In the June 2020 Special Meeting of House of Delegates, Susan Bailey, MD, was sworn into office as the president of the AMA by Board Chair Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH.
Transcript
June 7, 2020
Dr. Ehrenfeld: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, board chair of the American Medical Association. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce the next president of the American Medical Association, my friend and colleague, Dr. Susan R. Bailey. I want to take a minute here to acknowledge the importance of this moment.
While the first female physician joined the AMA in 1876, it wasn't until 1998, 122 years later when we inaugurated our first female president. Dr. Bailey now becomes the sixth woman to lead the AMA and the third in a row, during a critical time when this Association has rededicated itself to fighting for gender equity across the profession and the entire nation.
Now a proud Texan, Sue is the embodiment of the Lone Star State, strong, determined and fiercely independent. She earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Texas A&M, a place where she later served on the Board of Regents, having been appointed by then Governor George W. Bush. Dr. Bailey makes her home in Fort Worth, Texas, where she has been an allergist in private practice for more than 30 years.
She completed her residency in general pediatrics and a fellowship in allergy and immunology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. She has also been awarded the title of Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She has held many leadership positions within the Texas Medical Association and the AMA, where she's perhaps best known as our previous Speaker of the House of Delegates.
As president of the AMA, Sue will continue to be a passionate advocate for women and children, for advancing health equity throughout medicine and for protecting that special relationship between patient and physician. She has been a leader on both the national and local levels to support independent physicians. All of these experiences have equipped her well to lead the AMA during these unprecedented times. Please join me in welcoming our next president, Dr. Susan R. Bailey. Joining us as Dr. Bailey takes the oath of office is Dr. Bailey's husband, Doug Bailey.
Dr. Bailey, as I read the oath of office, please place your left hand on the Bible, raise your right hand and repeat after me.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I solemnly swear.
Dr. Bailey: I solemnly swear.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: That I shall carry out the duties.
Dr. Bailey: That I shall carry out the duties.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: Of the office of president of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Bailey: Of the office of president of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: To the best of my ability.
Dr. Bailey: To the best of my ability.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I shall strive constantly.
Dr. Bailey: I shall strive constantly.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: To maintain the ethics of the medical profession.
Dr. Bailey: To maintain the ethics of the medical profession.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: And to promote the art and science of medicine.
Dr. Bailey: And to promote the art and science of medicine.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: And the betterment of public health.
Dr. Bailey: And the betterment of public health.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I shall dedicate myself and my office.
Dr. Bailey: I shall dedicate myself and my office.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: To improving the health of the American people.
Dr. Bailey: To improving the health of the American people.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: And to bringing high quality medical care to all persons.
Dr. Bailey: And to bringing high quality medical care to all persons.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I shall work to preserve and protect.
Dr. Bailey: I shall work to preserve and protect.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: The primacy of the patient-physician relationship.
Dr. Bailey: The primacy of the patient-physician relationship.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: And the freedom of physicians.
Dr. Bailey: And the freedom of physicians.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: To practice medicine without undue impediment.
Dr. Bailey: To practice medicine without undue impediment.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I shall uphold the constitution and bylaws.
Dr. Bailey: I shall uphold the constitution and bylaws.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: Of the American Medical Association at all times.
Dr. Bailey: Of the American Medical Association at all times.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: To these duties and obligations.
Dr. Bailey: To these duties and obligations.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: I pledge to myself. So help me, God.
Dr. Bailey: I pledge myself. So help me God.
Dr. Ehrenfeld: Dr. Bailey. It is now my privilege to present you, mailed in advance of course, the American Medical Association President's medal in recognition of your service to your nation and your profession.
