Cecil B. Wilson, MD, an internist from Winter Park, Fla., became the 165th president of the American Medical Association in June 2010. Dr. Wilson has been a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees (BOT) since 2002 and served as chair of the AMA-BOT from 2006 to 2007. Dr. Wilson has also been a member of the AMA House of Delegates since 1992, and was previously elected to two terms as a member of the AMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws, of which he also served as vice chair.

Dr. Wilson has a distinguished record of service and leadership in organized medicine. He was president of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) and chair of its board of governors and executive committee. In 2003 Dr. Wilson was recognized by the FMA with its highest award, the Certificate of Merit. He served as president of the Orange County Medical Society, and of the medical staffs of the Winter Park Memorial Hospital and Florida Hospital Medical Center, Orlando, Fla.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in history and his doctorate from Emory University, Atlanta, Dr. Wilson interned at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Va., and completed his residency in internal medicine at the U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego. He served as a Navy flight surgeon, rising to the rank of commander. Dr. Wilson has been in private practice of internal medicine in Central Florida for more than 30 years. He is board-certified in internal medicine and a Master of the American College of Physicians (ACP).

Dr. Wilson’s service in organized medicine includes leadership in his specialty of internal medicine. He is a past chair of the ACP Board of Regents. He also served on the board of the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM) and was a member of the merger committee between ACP and ASIM, which resulted in the largest medical specialty society in the United States. At the state level, Dr. Wilson has received the prestigious Laureate Award for service to internal medicine from the Florida chapter of ACP.

In addition to his work within organized medicine, Dr. Wilson served as a board member of COLA, a physician-run organization that accredits more than 8,000 physician office laboratories nationwide. He is currently a national fellow and advisor for the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida, and a clinical professor in health administration in the Brooks College of Health at the university. He is also a past president of the Florida Statewide Health Council and past chair of the Local Health Council of East Central Florida.

Dr. Wilson and his wife, Betty Jane, past president of the FMA Alliance, have two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren.

2010–2011

Show full bio

Hide full bio