Our Vision

A CMA (AAMA) for Every Patient

Who We Are

The American Association of Medical Assistants® (AAMA) is the oldest and largest association dedicated solely to the advancement of the medical assisting profession in the United States. Medical assistants are multiskilled members of the health care team who perform clinical and administrative procedures under the supervision of licensed health care providers.

AAMA Mission

The mission of the AAMA is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care.

Medical Assisting Creed

The Medical Assisting Creed of the AAMA sets forth medical assisting statements of belief: 

  • I believe in the principles and purposes of the profession of medical assisting. 
  • I endeavor to be more effective. 
  • I aspire to render greater service. 
  • I protect the confidence entrusted to me. 
  • I am dedicated to the care and well-being of all people. 
  • I am loyal to my employer. 
  • I am true to the ethics of my profession. 
  • I am strengthened by compassion, courage, and faith. 

The AAMA Code of Ethics for Medical Assistants

The AAMA Code of Ethics for medical ​​assistants sets forth principles of ethical and moral conduct as they relate to the medical profession and the particular practice of medical assisting. 

Members of the AAMA dedicated to the conscientious pursuit of their profession, and thus desiring to merit the high regard of the entire medical profession and the respect of the general public which they serve, do pledge themselves to strive always to: 

  1. Render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity. 
  1. Respect confidential information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performance of duty to divulge such information. 
  1. Uphold the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines. 
  1. Seek to continually improve the knowledge and skills of medical assistants for the benefit of patients and professional colleagues. 
  1. Participate in additional service activities aimed toward improving the health and well-being of the community. 

Our History

Established in 1956, the AAMA continues to be the only association devoted exclusively to the medical assisting profession.

The Maxine Williams Scholarship fund honors the association's first president and supports medical assisting students to this day.

Past National Presidents

Term YearNamePresident's State
1957 **Maxine Williams, CMA-A (AAMA) Kansas
1958 *Mary E. Kinn, CMA-A (AAMA), CPS California
1959 *Lucille T. Swearingen Oklahoma
1960 *Marian Little Iowa
1961 Bettye Fisher Baldwin Indiana
1962 *Lillie Woods California
1963 *Alice F. Budny Wisconsin
1964 Judy Coleman, CMA-AC (AAMA) Texas
1965 *Rose M. Merritt Georgia
1966 *Marge Slaymaker Kansas
1967 *Elvera M. Fischer, RN, CMA-C (AAMA) Illinois
1968 Margaret Swank Webber, CMA-C (AAMA) Ohio
1969 *Mildred R. Crawford, CMA-AC (AAMA) Texas
1970 *Ruth H. Dize Virginia
1971 *Marie Young Indiana
1972 *Helen Stephens Utah
1973 *Elisabeth Massey, CMA-AC (AAMA) California
1974 *Marian G. Cooper, CMA-C (AAMA) Pennsylvania
1975 *Betty Lou Willey, CMA-AC (AAMA) Michigan
1976 *Laura Lockhart Haynes, CMA-AC (AAMA) Ohio
1977 *Joan C. Michaels, CMA-A (AAMA) North Carolina
1978 *Jeanne Green Bloom, CMA-A (AAMA) Iowa
1979 *Wini A. Schwartz, CMA-AC (AAMA) California
1980 *Jean Mobley, CMA-AC (AAMA) Texas
1981 *Dot M. Sellars, CMA-A (AAMA) Virginia
1982 Mabel Ann Veech, CMA-A (AAMA) Florida
1983 *Betty J. Mays, CMA-A (AAMA) Arizona
1984 Janet M. Hensinger Connell, CMA-A (AAMA) Kentucky
1985 Ivy Reade Relkin, CMA-AC (AAMA), BSEd New York
1986 *Margaret Corcoran, CMA-AC (AAMA) New Jersey
1987 Josephine M. Estrada, RN, CMA-AC (AAMA) Texas
1988 *Ann M. Jordana, CMA-AC (AAMA), RT Florida
1989 Barbara E. Parker, CMA-AC (AAMA), CCS-P Washington
1990 Juanita M. Blocker, CMA-C (AAMA), LPN Alabama
1991 Jean E. Keenon, MAEd, CMA-A (AAMA) Alabama
1992 Mary Lou Allison, CMA-C (AAMA) Florida
1993 Janice C. Caplan, CMA-A (AAMA) New York
1994 Geneva H. Straughan, MBA, CMA-A (AAMA) Texas
1995 Cheryl A. Vineyard, CMA (AAMA), CPC, BUS New Mexico
1996 Ima L. Backstrom, CMA (AAMA) Arkansas
1997 Carol S. Clapp, CMA (AAMA), EMT, CPC Tennessee
1998 Norma J. Parker, CMA (AAMA) Nebraska
1999 Glenda C. Cartee, CMA (AAMA) South Carolina
2000 Joyce Y. Nakano, CMA-A (AAMA), BA California
2001 Mary L. Dey, CMA-AC (AAMA) Michigan
2002 *Julianna S. Drumheller, CMA (AAMA) Virginia
2003 *Luella F. Wetherbee, CMA (AAMA), CPC Idaho
2004 Theresa A. Rieger, CMA (AAMA), CPC Oklahoma
2005 Lee F. Damon, CMA (AAMA) New York
2006 Mary C. Dyer, CMA-A (AAMA) Texas
2007 Rebecca L. Walker, CMA (AAMA), CPC North Carolina
2008 Linda A. Brown New Jersey
2009 Kathryn Panagiotacos, CMA (AAMA) Florida
2010 *Boni Bruntz, CMA-A (AAMA) Colorado
2011 Betty Springer, CMA-C (AAMA) Florida
2012 *Ann Naegele, CMA (AAMA) Texas
2013 Chris Hollander, CMA (AAMA) Colorado
2014 Nina Watson, CMA (AAMA), CPC California
2015 Charlene Couch, CMA (AAMA) Utah
2016 Paula Purdy, CMA (AAMA) Oregon
2017 Julie Flaatten, CMA (AAMA), RN, EMT Wisconsin
2018 Lisa Lee, CMA (AAMA) Utah
2019 Susan Hawes, CMA (AAMA), MBA, RHIT, FACMPE Maine
2020 Debby Houston, CMA (AAMA), CPC Virginia
2021 Debby Houston, CMA (AAMA), CPC Virginia
2022 Patty Licurs, CMA (AAMA), CPC South Carolina
2023  Deborah Novak, CMA (AAMA) Ohio
2024Monica Case, CMA (AAMA)Tennesee
2025Virginia Thomas, CMA (AAMA)Virginia

