Wellbeing
AMA Adopts New Policies on AI in Medical Education, Gun Violence Prevention and Physician Shortages
10 Nov 2026
The American Medical Association has introduced new policies calling for greater transparency and human oversight in AI-assisted medical education, financial accountability for firearm-related injuries and the removal of additional examination fees for international medical graduates.
Orlando, Florida, 10 November 2026 – The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted three new policy positions addressing the use of artificial intelligence in medical education, the public health costs of firearm violence and financial barriers facing international medical graduates seeking to practise medicine in the United States.
The policies were approved by physicians and medical students during the final day of the AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting in Orlando.
One of the decisions focuses on the growing use of AI in medical school admissions, examinations and residency selection, calling for greater transparency, fairness and meaningful human oversight when technology influences decisions affecting medical careers.
The association also adopted policies advocating financial contributions from firearm manufacturers towards the costs of gun violence and seeking the elimination of additional examination fees imposed on international medical graduates taking licensing examinations outside the United States and Canada.
Together, the measures reflect the AMA's priorities concerning healthcare access, medical education and the responsibilities of institutions involved in shaping the US healthcare system.
AMA Calls for Human Oversight and Transparency in AI Medical Assessments
As artificial intelligence becomes more widely used across healthcare, medical schools and professional training programmes are introducing AI-powered tools to support student assessments and admissions decisions.
These systems can assist educators in generating examination questions, analysing student performance and processing large volumes of applications.
AI is also being introduced into residency and fellowship selection, where software may support application reviews, interview evaluations and candidate rankings.
While these tools can reduce administrative workloads, the AMA has raised concerns about transparency and the possibility of unfair or inaccurate assessments.
Under its newly adopted policy, the association supports risk-proportionate transparency when generative AI is used in medical education assessments.
It also calls for meaningful human review throughout the medical education process, covering medical students, residents, fellows and practising physicians participating in continuing medical education and professional certification.
The policy extends to admissions and selection procedures, where AI-generated recommendations could influence which applicants receive opportunities to enter or advance within the medical profession.
The AMA believes applicants and learners should have access to fair review procedures, including opportunities to request reconsideration of decisions influenced by AI.
Dr. Amar H. Kelkar, MPH, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, said:
AI has the potential to help faculty manage a growing volume of applications and assessments of physicians-in-training and in practice, but it should support, not replace, human judgment in decisions that shape a physician's career.
Kelkar also emphasised the importance of transparency for students and applicants when AI systems are involved in evaluating their performance.
According to the AMA, introducing clear review and appeals mechanisms could help address concerns about bias and ensure that automated systems do not unfairly limit opportunities in medical education.
Why AI Governance Matters for the Next Generation of Physicians
The AMA's decision comes as educational institutions explore how AI can support the assessment of clinical knowledge, professional competencies and applications for medical training.
Although automated systems may improve efficiency, their use raises questions about the information used to evaluate candidates and the extent to which decisions can be explained.
For example, an AI-supported admissions system may process academic results, application documents and other information to help selection committees evaluate applicants.
If its recommendations are influenced by incomplete information or biased historical patterns, candidates could face disadvantages that are difficult to identify without appropriate oversight.
The association's new position seeks to ensure that medical educators remain responsible for decisions made with the assistance of AI tools.
Its policy also supports transparency in how generative AI contributes to examination development and learner assessments.
For medical schools and training institutions, the guidance may encourage closer examination of existing AI systems, including their reliability, evaluation methods and procedures for handling complaints.
However, the AMA's policy does not establish a new federal regulatory requirement or prohibit the use of AI in medical education.
Instead, it defines the association's position and provides a foundation for future advocacy and guidance on responsible technology adoption.
AMA Calls for Firearm Manufacturers to Contribute to Gun Violence Costs
The second policy addresses firearm-related injuries and deaths, which the AMA has long recognised as a public health crisis in the United States.
The association is calling for firearm manufacturers to contribute financially towards the healthcare and social costs associated with gun violence.
According to the AMA, firearm injuries place substantial demands on patients, healthcare providers, hospitals and public resources.
The policy proposes that financial contributions from manufacturers could support evidence-based violence prevention programmes and services for individuals and communities affected by firearm injuries.
