National Medical Association Elects New Leadership

Nelson L. Adams, M.D. as 108th president of association for physicians of African descent

Black PR Wire Release

(September 4, 2007) Washington, D.C. -The National Medical Association (NMA) installed Nelson L. Adams, M.D. as its 108th president at the Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Honolulu, Hawaii.  In his address to the convention’s attendees, Adams told the group “I believe NMA is heading in the right direction and that our association is on sure footing to impact the lives of people nationally and globally.”

Other NMA leaders elected were Nedra Joyner, M.D. of Chicago, Illinois, chair of the Board of Trustees, Carolyn Barley Britton, M.D., M.S. a neurologist of New York City, president-elect and Cedric Bright, M.D., speaker of the House of Delegates.  Prior to Dr. Joyner being elected board chair, she was president of the state medical society and region chairperson from 1998-2002.  Dr. Joyner is currently the Chief of Otolaryngology at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago and is a faculty member at the University of Chicago Hospitals in the Otolaryngology Department.

Dr. Britton as President-elect will spend the next year preparing to take on the responsibilities of president of the NMA.  Dr. Britton served as chair of the Board of Trustees for two years and regional chairperson for four years.  Dr. Britton is currently associate professor of clinical neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and associate attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Harlem Hospital Center.

Dr. Bright, as speaker of the House of Delegates, which is the governing body of the association, plans to position the National Medical Association as a proactive voice in the formulation of a more equitable national health care system.  Dr. Bright served as the vice speaker and secretary of the House of Delegates before being elected as speaker.  He will serve a one year term.  Dr. Bright is currently a staff physician at the Durham Veteran’s Administration Hospital and is an associate of clinical medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in the Department of General Medicine.

The Executive Director of the NMA, Dr. Mohammad Akhter said “I look forward to working with this excellent group of leaders in positioning the organization to be a global force in impacting healthcare.”