American Medical Association Elects First Black Woman President

“It will be my honor to represent the nation’s physicians at the forefront of discussions when policymakers and lawmakers search for practical solutions to the challenges in our nation’s health system," says Patrice A. Harris.

Written By NewsOne Staff

A woman from Atlanta is displaying #BlackExcellence in the field of healthcare. Psychiatrist Patrice A. Harris was recently appointed to become the president of the American Medical Association; making her the first Black woman to hold the position, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported.

Link to tweet

It was announced that she had been elected president of the association at the Annual Meeting of the AMA House Delegates in Chicago earlier this week, the news outlet writes. She’s slated to start her new role in June 2019.

Harris—who currently serves as Fulton County’s chief health officer—has dedicated her career to health advocacy; working as a public health administrator and a physician. She’s used her platform and influence in the medical field to bring attention to issues related to healthcare reform and has worked with several healthcare organizations to advance their services. Outside of her work in Fulton County, she serves as an adjunct professor in Emory University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

https://newsone.com/3810438/patrice-a-harris-first-black-woman-president-american-medical-association/