For the first time, three consecutive women physicians have held the office of AMA president-elect

Physicians and medical students gathered at the Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) today voted for Susan R. Bailey, MD, an allergist and immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, as the new president-elect of the nation's premier physician organization. Following a year-long term as president-elect, Dr. Bailey will assume the office of AMA president in June 2020.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Bailey said, "It is a deep honor and privilege to be named president-elect of an organization that is committed to helping the medical profession and the patients we serve. Challenging times remain for the health care system and as AMA president-elect, I pledge to serve as a strong voice and dedicated advocate for patients and physicians on the pressing health care issues confronting our nation."

Dr. Bailey's election marks the third consecutive time that the office of AMA president-elect has been held by a woman physician, and illustrates the AMA's commitment to the full involvement of women in leadership roles. Dr. Bailey was preceded as AMA president-elect by Barbara L. McAneny, M.D., an oncologist from Albuquerque N.M., and Patrice A. Harris, M.D., a psychiatrist from Atlanta, Ga..

Dr. Bailey brings more than 30 years of clinical practice and experience into her new role as AMA president-elect. Since 1988, she has been in the private practice of allergy and clinical immunology in Fort Worth, Texas.

First elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2011, Dr. Bailey served as vice-speaker and speaker of the House of Delegates, the AMA's primary policy-making body. Dr. Bailey has held numerous leadership positions at the AMA over the years including two terms on the AMA Council on Medical Education, culminating as chair of this influential advisory council. She was a member of the AMA's Advisory Panel to the Women in Medicine Project and the AMA's Ad Hoc Committee on Women Physicians, the precursors to today's AMA Women Physicians Section. Dr. Bailey also has represented the AMA in the American Board of Medical Specialties Assembly, the board of directors of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, and currently serves on the board of directors of COLA, a national laboratory accreditation organization.

Prior to becoming an AMA officer, Dr. Bailey served as president of both the Texas Medical Association and Tarrant County Medical Society. She also served as vice speaker and speaker of the more than 500-member Texas Medical Association House of Delegates as well as for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology House of Delegates.

An honor graduate of Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Dr. Bailey was the first female Texas A&M graduate to become a regent for the Texas A&M University System and has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University as well as the College of Medicine.

She completed her residency and fellowship training at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, and is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.