Andrew Gurman, MD, an orthopedic hand surgeon from Hollidaysburg, Pa., was inaugurated as the American Medical Association's 171st president on Tuesday at the organization's annual meeting in Chicago.
Dr. Gurman, who served as president-elect of the AMA for the last year, is the first hand surgeon and second orthopedic surgeon to hold the presidential post. He completed his surgical internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein in New York, and did a fellowship in hand surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York.
"I am honored to serve as AMA president during this pivotal time and be a voice for physicians nationwide," said Dr. Gurman. "We must work together to build a healthier nation, but the gravity of challenges physicians face today is severe; challenges that have and continue to push many out of the profession. It is my privilege to lead this organization to ensure physicians' needs are met."
Additionally, AMA members voted for David Barbe, MD, a family physician from Mountain Grove, Mo., to be the organization's president-elect for this year. Dr. Barbe will become president of the AMA in June 2017.
Dr. Barbe has served on numerous AMA committees and task forces and also served as chair of the board. He earned his MD from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and completed his family medicine residency at the University of Kansas-affiliated program.
"It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be elected by my peers to be president-elect of an organization that is dedicated to improving the practice environment for physicians, the education of our medical students and the health of the patients we serve," said Dr. Barbe. "I am eager to continue the strong work of the AMA in shaping America's healthcare system to better meet the needs of patients and physicians both now and in the future."