About the Office of International Relations

Immediate Past President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, President Bruce Scott, MD, and President-elect Bobby Mukkamala, MD represented the AMA at the World Medical Association General Assembly. Held in Helsinki, Finland, from Oct. 16-19, 2024, the assembly:

• Convened world leaders to discuss the health and physician issues of the greatest global concern. In his keynote address, President of Finland Alexander Stubb reflected on the historic importance of the Declaration of Helsinki and the ethical issues facing the profession.
• Adopted the Revision of the Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, led by Former AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., MD. Dr. Resneck chaired the workgroup that updated the seminal WMA document to:
  • Be more patient-centered;
  • Extend the benefits of research to participants and people in vulnerable situations while still maintaining strong protections from unnecessary risk; and
  • Address growing data privacy concerns amid secondary use of research data.

The adoption concluded the multi-year revision effort, which included eight topical and regional meetings as well as two public comment periods.

• Adopted additional policies with input from AMA policies, including an AMA-led policy speaking out against anti-LGBTQ legislation around the world. Read more about the recently adopted WMA policies and AMA-led WMA policies.
• Inaugurated WMA President Ashok Phillip, MD, of the Malaysian Medical Association and voted Jacqueline Kitulu, MD, of the Kenyan Medical Association as WMA president-elect.

Immediate AMA Past President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH speaks with President of Finland Alexander Stubb

World Medical Association President-elect Jaqueline Kitulu, MD, President Ashok Phillip, MD, and Immediate Past President Lujain Al-Qodmani, MD

The AMA is engaged in targeted areas of international activity under the guidance and direction of the Office of International Relations (OIR). 

Although the AMA's domestic focus is primary, the AMA increasingly addresses health care issues in a “global neighborhood.” The OIR:

• Provides a global perspective for the AMA and maintains the relationships with national medical associations and global health care organizations. 
• Builds relationships with counterpart national medical associations to leverage the AMA’s expertise, develop contacts, and open opportunities. 
• Works through the World Medical Association (WMA) to promote AMA’s objectives and policies.
• Assists in securing AMA representation at the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly.
• Engages with other countries to learn how they structure their health care systems, and how they deal with common issues like care in rural areas, shortages of physicians, poverty, and disparities.

In addition, the OIR leverages its experts to engage with international influencers, including:

• AMA Councils (Council on Science and Public Health, Council on Medical Service, Council on Medical Education, Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs) and staff
• Specialty societies
• Medical education and licensure entities
• Human rights organizations
• The United Nations (UN)
• The World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO)
• The Department of State
• The Department of Defense
• The Department of Health and Human Services

The OIR is dedicated to serving as a champion of physicians in globalized health care.

Learn more about the AMA’s international involvement or join the AMA today.