Oncologist Barbara McAneny voted AMA president-elect
McAneny served as AMA board chair from 2015 to 2016 and has been a board member since 2010.
The American Medical Association has appointed New Mexico oncologist Barbara L. McAneny, MD, as its new president.
Physicians voted for McAneny as president-elect at the AMA's annual meeting Tuesday, according to the AMA. McAneny will serve a year-long term as president-elect before assuming the office of president in June 2018.
McAneny served as AMA board chair from 2015 to 2016 and has been a board member since 2010.
She previously served on the board for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and was the delegate to the AMA from the organization.
McAneny is co-founder and CEO of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants.
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At the national level, in 2012 she was awarded a federal grant to develop the Community Oncology Medical Home Model to demonstrate improved outcomes and patient satisfaction with reduced hospitalizations and costs.
The model was funded through a $20 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center, according to Politico.
In 2015, billionaire scientist Patrick Soon-Shiong's NantHealth company acquired 35 percent of Innovative Oncology's preferred stock for $1.8 million, Politico reported.
Earlier this year Soon-Shiong joined the federal Health IT Advisory Committee and came under scrutiny for allegedly orchestrating a $12 million donation to the University of Utah so that it benefited his companies. The donations were to pay for genetic analysis performed by his team, according to Healthcare IT News.
McAneny also built and manages the New Mexico Cancer Center, which provides outpatient medical and radiation oncology care and imaging at several underserved rural areas across New Mexico, the AMA said.
She has held many leadership roles in medicine including president of the New Mexico Medical Society, president of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association, and president of the New Mexico Chapter of the American College of Physicians. She served as chair of the AMA Council of Medical Service from 2009 to 2010.
McAneny has received the New Mexico Woman on the Move Award in 2005 and Woman of Influence Award in 2009, and has been voted multiple times by her peers as Albuquerque The Magazine's "Top Doc" in her specialty.
"It is a deep honor and privilege to be elected a leader of an organization that is committed to serving as a strong physician voice and a dedicated patient advocate," said Dr. McAneny. "The AMA will play a pivotal role in the changing healthcare environment as our nation confronts pressing healthcare issues. With vision and perseverance, I look forward to creating a brighter future for patients and the medical profession."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
