Association of American Medical Colleges

The AAMC was founded in 1876 at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia to establish standards for member medical schools. The first meeting was held on June 2, 1876, and included members from 22 medical colleges. Jefferson Medical College's Dean, John B. Biddle, was the first president of the Association.{{Cite journal|last1=Wagner|first1=Frederick B.|last2=Savacool|first2=J. Woodrow|date=1992|title=Part I: Jefferson Medical College 1866 to 1876 (pages 125-156)|url=https://jdc.jefferson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=wagner1|journal=Thomas Jefferson University: A Chronological History and Alumni Directory, 1824 - 1990|pages=154}} The first set of standards established in 1876 included “a curriculum of two terms not occurring in the same year.” {{Cite journal|last=Barzansky|first=Barbara|date=2010-09-01|title=Abraham Flexner and the Era of Medical Education Reform|url=https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2010/09001/Abraham_Flexner_and_the_Era_of_Medical_Education.3.aspx|journal=Academic Medicine|language=en-US|volume=85|issue=9|pages=S19–S25|doi=10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181f12bd1|pmid=20736546 |issn=1040-2446|doi-access=free}}

By 1905, the Association expanded its standards to require member schools to offer a four-year medical curriculum of no less than 4,000 hours.

In 1942, the AAMC partnered with the American Medical Association's (AMA) Council on Medical Education and Hospitals to form the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is an accrediting agency for educational programs at medical schools in the United States and Canada.{{Cite journal|last=Kassebaum|first=D. G.|date=1992-02-01|title=Origin of the LCME, the AAMC-AMA partnership for accreditation|url=https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/1992/02000/Origin_of_the_LCME,_the_AAMC_AMA_partnership_for.5.aspx|journal=Academic Medicine|language=en-US|volume=67|issue=2|pages=85–7|doi=10.1097/00001888-199202000-00005 |pmid=1547000 |s2cid=21840951 |issn=1040-2446|doi-access=free}}

In 2006, Darrell G. Kirch became president and CEO of AAMC, he served until 2019. On July 15, 2019, David J. Skorton replaced Kirch as president and CEO.

In 2015, the AAMC announced MCAT examinees with documented disabilities would no longer be required to inform schools if they received accommodations during their exam.{{Cite web |title=Accommodations update FAQ |url=https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/accommodations/faq/261842/scorereported.html}} Prior to this, if someone received accommodations due to a documented disability, an asterisk was affixed to the score report to inform all schools the individual applied to. The schools were not informed of the specific disability or nature of the accommodations.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the AAMC created a database of treatment and management guidance for clinicians. The resources are divided into various topics, including infection control, emergency department, inpatient, ambulatory, serious illness communication, mental health, and special populations.{{cite web|title=AAMC creates database|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-safety-outcomes/aamc-creates-database-for-covid-19-guidance.html|access-date=2020-04-22}} The AAMC also recommended that medical schools temporarily suspend medical students’ direct patient contact due to safety concerns.{{cite web|title=Online learning during COVID-19|url=https://www.ama-assn.org/residents-students/medical-school-life/online-learning-during-covid-19-tips-help-med-students|access-date=2020-04-22}}

Throughout 2020, the AAMC was criticized for continuing to hold the MCAT exam in person during the COVID pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Rabin|first=Roni Caryn|date=2020-08-07|title=Want to Be a Doctor? Take Your Chances in a Closed Room With Strangers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/health/coronavirus-exams-mcat.html|access-date=2021-04-23|issn=0362-4331}} In October 2020, the Association responded to lawmaker's concerns over in-person testing by saying it had resumed only when safety protocols had been developed and implemented.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-19|title=AAMC Responds to Lawmakers' Concerns About In-Person MCAT|url=https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/medicaleducation/89207|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.medpagetoday.com|language=en}}

In 2020, the AAMC removed Abraham Flexner's name from their annual award, claiming his 1910 report contained "racist and sexist" statements.{{cite web|title=AAMC renames prestigious Abraham Flexner award in light of racist and sexist writings|url=https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/aamc-renames-prestigious-abraham-flexner-award-light-racist-and-sexist-writings|access-date=2022-08-13}} This claim, however, has been challenged.{{cite web|title=Abraham Flexner: Academic Medicine's Favorite Scapegoat|url=https://www.physicianoutlook.com/articles/abraham-flexner-academic-medicines-favorite-scapeg|access-date=2022-08-13}}

The Association is a nonprofit organization that represents medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic and scientific societies.{{Cite web|url=https://studios.com/projects/association_of_american_medical_colleges/|title=STUDIOS Architecture Association of American Medical Colleges|website=studios.com|access-date=2020-03-25}} All accredited MD-granting medical schools in the United States and Canada are members of the AAMC. Membership also includes teaching hospitals or health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers,{{cite web|url=https://www.mcw.edu/newsroom/news-articles/continuing-national-leadership|title=Joseph E. Kerschner, MD, Named Chair-elect|website=Medical College of Wisconsin|access-date=2020-04-14}} and academic societies are also members.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aamc.org/about|title=About the AAMC|website=www.aamc.org|access-date=July 15, 2019}}

