John Whyte, MD, MPH, named CEO of AMA

John Whyte, MD, MPH © ama-assn.org

The American Medical Association (AMA) has named John Whyte, MD, MPH, as its next chief executive officer (CEO), placing a physician and policy veteran at the helm of the nation’s largest medical organization amid a period of rapid technological change and mounting pressure on the health care system.

Whyte, 58, currently chief medical officer (CMO) at WebMD, will assume the role on July 1. He succeeds James L. Madara, MD, whose 14-year tenure saw AMA membership swell to its highest level in three decades.

“Dr. Whyte is an exceptionally qualified leader who has distinguished himself across many fronts,” said AMA Board Chair Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA. “He is uniquely positioned to lead the AMA at this pivotal time and offers a deep and nuanced understanding of the AMA’s mission, governance, and evolving role, ensuring both continuity and meaningful progress toward the association’s goals.”

A board-certified internist with nearly 30 years of clinical experience, Whyte has also held high-profile positions in media, regulatory policy and public health advocacy. His career includes stints at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Discovery Channel and WebMD, where he helped transform the company into a wellness platform that connects directly with both patients and physicians.

“I am honored to join the AMA as CEO and serve the nation’s patients and physicians,” Whyte said in a statement. “I have tremendous respect and admiration for this venerable, science-based organization and its important work that improves the lives of millions of people. I see significant opportunities for a strong and vibrant AMA to fulfill its core mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.”

Whyte earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Pennsylvania, now a part of Drexel University College of Medicine, before completing residency and training in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He later obtained his Master of Public Health (MPH) in health policy and management from Harvard University. Whyte was also a health services research fellow at Stanford.

His public profile has grown in recent years through frequent media appearances and his role as a leading public voice for vaccine safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has written several health books and received national recognition for his advocacy.

AMA leaders say Whyte’s diverse background — including policy roles inside CMS and the FDA, where he led initiatives on clinical trial modernization and the use of real-world evidence — makes him uniquely suited to navigate this era of rapid change.

Whyte has long worked with the AMA, first as a medical student member and later as secretary of the AMA Resident and Fellow Section, chair of its governing council and, most recently, as a member of the association’s artificial intelligence (AI) committee.

His appointment also signals continuity with the association’s recent emphasis on health equity, digital innovation and combating chronic disease.

Madara, who announced his retirement last year, pledged a smooth transition and told AMA delegates in 2024 that “the challenges in medicine today are numerous and well-documented, which makes it even more critical for the AMA to maintain its momentum.”

Under Madara’s leadership, AMA membership grew by more than 33% to over 290,000 physicians and medical students. His tenure also saw the launch of long-term strategic initiatives to remove barriers to care, modernize medical education and address the public health crises of chronic disease and misinformation.

Whyte has said he intends to build on that progress while positioning the AMA to thrive in the years ahead.