in the same rural southern Missouri town for more than 30 years, the release stated. He was first elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2009. He has also served as chair of the AMA board from 2013 to 2014, a member of its executive committee from 2011 to 2015, and has served on numerous AMA task forces and committees.
“At a moment of unprecedented opportunity to shape the future of not only our profession but health care for years to come, I am excited and eager to lead the nation’s largest and most influential physician organization,” Barbe said in the release. “The AMA’s work supports physicians across all specialties, career stages and practice settings as they provide physicians and physicians-in-training with the resources they need in their unique career journeys so they can provide the best care to patients. It is my honor to serve as AMA president during this crucial time.”
AMA also recently elected S. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, an otolaryngologist from Flint, Michigan, Karthik V. Sarma MS, a dual degree doctoral candidate in bioengineering and medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, and Ryan Riberia, MD, MPA, a resident physician in emergency medicine at Stanford University, to its board of trustees.
According to a separate release, the organization's other executive officers for 2017-2018 include: Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist practicing in Fort Worth, Texas, who was re-elected speaker of the AMA’s House of Delegates; Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, an anesthesiologist from Nashville, Tenn., who was named secretary; and Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, a psychiatrist from Atlanta, Ga. who assumed the office of immediate past chair.
In addition, AMA announced that the following people are returning to its board of trustees:
• Willarda V. Edwards, M.D., M.B.A., an internist from Baltimore, Md.
• Russell W.H. Kridel, M.D., a facial plastic surgeon from Houston, Texas.
• William E. Kobler, M.D., a family physician from Rockford, Ill.
• William A. McDade, M.D., Ph.D., an anesthesiologist from New Orleans, La.
• Albert J. Osbahr III, M.D., a family and occupational physician from Hickory, N.C.
• Stephen R. Permut, M.D., J.D., a family physician from Wilmington, Del.
• Bruce A. Scott, M.D., an otolaryngologist from Louisville, Ky., was re-elected vice speaker of the AMA’s House of Delegates.
• Carl A. Sirio, M.D., a critical care physician and internist from Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Georgia A. Tuttle, M.D., a dermatologist from Lebanon, N.H.
• Kevin W. Williams, a former senior executive at General Motors from Nashville, Tenn., is the public member on the AMA Board.
Disclosure: Healio Family Medicine was unable to determine relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.
Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version to include the names of the other executive officers on the AMA's board of trustees for 2017-2018, as well as returning board members.