Argentine Medical Association
Argentina's principal professional association and learned society for physicians.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Argentine Medical Association, or Asociación Médica Argentina (AMA), is a nonprofit professional association and learned society representing physicians and advancing medical science in Argentina. It is headquartered in Buenos Aires and was established on September 5, 1891, under the name Sociedad Médica Argentina. The founding initiative emerged from a meeting of physicians led by ophthalmologist Pedro F. Roberts, José Penna, and Alfredo Lagarde. Its creation followed the economic and professional difficulties associated with the Panic of 1890. Although the founders considered forming a guild or trade union, they chose instead to establish a scientific and professional institution focused on medical advocacy, education, research, and the exchange of knowledge. The organization initially had 106 members and operated from the Illuminated Block, a historic Jesuit educational complex in Buenos Aires. It moved into its own offices in 1892. As the society expanded, its legal and organizational development led to the adoption of the name Argentine Medical Association at an assembly held on August 13, 1913. In 1917, the city of Buenos Aires granted the association a site on Santa Fe Avenue for a headquarters building, which opened in 1918. The new premises supported the association's expanding scientific, educational, publishing, and specialty-based activities. Membership exceeded 1,000 physicians by 1923. AMA organizes its work through specialty sections, affiliated societies, and committees. Early specialty groups included internal medicine, surgery, biology, microbiology, radiology, and ophthalmology. Urology and otolaryngology were added in 1922, followed by toxicology and pharmacology later in the decade. During Carlos Mainini's presidency from 1936 to 1942, the association broadened its academic scope with groups devoted to orthopedic surgery, endocrinology, nutrition, mental health, and medical history. A society for plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery joined in 1952. Over time, the institution developed a large network of specialty organizations and committees covering the increasingly complex field of medicine. The association's principal activities include scientific meetings, conferences, seminars, round tables, postgraduate education, continuing medical education, professional publications, medical research support, and collaboration with comparable organizations abroad. Its sections discuss clinical cases, diagnostic approaches, treatment, and developments in particular fields. Membership is intended for physicians who meet professional, ethical, and conduct requirements. AMA also accredits healthcare facilities in Argentina, according to the referenced institutional description. The association's Graduate School of the Argentine Medical Association, known as EGAMA, was established in 1977 to coordinate the institution's formal educational activities. Its continuing medical education school has operated since 1950 and provides courses for physicians in Argentina and abroad. The association's official periodical, the Revista de la Sociedad Médica Argentina, has been published since October 1891 and serves as a channel for scientific articles and professional discussion. Its library, opened in 1917, holds a substantial medical collection. AMA is governed through a general assembly, a steering committee, and a council comprising the committee and the presidents of its sections and subsidiaries. It is not a commercial consumer brand and does not primarily sell medical products. Its institutional value lies in professional representation, scientific legitimacy, specialist community-building, education, publishing, and the dissemination of medical knowledge. Publicly available reference material identifies Professor Dr. Elias Hurtado Hoyo as president, Professor Dr. Armando Arata as director of EGAMA, and Professor Dr. Alfredo Buzzi as editor of the association's journal; the dates of those appointments are not specified in the available material.
