National Medical Association Installs 110th President at Las Vegas Convention

- New NMA President to Address Health Care Reform and Health Disparities -

LAS VEGAS, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Delivering her inaugural address
as the 110th president of the National Medical Association (NMA), Willarda V.
Edwards, MD, MBA, shared her plans to focus on health care reform and health
disparities during her administration. The NMA is the nation's premier
organization for African American physicians.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090730/DC54481 )

Edwards is the managing partner and an internist in a partnership in
Baltimore, Maryland, and has been in private practice since 1984. Dr. Edwards
received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine
and holds a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola College of
Baltimore.

Her medical experience began with a 4-year tour with the US Navy at Annapolis
and the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. She was promoted to chief of the
Internal Medicine Department while in Annapolis. Dr. Edwards has also served
as assistant dean of Student and Faculty Development at the University of
Maryland School of Medicine.

With nearly 20 years of service in the National Medical Association, Dr.
Edwards has served on the Board of Trustees in numerous capacities, including
Chair of the Board and Treasurer. As President-elect, she chaired the Board's
Health Policy Committee which oversees the development and the implementation
of the Association's health policy agenda.

"I pledge my total commitment to fervently represent the concerns of our
organization, as we embark on this next phase of the journey toward attaining
a high quality healthcare system for our nation that is efficient, accessible
and affordable for all." said Dr. Edwards. "We will also build on the momentum
created by the work of our immediate past president, Dr. Britton, in the areas
of eliminating healthcare disparities, increasing the pipeline for minority
physicians, and promoting cultural competence." stated Dr. Edwards.

More than 3,000 physicians representing 25 specialties attended the weeklong
convention that featured presentations by numerous medical experts, policy
makers and industry leaders.

About the National Medical Association

Founded in 1895, the NMA is a nonprofit organization that is the nation's
oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more
30,000 African American physicians and their patients. The NMA advocates
health care for policies that would assure equitable and quality health care
for all.

SOURCE National Medical Association

Alisa Mosley of National Medical Association, +1-240-350-7531