Association of American Medical Colleges


The Association of American Medical Colleges is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that was established in 1876. It represents medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic and scientific societies, while providing services to its member institutions that include data from medical, education, and health studies, as well as consulting. The AAMC administers the Medical College Admission Test and operates the American Medical College Application Service and the Electronic Residency Application Service which facilitate students applying to medical schools and residency programs. Along with the American Medical Association, the AAMC co-sponsors the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting body for all U.S. MD-granting medical education programs.

Structure

The Association is a nonprofit organization that represents medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic and scientific societies. All 155 accredited MD-granting medical schools in the United States and 17 in Canada are members of the AAMC. About 400 teaching hospitals or health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and more than 80 academic societies are also members.
The AAMC provides services including data from medical, education, and health studies, as well as consulting. In addition, the organization hosts over 85 events each year. These events offer continuing medical education and professional development to the health workforce.

Governing Body

The Association is governed by a 17-member board of directors. Ten of the board members are the chairs of the Association’s three member councils: the Council of Deans, the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems, and the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies. The remaining 7 include a medical student, a resident physician, and a member of the public not affiliated with the AAMC, a medical school, or a teaching hospital.
The Council of Faculty and Academic Societies has 94 member professional organizations. Members consist of faculty from U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals.
The Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems is composed of around 400 teaching hospitals, including Veteran Affairs medical centers.
The Council of Deans is composed of deans from all accredited medical schools in the U.S. and 17 Canadian schools.

Programs

The AAMC administers the Medical College Admission Test and operates the American Medical College Application Service and the Electronic Residency Application Service which facilitate students applying to medical schools and residency programs.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The MCAT was formed in 1928 and was known as the “Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Students”. In 1948, it was renamed the “Medical College Admission Test”. In 2015, after a review process, a new version of the test was introduced by the AAMC. The new exam added a Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section.
The review for the new exam was led by a 21-member committee composed by the Association and called the MR5 Committee. The MR5 Committee consisted of medical school deans; admissions, educational affairs, student affairs, and diversity officers; basic science and clinical faculty; pre-health advisors and undergraduate faculty; and a medical student and a physician resident. The MR5 Committee also reached out to subcommittees of experts in fields such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
The Association maintains a “What’s on the MCAT Exam?” webpage that includes a comprehensive list of all tested topics. They also offer a Fee Assistance Program for test takers who require financial aid in order to take the MCAT.

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

Led by the AAMC, the American Medical College Application Service administers and processes medical school applications. Most U.S. medical schools participate in the AMCAS.
AMCAS was first used by applicants to medical schools in 1969.

Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)

The AAMC developed ERAS to allow final-year medical school students and graduates to apply electronically for residency positions. The service was established in 1996.

Resources and Data

The Association conducts studies, research, and publications on medical education, health care, and biomedical research and provides publications and forums to support medical education and educational health programs. The Association is also responsible for a number of publications, including:
The AAMC published a three-part report on conflicts of interest in research and medical education settings. The final report was titled “In the Interest of Patients: Recommendations for Physician Financial Relationships and Clinical Decision Making,” and was released in 2010.
The AAMC publishes the peer-reviewed journal Academic Medicine. Past papers of the association are held at the National Library of Medicine.

Leadership

became the AAMC's president and CEO on July 15, 2019. His predecessor, Darrell G. Kirch, had served since 2006. Atul Grover is the organization’s Executive Vice President. Joseph E. Kerschner, Dean of the Medical College of Wisconsin, is the chair of the board of directors.

COVID-19 Response

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAMC created a database of treatment and management guidance for clinicians. The resources are divided into various topics, including infection control, emergency department, inpatient, ambulatory, serious illness communication, mental health, and special populations. The AAMC also recommended that medical schools temporarily suspend medical students’ direct patient contact due to safety concerns.
In April 2020, the AAMC called on the federal government to help manage the supply chain for SARS-CoV-2 testing components. A lack of supplies caused limited capacity for testing across the United States.