History
The Argentine Medical Association originated in Buenos Aires on September 5, 1891, when a conference of physicians created the Sociedad Médica Argentina. The initiative was led by Pedro F. Roberts, José Penna, and Alfredo Lagarde and was shaped by the professional and economic pressures that followed the Panic of 1890. The founders discussed whether the institution should function as a guild or trade union, but ultimately established a professional association and learned society dedicated to medical advocacy, scientific exchange, and the improvement of health. The new society began with 106 members and was initially housed in the Illuminated Block, a historic Jesuit center of learning. It obtained independent offices in 1892. Growth eventually required a more formal institutional identity, and an assembly on August 13, 1913, adopted the name Argentine Medical Association. In 1917, the Buenos Aires municipal government granted the association a site on Santa Fe Avenue. A new headquarters opened there in 1918, providing space for meetings, specialty work, education, publishing, and the association's library. Membership passed 1,000 physicians by 1923. AMA's specialty structure developed gradually. Six societies were active in 1919: internal medicine, surgery, biology, microbiology, radiology, and ophthalmology. Urology and otolaryngology were added in 1922, toxicology in 1926, and pharmacology in 1928. Carlos Mainini's 1936–1942 tenure was associated with a major expansion of academic activity. New organizations addressed orthopedic surgery, endocrinology, nutrition, mental health, and the history of medicine. In 1952, the Argentine Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery was admitted. This model of sections, societies, associations, and committees allowed AMA to accommodate new specialties as medicine became more technically differentiated. Education has remained central to the institution. AMA's continuing medical education school has operated since 1950, while the Graduate School of the Argentine Medical Association, or EGAMA, began in 1977 to coordinate formal educational activities. The association's courses cover medical specialties and postgraduate subjects and have served both Argentine physicians and participants from abroad. Scientific sections also organize lectures, round tables, seminars, and clinical case discussions intended to support professional learning and peer exchange. Publishing and information services are another longstanding function. The association's journal, Revista de la Sociedad Médica Argentina, began publication in October 1891 and serves as its official scientific periodical. The journal publishes professional and research material across medical fields and is distributed to members. A library opened in 1917 and developed a substantial collection of medical literature. AMA also promotes scientific relations with comparable organizations outside Argentina and is described in institutional material as providing accreditation for healthcare facilities nationwide. The association is governed by a general assembly, a steering committee, and an AMA council. The steering committee is headed by a chair or president elected by a majority of members present at the ordinary general assembly. The council includes the steering committee and the presidents of the association's sections and subsidiaries. Membership is directed to physicians who satisfy professional, ethical, and conduct expectations. The institution's stated objectives include advancing medicine, encouraging scientific research, facilitating exchange among specialists, contributing to medical teaching, publishing work of scientific interest, and strengthening international scientific relationships. By the period described in the available reference material, AMA had expanded into a broad national medical network comprising dozens of specialty societies, associations, and committees, with membership reported at more than 37,000 physicians. The available material does not provide a reliable current membership count, financial data, or a complete chronology of later presidents. AMA remains best understood as a nonprofit professional and scientific institution rather than a commercial healthcare brand.
- 1977
EGAMA established
[2]The Graduate School of the Argentine Medical Association was created to coordinate formal educational activities.
- 1950
Continuing medical education school established
[1]AMA began operating a school dedicated to continuing medical education.
- 1923
Membership exceeded 1,000 physicians
[1]The association's membership surpassed 1,000 physicians as its specialty structure expanded.
- 1918
New headquarters inaugurated
[1]AMA opened its new headquarters on the Santa Fe Avenue site in Buenos Aires.
- 1917
Santa Fe Avenue site and library
[1]The city granted AMA a headquarters site, and the association's library opened during the same period.
- 1913
Name changed to Argentine Medical Association
[1]An assembly held on August 13 adopted the institution's current name.
- 1892
First independent offices
[1]The society moved from its initial premises in the Illuminated Block into offices of its own.
- 1891
Sociedad Médica Argentina founded
[1]Physicians in Buenos Aires founded the organization on September 5 as a professional association and learned society.
Products and positioning
A national, physician-led scientific and professional institution focused on medical education, research, professional standards, specialty collaboration, and the dissemination of clinical knowledge.
Postgraduate medical education · 1977
Graduate School of the Argentine Medical Association (EGAMA)
EGAMA coordinates AMA's formal postgraduate and specialist education. Established in 1977, it brings together educational activities conducted through the association and its specialty organizations. Its role is institutional coordination rather than the sale of a commercial product, supporting structured learning for physicians across medical disciplines.
Medical education · 1950
Continuing Medical Education School
AMA's continuing medical education program has operated since 1950 and offers courses intended to maintain and extend physicians' knowledge after initial qualification. The referenced material describes a substantial annual student base, including participants from outside Argentina, but does not establish a current enrollment figure.
Scientific journal · 1891
Revista de la Sociedad Médica Argentina
The association's official journal began publication in October 1891. It provides a platform for scientific articles and professional expertise across medical fields and is distributed to members. The referenced institutional description characterizes it as a quarterly publication.
Professional and scientific network · 1919
Specialty sections and affiliated societies
AMA organizes physicians through sections, societies, associations, and committees representing medical specialties and subspecialties. These bodies conduct conferences, seminars, round tables, and clinical case discussions, enabling peer exchange as medical science develops.
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