The AAMC provides services including data from medical, education, and health studies, as well as consulting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/50913MF:US|title=Association of American Medical Colleges|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2020-03-25}} The organization hosts events each year that offer continuing medical education and professional development to the health workforce.{{Cite web|title=The Association of American Medical Colleges|url=https://www.crowdcompass.com/success-stories/association-of-american-medical-colleges.shtml|access-date=2020-07-06|website=CrowdCompass|language=en}}

The Association is governed by a 17-member board of directors.{{Cite web|url=https://hscnews.usc.edu/keck-student-named-to-aamc-governing-board/|title=Keck student named to AAMC governing board|website=HSC News|date=25 July 2013 |access-date=2020-03-31}} Ten of the board members are the chairs of the Association's three member councils: the Council of Deans, the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems, and the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.{{Cite web|url=https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/12/david-skorton-joins-aamc-board-directors|title=David Skorton joins AAMC Board of Directors|website=Cornell Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}} The remaining 7 include a medical student, a resident physician, and a member of the public not affiliated with the AAMC, a medical school, or a teaching hospital.

The Council of Faculty and Academic Societies has 94 member professional organizations. Members consist of faculty from U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals.{{Cite web|title=Role of IAMSE in the Council of Academic Societies: Report from the Spring 2005 CAS Meeting|url=http://www.iamse.org/mse-article/role-of-iamse-in-the-council-of-academic-societies-cas-report-from-the-spring-2005-cas-meeting/|website=IAMSE|access-date=2020-05-14}}

The Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems is composed of around 400 teaching hospitals, including Veteran Affairs medical centers.{{Cite web|title=Teaching Status|url=https://www.ahd.com/definitions/prof_teach.html|access-date=2020-06-22|website=AHD}}{{Cite web|title=Dr. Janis Orlowski to present lecture|url=https://mmheadlines.org/2019/09/dr-janis-orlowski-chief-health-care-officer-of-the-association-of-american-medical-colleges-to-present-lecture/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Michigan Medicine Headlines|language=en-US}}

The Council of Deans is composed of deans from all accredited medical schools in the U.S. and 17 Canadian schools.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-03|title=Dean Hedges is re-elected to national leadership role on the AAMC Council of (medical school) Deans|url=https://jabsom.hawaii.edu/dean-hedges-is-re-elected-to-national-leadership-role-on-the-aamc-council-of-medical-school-deans/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=John A. Burns School of Medicine|language=en-US}}

In January 2022, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC) approved a merger agreement. Under the agreement, the AAHC joined the AAMC on April 1, 2022, according to a Jan. 20 joint news release.{{Cite web |last=Gooch |first=Kelly |title=AAMC, AAHC to merge |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-transactions-and-valuation/aamc-aahc-to-merge.html |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.beckershospitalreview.com |date=20 January 2022 |language=en-gb}} The AAHC was founded in 1969 and lists over 120 U.S. and international member organizations on its website. The latter are part of the Association of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI), a subsidiary of the U.S. organization founded in 2008.{{Cite web |last=Muoio |first=Dave |date=January 20, 2022 |title=Nonprofits AAMC, AAHC say their April 1 merger will 'amplify' academic medicine |url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/hospitals/nonprofits-aamc-aahc-say-their-april-1-merger-will-amplify-academic-medicine |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Fierce Healthcare}}

The AAMC administers the Medical College Admission Test and operates the American Medical College Application Service and the Electronic Residency Application Service which facilitate students applying to medical schools and residency programs.

The MCAT was formed in 1928 and was known as the “Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Students”.{{Cite journal|url=https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/FullText/2015/04000/The_Evolution_of_the_Medical_College_Admission.35.aspx|title=Evolution of the MCAT|journal=Academic Medicine|date=April 2015 |volume=90 |issue=4 |page=541 |doi=10.1097/ACM.0000000000000660 |access-date=2020-05-15 |last1=Pigg |first1=Trey |last2=Kroopnick |first2=Marc |pmid=25650823 |s2cid=9050713 |doi-access=free }} In 1948, it was renamed the “Medical College Admission Test”. In 2015, after a review process, a new version of the test was introduced by the AAMC.{{Cite journal|url=https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/FullText/2020/03000/The_New_MCAT_Exam_and_the_Continuing_Imperative_of.1.aspx|title=The New MCAT Exam|journal=Academic Medicine|date=March 2020 |volume=95 |issue=3 |doi=10.1097/ACM.0000000000003123 |access-date=2020-05-15 |last1=Roberts |first1=Laura Weiss |pages=323–326 |pmid=32097142 |s2cid=211522558 |doi-access=free }} The new exam added a Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section.

