The National Physicians Alliance (NPA) is a national, multi-specialty medical organization founded in 2005 by former leaders of the American Medical Student Association

American Medical Student Association

The American Medical Student Association , founded in 1950 and based in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. AMSA is a student-governed, national organization...

. The organization's mission statement reads: "The National Physicians Alliance creates research and education programs that promote active engagement of physicians with their communities to achieve high quality, affordable health care for all. The NPA offers a professional home to physicians across medical specialties who share a commitment to professional integrity and health justice."

The NPA was founded as an alternative to traditional trade associations that operate in a guild tradition, primarily serving the economic interests of physicians rather than advocating first and foremost on behalf of patients and public health. The NPA does not accept funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies.

A 501c(3) organization based in Washington DC, the NPA has a membership of approximately 20,000 physicians. Members must have graduated with an MD or DO degree from a professional school accredited by the LCME or the AOA-COCA; or hold a license to practice medicine within the United States.

The current president of the NPA is Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH an obstetric anesthesiologist in Pennsylvania. The Executive Director is Jean Silver-Isenstadt, MD, PhD.

See also

• Health care reform
  Health care reform
  Health care reform is a general rubric used for discussing major health policy creation or changes—for the most part, governmental policy that affects health care delivery in a given place...
  
  
• List of healthcare reform advocacy groups in the United States
• Physicians for a National Health Program
  Physicians for a National Health Program
  Physicians for a National Health Program , is an advocacy organization of some 17,000 American physicians, medical students, and health professionals founded by Quentin Young who support a single-payer system of national health insurance....
  
  
• Single-payer health care
  Single-payer health care
  Single-payer health care is medical care funded from a single insurance pool, run by the state. Under a single-payer system, universal health care for an entire population can be financed from a pool to which many parties employees, employers, and the state have contributed...
  
  
• United States National Health Care Act
• Universal health care
  Universal health care
  Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
  
  

External links

• National Physicians Alliance (NPA) official site
• 2008 Presidential Candidate Health Plan Report Card issued by the National Physicians Alliance