AMA president urges MS physicians to ‘speak up’ for better health
By Dr. C. LaToya Mason-Bolden
Special to the Jackson Advocate
Dr. Willie Underwood III, the current president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the organization’s 181st president, urged Mississippi physicians to strengthen their advocacy during the 158th Annual Session and House of Delegates of the Mississippi State Medical Association on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Sheraton Refuge Hotel in Flowood. He is only the third African American elected President of the AMA.
Speaking to a room of physicians from across the state, Dr. Underwood framed advocacy as essential to improving health outcomes – both for patients and for the physicians who care for them. He encouraged those in attendance to use their influence to advance policies and systems that support safer, more effective care statewide and nationally.
Dr. Underwood also pointed to Mississippi’s continuing efforts to improve maternal and neonatal health, acknowledging progress while emphasizing the need for sustained physician leadership to address persistent disparities and strengthen care for mothers and babies.
A urologic surgeon based in Buffalo, New York, Dr. Underwood referenced his upbringing in Gary, Indiana, as part of his message that professional voices carry responsibility. He said physicians are positioned to speak on behalf of others and to help drive changes that improve lives, particularly in communities facing longstanding health challenges.
To illustrate how collaboration can lead to lasting impact, Underwood cited historical examples including Drs. Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussig working alongside Vivien Thomas to advance the treatment of congenital heart disease. Their work, he said, underscored the power of health professionals moving forward together to create meaningful progress. Dr. Underwood challenged the audience to “speak up” and “rise up,” urging physicians to advocate for improvements that strengthen the health of Mississippi and the nation.
The American Medical Association, founded in 1847, is the nation’s largest and most influential physician organization, advocating for physicians, patients, public health, and the medical profession. More information is available at ama-assn.org. The Mississippi State Medical Association is Mississippi’s largest physician advocacy organization and represents nearly 5,000 physicians and medical students statewide. More information is available at msmaonline.com.