The review for the new exam was led by a 21-member committee composed by the Association and called the MR5 Committee.{{cite journal |last1=Mitchell |first1=Karen |title=The New Medical College Admission Test: Implications for Teaching Psychology |journal=Am. Psychol. |date=2016 |volume=71 |issue=2 |pages=125–135 |doi=10.1037/a0039975 |pmid=26866988 |pmc=5561549 }} The MR5 Committee consisted of medical school deans; admissions, educational affairs, student affairs, and diversity officers; basic science and clinical faculty; pre-health advisors and undergraduate faculty; and a medical student and a physician resident. The MR5 Committee also reached out to subcommittees of experts in fields such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

The Association maintains a “What’s on the MCAT Exam?” webpage that includes a comprehensive list of all tested topics.{{Cite web|date=9 April 2018|title=Why the MCAT Is Harder Than a Typical College Exam|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2018-04-09/why-the-mcat-is-harder-than-a-typical-college-exam|website=U.S. News}} They also offer a Fee Assistance Program for test takers who require financial aid in order to take the MCAT.{{Cite web|title=About the MCAT Exam|url=https://www.princetonreview.com/medical/mcat-information|access-date=2020-07-01|website=The Princeton Review}}

Led by the AAMC, the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) administers and processes medical school applications.{{Cite web|title=Guide to Your Med School Application|url=https://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/medical-school-applications|website=Princeton Review|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}} Most U.S. medical schools participate in the AMCAS.

AMCAS was first used by applicants to medical schools in 1969.

The AAMC developed the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to allow final-year medical school students and graduates to apply electronically for residency positions.{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/organization/?27090/American-Association-Medical-Colleges |title=American Association of Medical Colleges |website=C-Span |access-date=2020-04-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ecfmg.org/eras/ |title=ERAS Support Services at ECFMG |website=ECFMG |access-date=2020-04-08}} The service was established in 1996.

The Association conducts studies, research, and publications on medical education, health care, and biomedical research and provides publications and forums to support medical education and educational health programs.{{Cite web|url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/4839020181|title=Audit of Federal Awards Performed|date=2018-06-30}} The Association is also responsible for a number of publications, including:

• The State Physician Workforce Data Report: published annually.{{Cite web|url=https://crh.arizona.edu/publications/crh-report/2557|title=Arizona Primary Care Physician Workforce Report|website=crh.arizona.edu|access-date=2020-04-15}} The report looks at physician supply, medical students, and graduate medical education residents in each state.{{Cite web|title=Texas Among Best in Keeping Medical Students, Residents Practicing In-State, Report Shows|url=https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=51959}} It also provides data on the breakdown of physicians by specialty and training location.
• The Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR):{{Cite web|url=http://www.shpep.org/resource/association-of-american-medical-colleges-aamc/|title=Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}} this publication includes a description of each medical school, and the median overall and science GPAs and MCATs of the first year class.{{Cite web|date=2014-07-08|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Applying to Med School|url=https://www.swarthmore.edu/health-sciences-office/frequently-asked-questions-applying-to-med-school|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.swarthmore.edu|language=en}} The AAMC has received criticism due to charging for the MSAR. {{Cite web |last=Eck |first=Matt |date=2021-11-05 |title=The Eck’s Factor: Money makes the medical world go white |url=https://dailytrojan.com/opinion/2021/11/05/the-ecks-factor-money-makes-the-medical-world-go-white/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Daily Trojan |language=en-US}} Because the MSAR contains data crucial to all those applying to medical school, critics say this practice contradicts AAMC's official mission of making medical education available to all regardless of income. {{Cite web |last=Eck |first=Matt |date=2021-11-05 |title=The Eck’s Factor: Money makes the medical world go white |url=https://dailytrojan.com/opinion/2021/11/05/the-ecks-factor-money-makes-the-medical-world-go-white/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Daily Trojan |language=en-US}}
• The Medical School Enrollment Survey: published annually{{Cite web|title=More medical students than ever|url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/more-medical-students-than-ever-but-more-residency-slots-needed-to-solve-physician|website=FierceHealthcare|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05}}
• The Report on Medical School Faculty Salaries: provides summary tables with average compensation and percentile statistics by rank and department for basic and clinical science faculty.{{Cite web|title=Association of American Medical Colleges|url=https://www.womensurgeons.org/page/AAMC|website=Association of Women Surgeons|access-date=2020-05-05}} Additional tables summarize the data by type of school and region.
• The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: projections from 2017 to 2032{{Cite web|title=Physician shortage|url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/physician-shortage-numbers-keep-climbing-now-estimated-at-122k-by-2032|website=FierceHealthcare|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05}}

The AAMC published a three-part report on conflicts of interest in research and medical education settings. The final report was titled “In the Interest of Patients: Recommendations for Physician Financial Relationships and Clinical Decision Making,” and was released in 2010.{{Cite web|title=AAMC Report: Recommendations for Physician Financial Relationships and Clinical Decision Making|url=https://www.policymed.com/2010/07/aamc-report-recommendations-for-physician-financial-relationships-and-clinical-decision-making.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Policy & Medicine|date=5 May 2018 |language=en-US}}

The AAMC publishes the peer-reviewed journal Academic Medicine. Past papers of the association are held at the National Library of Medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://oculus.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=nlmfindaid;idno=aamc|title=Association of American Medical Colleges Archives 1938-1966|website=U.S. National Library of Medicine}}

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• American Medical Association
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education

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• {{official|https://www.aamc.org/}}

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