Atlanta —  The Atlanta Medical Association (AMA) will install a Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) faculty chair as its new president Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008. William Lynn Weaver M.D., FACS, chair and professor of the MSM department of surgery, will be inaugurated as the organization celebrates its annual Heritage Scholarship Ball. The black-tie event will be held at the Atlanta downtown Omni Hotel.

"On reflection I realize that I would not be president without MSM, the institution that has given me the opportunity to educate students, train residents, work with the brightest minds and most caring people I know and assume a leadership position. That reflection also reminds me that without the AMA there would be no MSM, or many of the opportunities we now have. In honor of those who opened the doors for us and in recognition that there are still battles to fight, I urge all MSM physicians to join the AMA and support the Heritage Ball," said Weaver.

Weaver has a long history of leadership within the medical community. He has served as president of the Georgia Surgical Society, president of the American College of Surgeons (Georgia chapter), president of the Atlanta Surgical Association, Georgia governor to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and Georgia counselor for the Southeastern Surgical Congress. He is the first surgeon to serve as president of both the Georgia Surgical and ACS Georgia Chapter at the same time and is the first African American to hold the above positions. Weaver also is chair of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association (NMA).

Atlanta will host the 2008 NMA meeting, during which MSM and AMA will be showcased.