Empowering Health Innovations
Since 1975, the Association has participated in a wide variety of externally funded projects. These projects have been funded by federal, state and local governments, private foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and private corporations. In addition, the NMA has experience working with several research institutes at the National Institutes of Health.
Since 1975, the Association has participated in a wide variety of externally funded projects. These projects have been funded by federal, state and local governments, private foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and private corporations. In addition, the NMA has experience working with several research institutes at the National Institutes of Health. They include the National Cancer Institute, the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, among other federal entities.
The NMA has an extensive national, regional, and local infrastructure for promoting its programs. It has over 100 state and local affiliate societies that are organized within six geographic regions, providing an optimum structure for the implementation of programs that have a national, regional and local impact.
The organizational structure of the NMA provides an established framework of collaborative linkages within which physicians, as a principal group of health professionals, can be mobilized to address major health issues and implement national health program initiatives and treatment programs. These physicians and the health institutions they are affiliated with are a “natural” structure for addressing concerns that disproportionately or differentially impact minorities and underserved populations.
Our Programs
Explore Our Programs
Explore our diverse range of programs that embody our commitment to making a positive impact on the field of medicine and beyond.
Breastfeeding
The NMA Breastfeeding Alliance was established in 2014 to help educate patients and professionals about the benefits of breastfeeding. For more than 30 years, African American women have had the lowest breastfeeding rates of all ethnicities. The gold standard is six months of exclusive breastfeeding, but among African Americans, the rate is only 20% compared to 40% among whites. Research shows that breastfeeding has benefits for both the babies and for mothers. For example, breastfed babies have lower rates of otitis media, diarrhea, and hospitalization for lower respiratory illnesses, and decreased incidences of allergies, asthma, childhood obesity and SIDS. Mothers who breastfeed experience decreased incidences of breast/ovarian cancers.
Our goal is to increase the rate of breastfeeding among African American women.
LINKS
- The State of Breastfeeding in 2015
- 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
- The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis.
- Importance of Breastfeeding to Women’s Health
- Breastfeeding Leader’s Guide
- The Health Care Providers Role in Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes Among Minority Women
- Breastfeeding: The Organic Choice
- Where Can We Do More? Medical Schools, Hospi tals, Clinics, Community-Based Organizations
Environmental Impact
Explore the intersection of climate and health on NMA’s Environmental Impact page. Discover how environmental factors impact public health, and learn about our initiatives to address climate-related health challenges. Join us in advocating for policies that promote environmental sustainability and safeguard the well-being of communities nationwide.
Health Resources
Mission
To advance healthcare equity, NMA mobilizes physicians to address major health issues and implement national initiatives, prioritizing disparities affecting minorities and underserved populations.
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Be Part of a Collective Impact
By joining the NMA, you join a network of friends, colleagues, and peers who share your passion and dedication to the medical profession. The strength of the NMA lies in the commitment of individual members like you, working together to make a lasting impact on healthcare.
