What is Southern Medicine?

Southern medicine generally refers to the medical practices and traditions developed in the southern United States, particularly in the "Deep South." Conventional Western medicine, alternative medicine, and even traditional healing methods passed down through generations in Southern communities encompass the history of Southern medicine.

Southern medicine encompasses diverse and evolving practices and beliefs passed down within southern communities.

For more than 100 years, SMA has been committed to fostering the science and art of medicine through multidisciplinary, interprofessional (team-based) education. In support of this commitment, SMA has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for over 40 years.

Disclosure: This article was written with the assistance of AI technology.

Mission

To improve the quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education.

Vision

Physician-directed educational and leadership activities that include diverse teams of healthcare professionals
interacting, collaborating, and learning for the purpose of improving quality of patient care.

Foundational Principles

Our Relevance is found in Collaboration with entities and organizations with similar and complementary missions and memberships. Engagement with Academia including our medical schools and their academic medical centers and health systems. Embracing and Implementing a Youth strategy which acknowledges the importance and the special needs and concerns of young physicians and health care providers, physicians in training, medical students and even potentially undergraduate college students interested in a future health care career.

  • COLLABORATION

    "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." We believe in fostering relationships with individuals, entities, and organizations with similar and complementary missions and memberships. That's why we are a 501(c)(3). We exist to improve the entire system of healthcare. This requires a team approach to problem solving.

  • ENGAGING ACADEMIA

    Our mission centers on education, so it's imperative that we engage with and support the efforts of medical schools, residency programs, academic medical centers, and health systems by supporting the professional development of the next generation of healthcare providers.

  • YOUTH STRATEGY

    We acknowledge the needs and concerns of medical students, residents, physicians, and health care providers of all types; the importance of supporting their professional development and passing along knowledge and experience from one generation to the next.

Accredited CME Provider

Since 1983, SMA has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as a provider of CME for physicians. Our CME Mission is to offer interventions for the multidisciplinary, interprofessional healthcare team that facilitate change and improvement in the learners' ability to deliver better quality of care. SMA offers many different opportunities to obtain CME credit both live and on demand. SMA can also accredit your organization's quality improvement programs through Joint Providership.

Southern Medical Journal

As the official journal of SMA, the Southern Medical Journal  has for more than 100 years provided the latest clinical information in areas that affect patients' daily lives. The SMJ has a multidisciplinary focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists in all relevant aspects of the profession, including medicine and medical specialties, surgery and surgery specialties; child and maternal health; mental health; emergency and disaster medicine; public health and environmental medicine; bioethics and medical education; and quality health care, patient safety, and best practices. Each month, articles span the spectrum of medical topics, providing timely, up-to-the-minute information for both primary care physicians and specialists. Contributors include leaders in the healthcare field from across the country and around the world. The SMJ enables physicians to provide the best possible care to patients in this age of rapidly changing modern medicine.
SMJ, Southern Medical Association

RESEARCH & EDUCATION

In 1986, SMA established an Educational Endowment Fund to provide funding for scholarships, research projects and other programs supporting the educational purposes of the Association. Purposes of the Fund are: to provide an investment in the future of medical and health care delivery; to stimulate interest in conducting research; to provide financial aid to deserving medical students; to initiate a professional career development relationship with SMA; and to recognize or memorialize donors and their designees.
SMArtBowl Medical Trivia Competition

We are committed to being transparent about our educational programming, organizational activities, and finances. We believe a high level of transparency is required to maintain public trust in the work we are doing and the mission we seek to achieve. SMA Profile on Guidestar: https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/63-0196615

SMA HOME OFFICE STAFF

Randy Glick
Executive Director
Kendra Blackmon
Director of Operations
Caroline Branche
Director of Outreach and Fundraising
Susan Gonzalez
Director of Education and CME Compliance
Rachel Holliyan
Administrative Assistant
Vicki Johnson
Customer and Member Services Coordinator
Jennifer Price
Director of Communications
SMJ Managing Editor

It is the policy of Southern Medical Association and it's affiliates to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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