Yvonnecris Smith Veal becomes 4th black female to head National Medical Association

Jet, Sept 11, 1995

Yvonnecris Smith Veal recently became the fourth female and 94th president over-all of the 100-year-old National Medical Association (NMA)--the leading Black doctors organization--following an induction ceremony in Atlanta.

Dr. Veal, who is currently senior medical director of the U.S. Postal Service in New York City, has been affiliated with the NMA since 1966.

During the recent centennial convention, Dr. Veal told conventiongoers, "The NMA must do all it can to make a difference in the numbers of African-American physicians who can, and will serve our communities with compassion and excellence."

Dr. Veal, the first woman to serve as chair of the organization's board of trustees, said that her goals as president are to recruit and keep doctors within the ranks of the NMA, continue to fight for health care reform legislation which will provide universal health care, and to address racial and gender inequities in the health care field.

"We must become stronger and more aggressive advocates for what is just and right. The NMA must be vigilant and continue to play a pivotal role in representing our physicians and the patients we serve," she added.