Supporters of the proposal drew comparisons with approaches involving tobacco and opioid manufacturers, where companies have faced financial accountability for harms associated with their products.
Dr. Melissa J. Garretson, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, said:
Firearm violence is a public health crisis whose heart-breaking consequences are borne by patients, families, communities and taxpayers.
She added that requiring manufacturers to contribute could provide additional resources for prevention efforts and encourage investment in firearm safety.
The AMA highlighted the impact of firearm injuries on children and adolescents, as well as the role of firearms in suicide deaths.
It also pointed to unequal health and financial consequences affecting communities with limited access to healthcare and people who rely on Medicaid or lack insurance coverage.
The adopted measure represents an AMA advocacy position. It does not itself introduce a compulsory payment system or establish new legal liability for firearm manufacturers.
Any binding financial requirement would depend on subsequent legislative, regulatory or legal action.
Removing Financial Barriers for International Medical Graduates
The third policy focuses on international medical graduates (IMGs), who contribute to healthcare delivery across the United States.
Internationally trained physicians serve patients in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings, including rural communities and areas experiencing shortages of medical professionals.
However, the AMA says international medical students and graduates can face additional financial barriers when pursuing the qualifications needed to enter the US physician workforce.
Candidates who take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) at testing centres outside the United States and Canada are charged international test-delivery surcharges in addition to standard examination registration fees.
These additional charges can increase the cost of obtaining medical qualifications required for professional progression.
Under its newly adopted policy, the AMA will advocate for fee parity between domestic and international examination candidates.
The association intends to work with the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Federation of State Medical Boards and Intealth ECFMG to seek the elimination of geographic test-delivery surcharges across USMLE examinations.
The policy also calls for transparent and standardised examination costs if scheduling arrangements change or additional international testing centres become available.
Dr. David J. Welsh, MBA, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, said:
Exam fees should not differ based on testing location.
He argued that removing unnecessary financial barriers could help qualified physicians and physicians-in-training pursue opportunities within the US healthcare workforce.
The AMA's announcement does not mean international examination surcharges have already been eliminated.
The association will need to engage with the relevant examination organisations to pursue the changes outlined in its policy.
Medical Workforce Shortages Bring New Attention to International Recruitment
The AMA's position on licensing examination fees comes amid continuing concerns about physician workforce shortages in the United States.
International medical graduates contribute to patient care across several specialties and provide services in communities where recruiting physicians can be difficult.
Financial barriers during medical training and examination processes can add to the challenges faced by internationally trained candidates.
The AMA argues that reducing those costs could make the pathway into the US healthcare workforce more accessible.
However, examination fees represent only one component of the process.
International medical graduates must still meet relevant educational, examination, residency, immigration and professional licensing requirements.
Changes to examination surcharges would therefore address a specific financial obstacle rather than resolving every barrier involved in entering medical practice in the United States.
The association's policy also reflects the need to consider how administrative requirements affect the availability of qualified healthcare professionals.
What the AMA's New Policies Mean for Healthcare
The three measures adopted at the November 2026 Interim Meeting address different areas of healthcare policy, but each concerns the responsibilities of institutions whose decisions affect patients and medical professionals.
For medical education, the AMA is calling for clearer safeguards around AI-assisted assessments and selection processes, with human reviewers remaining accountable for decisions.
In gun violence prevention, the association wants manufacturers to contribute towards the financial burden associated with firearm injuries and support prevention programmes.
For international medical graduates, it is seeking more consistent examination fees to reduce the cost of pursuing professional qualifications.
These positions are now part of the AMA's policy agenda and may inform its future advocacy with educational institutions, professional bodies and policymakers.
Their practical impact will depend on how the relevant organisations respond and whether proposed changes are adopted.
As healthcare institutions expand their use of AI and respond to workforce pressures, the policies highlight the importance of transparency, accountability and equitable access within the medical profession.
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is a US professional organisation representing physicians and medical students and advocating for policies that support medical practice and patient care.
The association brings together more than 190 state and specialty medical societies and other healthcare stakeholders.
Its work covers medical education, public health, professional standards, healthcare policy and developments affecting the medical workforce.
The AMA House of Delegates serves as the organisation's principal policymaking body, bringing together physician representatives to debate and adopt professional policy positions.
Official website: https://www.ama-assn.org/
