Dr. Aletha Maybank, the American Medical Association’s (AMA) inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer, will be stepping down from her role at the end of 2024 after more than five years of service.
During her tenure, Maybank was at the forefront of initiatives that addressed health disparities and promoted equity within the medical community.
Maybank’s departure marks a significant turning point for the AMA, which has yet to announce a successor.
Under her leadership, the AMA launched several critical programs that focused on increasing diversity in the medical workforce and enhancing access to care for marginalized communities. Her work contributed to shaping the AMA’s health equity policies and addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately impact underrepresented groups.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Dr. Maybank expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout her career.
She thanked the AMA management team, the Board of Trustees, the House of Delegates, and members, both past and present, for providing the foundation on which to build and for offering coverage during challenging moments.
“Thank you to AMA management team, the Board of Trustees, the House of Delegates, and members, both past and present, for providing the foundation on which to build and for providing coverage during moments of resistance,” Maybank wrote. “Thanks to those I have developed great relationships also engaged in this work whether implicitly or explicitly; many I now consider friends.”
She also thanked her family and friends for their unwavering support. “Thanks to my family and friends who have stood with me and for me. I am blessed—the foundation is sturdy and the harbor safe.”
Looking ahead, Maybank revealed her next phase will involve diving into the intersection of narrative, art, and health.
She shared that her immediate focus will be to care for her aging mother and take space to reflect on how to care for herself as a caregiver. She also expressed a desire to curate her next chapter in a way that is meaningful and impactful while offering advice and support to others navigating the year ahead.
“My next phase will land in the pool of narrative, art, and health. However, my immediate ‘next up’ is space to care for my aging mother, space to figure out how to care for the caretaker—myself, space to curate my next phase into what is meaningful and impactful, and some space to support and advise some of y’all to help navigate through 2025+.”
Dr. Maybank’s departure will be felt across the healthcare and public health sectors, but her legacy of advocating for health equity is expected to endure through the programs and policies she helped implement.
The AMA remains committed to its mission of advancing health equity, with plans to continue driving meaningful change in the years to come.
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