Florida Physician Cecil Wilson New AMA President

Inaugurated at AMA Annual Meeting Today

CHICAGO, June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cecil B. Wilson, M.D., an internist from Winter Park, Florida was inaugurated today as the 165th president of the American Medical Association (AMA) at its Annual Meeting.

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As president of the AMA, Dr. Wilson will lead the nation's largest and most influential physician organization, and serve as an advocate for patients and physicians on the top health care issues facing our nation.  

"As physicians, we have the opportunity to heal and the responsibility to do no harm," said Dr. Wilson. "At this historic time, we have the opportunity to assure that our county's health care system bears the imprint of physicians and we have the responsibility to bring to that task a voice that is clear, firm and constructive."

In his inaugural address as AMA president, Dr. Wilson spoke to the nation's physician leaders and pledged to bridge differences in the medical profession and focus on improving the health care system for patients and physicians.  He outlined his prescription to address four leading challenges to our health care system: Medicare physician payment, inefficiencies in health care delivery, medical liability and skyrocketing costs. 

First elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2002, Dr. Wilson served a one year term as board chair in 2006. Prior to being elected to the AMA Board of Trustees, he served 10 years in the AMA House of Delegates as a representative for the physicians of Florida.

Dr. Wilson has a distinguished record of service and leadership in organized medicine. He has chaired the boards of the American College of Physicians and the Florida Medical Association, where he has also served as president. For his dedication to organized medicine and to his patients, Dr. Wilson was honored with the Certificate of Merit from the Florida Medical Association, and the prestigious Laureate Award from the Florida chapter of the American College of Physicians.

In addition to his work within organized medicine, Dr. Wilson has served as a board member of COLA, a physician-run organization that accredits more than 8,000 physician office laboratories nationwide. He is also a past president of the Florida Statewide Health Council and past chair of the Local Health Council of East Central Florida.

After receiving his bachelor's degree in history and medical degree from Emory University, Dr. Wilson completed his residency in internal medicine at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Portsmouth, Va.. He served as a Navy flight surgeon, rising to the rank of commander. Dr. Wilson has been in private practice in Central Florida for more than 30 years. He is board-certified in internal medicine and a master of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Wilson and his wife, Betty Jane, have three children and three grandchildren.

SOURCE American Medical Association