American Medical Association
The organization that has written America's medical rulebook — and fought over it — since 1847.
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Founded in 1847 to raise standards of medical education and licensing, the AMA's Chicago headquarters anchors nearly 180 years of U.S. healthcare politics. It campaigned against 19th-century patent medicines, publishes JAMA, and maintains the Current Procedural Terminology coding system — first published in 1966 — used for identifying physician and practice specialties across the country. With 271,660 physician and medical student members as of 2022, it remains a leading professional association and lobbying group shaping U.S. healthcare policy.
What to look for
- JAMA — the Journal of the American Medical Association — published by the organization
- References to the House of Delegates, the governing body representing physician and medical student members
- The AMA Code of Medical Ethics, maintained here alongside the Physician Masterfile covering all U.S. doctors
The AMA operates as an active professional office building; confirm public access before visiting.
American Medical Association is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Chicago, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Chicago pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Chicago
- Willis TowerIt held the world's tallest title for nearly 25 years after opening in 1973 — and the Skydeck is still the highest observation deck in the United States.
- Art Institute of ChicagoFour paintings you've seen your whole life — Nighthawks, La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, American Gothic — hang in the same building.
- John Hancock Center (875 N Michigan Ave)A moving platform pivots you 30 degrees outward over the Magnificent Mile — 1,128 feet of nothing beneath your feet.
- Aon CenterWhen it opened in 1973 as "Big Stan," this 83-floor tower was the fourth-tallest building on Earth — and clad entirely in marble.
- United CenterThe Bulls hardwood floor is literally assembled over the Blackhawks ice and taken apart game by game — two teams, one frozen surface, shared by puzzle.
- Soldier FieldThe NFL's oldest stadium lost its National Historic Landmark status because of the renovation meant to save it.