Profession
AMA past president leading World Medical Assn.
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 8, 2004
AMA Past President Yank D. Coble Jr., MD, took over last month as president of the World Medical Assn., which represents more than 8 million physicians in 80 countries -- 60 of which Dr. Coble has visited.
"These travels have given me unconditional respect for our global profession of medicine -- and a deep sense of awe -- at the remarkable trust and hope our calling commands and inspires," Dr. Coble said during his inaugural address before more than 400 delegates from 40 countries attending the WMA General Assembly in Tokyo.
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based endocrinologist also announced his goal of producing a publication called Caring Physicians of the World, which will include profiles of individual doctors from all over the world.
"As a group, they will represent the finest traditions of our great profession and show how physicians today are working to the highest professional standards in different cultures and under different pressures," he said. "At the heart of this tradition is the physician's caring approach to patients added to impeccable ethics and excellence, grounded in science."
Dr. Coble was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 1994 and also served as the Association's secretary-treasurer, chaired its finance committee and served as a member of Florida's delegation to the House of Delegates. He has also served as president of the Florida Medical Assn. and held leadership positions with the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/11/08/prbf1108.htm.