 

*Indicates deceased.

**Maxine Williams, CMA-A (AAMA), and *Carmen Kline, CMA-A (AAMA), co-chaired the founding meeting of the AAMA in 1955.

Note: Italics indicate name changes after the presidency. Also, the state in which the person resided at the time of the presidency is indicated.

AAMA Life Members

1967 Mary E. Kinn, CMA-A (AAMA), CPS
1976 *Maxine Williams, CMA-A (AAMA)
1976 *Carmen Kline, CMA-A (AAMA)
1981 Marian G. Cooper, CMA-C (AAMA)
1982 *Mildred R. Crawford, CMA-AC (AAMA)
1983 *Lucille Swearingen
1992 Laura Lockhart Haynes, CMA-AC (AAMA)
1993 Ivy Reade Relkin, CMA-AC (AAMA), BSEd
1995 Josephine M. Estrada, RN, CMA-AC (AAMA)
1996 Jean E. Keenon, MAEd, CMA-A (AAMA)
2000 Crystal Coleman, CMA-AC (AAMA)
2003 Ann M. Jordana, CMA-AC (AAMA), RT
2005 Glenda C. Cartee, CMA (AAMA)
2006 Mary Lou Allison, CMA-C (AAMA)
2009 Janice C. Caplan, CMA-A (AAMA)
2011 Luella F. Wetherbee, CMA (AAMA), CPC
2013 Carol S. Clapp, CMA (AAMA), CPC
2014 Cheryl Vineyard, CMA (AAMA), MEd, CPC
2017 Joyce Nakano, CMA-A (AAMA), BA
2018 Boni Bruntz, CMA-A (AAMA)
2020 Ann Naegele, CMA (AAMA)
2022 Charlene Couch, CMA (AAMA)
2023  Rebecca Walker, CMA (AAMA)

*Indicates deceased.

Note: Italics indicate name changes after earning Life Membership.

What We Do

Advocacy
Represents the interests of medical assistants on a national level. Learn about our public affairs initiatives. 

Certification
Offers the Certified Medical Assistant—the CMA (AAMA)—credential, which is a widely recognized standard of excellence in the field. The AAMA provides confirmation of the credential for employers.

Education and Resources
Provides educational programs, publications, and resources to help medical assistants stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and best practices. The AAMA offers a scholarship to support medical assisting students. Our industry-leading publications keep medical assistants informed and up to date.

Community and Networking
AAMA membership offers opportunities for medical assistants to connect with peers and build professional relationships, while taking advantage of educational opportunities and savings programs. 

Scope of Practice Protection
Scope of practice laws for medical assistants may vary by state. The AAMA provides information and advice about scope of practice.

 

The Organization

Leadership

Learn about volunteers who help lead the AAMA.

Governance

The organization's structure enables achievement of core priorities.

State Societies and Chapters

View a list of state societies and chapters that serve medical assistants locally.
Staff

The AAMA staff implements strategic priorities and manages operations.