History of Local Society

The San Diego Chapter of the National Medical Association (NMA) was chartered in 1972 with the help of Dr. Phillip Smith, then active NMA member in the Charles Drew Society of the NMA. The newly established "San Diego Chapter of the NMA" was incorporated in 1974 by a dedicated group of local physicians that included Drs. Richard Butcher (family medicine), Warren Terry (deceased, family medicine) Harold Burt (retired, OB-GYN), and Veil Wyatt .

In the early 1970's, during a time when access to health care for the underserved was significantly threatened, this chapter made a remarkable historical move in 1972 by founding the first ever community clinic---the NMA Comprehensive Health Center. At this time, the clinic has no legal affiliation with the NMA.

To be compliant with the guidelines as outlined in the national association’s constitution and by-laws, in 2006, the San Diego Chapter’s name was officially changed to the San Diego Society of the NMA.

Meetings Schedule

General sessions are held on the 4th Wednesday of the each month beginning at 7PM. The quarterly meetings in February, May, August, and November are typically sponsored dinner meetings with guest lecturers. A meeting calendar is available to show the updated schedule for meeting dates.

Vision, Mission, and Goals of Society

Vision: Contribute to the elimination of health disparities in San Diego County.

Mission: Uphold the vision, mission, and goals of the NMA and, where applicable locally, support organizational programs of the national Association.

Goal: In accordance with those goals of the national office, the SDS of NMA goals include:

• PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - Keep NMA members abreast of rapidly occurring advances across the various medical specialties and the changes affecting medical practice via communication efforts by email and the website.
• SCIENCE AND SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE- Advance scientific and clinical knowledge to identify and facilitate new directions in medicine at least twice during the calendar year.
• PUBLIC HEALTH - Prevent health problems and promote healthy lifestyles, particularly among African American and underserved populations by partnering with the local public health department and other African American health centered organizations to focus on immunization and HIV/AIDS.
• HEALTH POLICY- Advocate to improve the status of health and the quality and availability of health care to African American and underserved populations by meetings with local policy leaders.
• MEDICAL EDUCATION - Facilitate an increase in the representation of African Americans and other underrepresented groups in medicine through partnering with the local academic medical institution.
• RECOGNITION - Honor those who have made outstanding achievement pertaining to health, medicine and the National Medical Association.