National Medical Association Installs Brandi Kaye Freeman, MD, as its 127th President
NMA Inaugurates New President During 124th Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – July 29, 2026) The National Medical Association (NMA), the largest and oldest organization representing Black physicians and their patients in the United States, installed Brandi Kaye Freeman, MD, as its 127th President during the 124th NMA Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly yesterday evening. Dr. Freeman succeeds Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD. Her presidential theme, “Ensuring Our Living Legacy: Elucidating the NMA Blueprint for Generational Health,” reflects a bold call to action to advance equitable health care, strengthen the physician workforce, and improve health outcomes for communities across the nation. The ceremonial installation took place Tuesday, July 28, at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dr. Freeman is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair of Health Opportunities and Professional Engagement (HOPE) for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She also serves as an Attending Physician at the Child Health Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she is a practicing primary care pediatrician and health services researcher. Her work focuses on eliminating health inequities through evidence-based practices, improving quality of health care delivery, advancing equitable health care, supporting the well-being of minority communities, and identifying strategies that help children thrive during early childhood.
“As I accept the tremendous honor of serving as the 127th President of the National Medical Association, I do so with gratitude, humility, and an unwavering commitment to our mission,” Dr. Freeman said. “This is a defining moment for our nation and for our profession. Together, we will continue building a future where every patient has access to quality care, every physician is empowered to lead, and every policy reflects our commitment to health equity and justice. I am honored to stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, and I look forward to leading the NMA as we write the next chapter of our history together.”
A dedicated leader within the NMA, Dr. Freeman was elected NMA President-Elect in 2025 after serving as Speaker of the House of Delegates, Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates, Secretary of the House of Delegates, and Region VI Trustee. She is the first former Student Trustee and Post Graduate Trustee to be elected President of the organization and the first NMA President to reside in Colorado.
Dr. Freeman earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and French from Duke University before completing post-baccalaureate studies at the Mayo Clinic. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Baylor College of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Children’s Center as a member of the Harriet Lane Housestaff, and later earned a Master of Science in Health Policy Research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.
Throughout her career, Dr. Freeman has championed physician leadership, mentorship, and health equity. She is a graduate of The Links, Incorporated Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute, the American Academy of Pediatrics Women Equity Leadership Program, the Children’s Hospital Colorado Provider Leadership Development Program, and the Association of American Medical Colleges Healthcare Executive Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program. She is a National President Emeritus of the Student National Medical Association, has served as a mentor for the Tour for Diversity in Medicine since 2012, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated. Her honors include the American Medical Association Inspiration Award from the Women’s Health Section, recognition as an NMA Post Graduate Top Physician Under 40, and selection as a National Minority Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health. In 2024, she was named one of the inaugural fellows of the National Academy of Medicine State Health Policy Fellowship Program.
Held July 25 through 29, the 2026 NMA Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly brought together physicians, medical students, residents, researchers, health professionals, and policy leaders from across the country under the theme, “The New Reconstruction: Mobilizing Healthcare Justice for a New America: Our Patients, Providers, and Policy.” Throughout the meeting, attendees participated in scientific sessions, policy discussions, leadership development, and collaborative efforts focused on improving health outcomes and advancing justice in medicine.
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About the National Medical Association:
The NMA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. and promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We serve as the voice of Black physicians and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities, and promotion of optimal health. To learn more about the NMA, please visit https://www.nmanet.org/.
