Fri Jan 03 13:50:00 UTC 2025: ## AMA’s First Chief Equity Officer, Aletha Maybank, Resigns to Pursue New Venture
**Chicago, IL** – Aletha Maybank, the American Medical Association’s (AMA) groundbreaking first chief equity officer, is stepping down after five and a half years. Maybank, a highly respected health equity advocate, spearheaded the AMA’s reckoning with its deeply racist past, including its historical exclusion of Black physicians and its complicity in the unethical practices of former president J. Marion Sims.
Under Maybank’s leadership, the AMA issued a report acknowledging its long history of discriminatory actions and committed to dismantling racism within the medical field. Her work has been widely praised for bringing the organization into a new era of accountability.
However, her departure comes as a surprise to many health equity advocates, particularly given recent legal challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Maybank stated her decision was personal and that she plans to launch a new venture focused on the intersection of art and medicine, leveraging narrative and storytelling to promote health equity.
AMA CEO James Madara thanked Maybank for her dedication and resilience in the face of criticism, acknowledging the challenging nature of her work. The AMA has initiated a search for her replacement.
While some fear this departure signals a setback in the fight against racism in medicine, Maybank expressed confidence that the AMA remains committed to its anti-racist initiatives. She emphasized her continued dedication to health equity and urged others to persevere in the face of challenges. The impact of her work on the AMA and the broader field of health equity remains significant.
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