The Evolution of AAMC Affinity Groups
Last updated July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, the AAMC has transitioned the structure of its affinity groups to be even more collaborative, easier to navigate, and better aligned with the priorities of our constituents and the association. This evolution represents an important step forward for the AAMC and the academic medicine community it serves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Overview of New Affinity Groups
- What are affinity groups?
- What has changed and why?
- What has not changed?
- What is the timeline for these changes?
- How does the new group structure benefit AAMC constituents?
- What are the new affinity groups?
Engaging with the New Groups
- How can I join one of the new groups?
- Can constituents join more than one group?
- How does this impact the AAMC Virtual Communities for affinity groups?
- How can I find resources or other content from the former affinity groups?
Governance
- How will the significant contributions of affinity groups and constituent leaders be recognized?
- What does this mean for how affinity groups will be convened and governed in the future?
- Will groups support opportunities for regional activities?
- Will the AAMC continue to provide opportunities for constituents to convene around tough issues facing professionals working in academic medicine?
What are affinity groups?
The AAMC’s professional development groups—known as affinity groups—are a valuable source of professional growth, leadership development, networking, and collaboration for the individuals at our member institutions. Affinity group members are people at the heart of America’s medical schools and academic health systems who power the various leadership, administrative, clinical, education, community, and research functions needed to advance the missions of academic medicine.
AAMC affinity groups provide these purpose-driven professionals with the opportunity to convene around shared skills, interest areas, and challenges, and to network with others who understand the unique complexities of academic medicine. These groups are central to the AAMC’s engagement with its constituents, providing vital pathways to seek constituent feedback and insights on critical issues affecting academic medicine. Volunteer group steering committee members, in particular, are an essential link between the AAMC and its member institutions.
What has changed and why?
Effective July 1, 2026, the AAMC has transitioned to a new set of 11 affinity groups that will provide a fresh approach and bring together broader groups to address challenges and opportunities facing academic medicine. The new group structure features 11 strategic, purpose-driven groups designed for impact and sustainability:
- Affinity groups with shared areas of interest and similar professional focus have been combined to promote even greater collaboration and to amplify their collective voice.
- Most groups now have an expanded and more flexible vision/purpose and will appeal to a broader range of participants.
- The affinity groups have new names that will make it easier for current and future participants to navigate and find their professional fit.
What has not changed?
The AAMC’s mission and vision have not changed. We remain deeply committed to convening our community and supporting the professional development of our constituents through these affinity groups.
All affinity groups will continue to be led and supported by the AAMC’s Constituent Engagement team staff. These refinements are intended to strengthen internal processes and provide more consistent, high-quality support.
These changes do not impact the structure of our governance councils and organizations, and other communities that are not considered part of the current affinity group model. These include the Council of Deans (COD), Council of Academic Health System Executives (CAHSE), Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS), Organization of Resident Representatives (ORR), Organization of Student Representatives (OSR), Government Relations Representatives (GRR), and the Compliance Officers’ Forum (COF).
What is the timeline for these changes?
The new group structure was announced in October 2025 and went into effect July 1, 2026. Throughout the transition, the AAMC regularly communicated with each of our constituents directly to explain what this change means for them: how their current affinity group is evolving or expanding, and—where relevant—what additional affinity groups they may want to consider joining.
On July 1, the AAMC published new web pages for each of the new affinity groups on aamc.org.
How does the new group structure benefit AAMC constituents?
The modernized affinity group structure better reflects the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the people who work in academic medicine. It also enables the AAMC to improve the way we support these groups.
Groups now have an expanded and more flexible vision and purpose and will appeal to a broader range of participants. New group names will make it easier for current and future participants to navigate and find their professional fit. And the evolution of affinity groups with shared areas of interest and similar professional focus will facilitate collaboration and amplify their collective voice.
In addition, we know that some members of our community have been challenged to join affinity groups and/or accept roles on steering committees due to a number of factors, including the pressures of the external environment. The new affinity group structure will make group participation and leadership opportunities more accessible for everyone.
This evolved group structure will also facilitate broader and more meaningful participation from constituents outside of our member medical schools who work for academic health systems and in clinical care locations, as well as constituents who support the graduate medical education and training missions. .
What are the new affinity groups?
Effective July 1, 2026, the AAMC’s new affinity groups are as follows.
| New Group | Potential Participants | Former Group | New Group Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Relations Group | This community brings together professionals engaged in philanthropy, alumni relations, strategic communications, marketing, community relations, and other roles focused on engagement. It serves as a forum for sharing best practices, building skills, fostering connections, and exploring innovative approaches to fundraising, constituent engagement, relationship-building, brand management, and storytelling. | Group on Institutional Advancement | externalrelationsgroup@aamc.org |
| Learner Access, Support, Opportunity, and Retention Group | This community of institutional leaders, administrators, faculty, and professional staff is dedicated to fostering achievements, inclusive excellence, well-being, and readiness among applicants and learners for transitions across the continuum of medical education. It serves as a forum for exchange of ideas and scholarship in mission-critical areas - admissions, student affairs, financial aid, student records, academic support, learner progression, advising, wellness, and equitable access to opportunities - from pre-matriculation through graduation and transition to residency. | Group on Student Affairs | learnersupport@aamc.org |
| Faculty and Staff Vitality Group | This community supports medical school faculty and staff professionals and is committed to advancing faculty development, engagement, inclusive excellence, and well-being across medical schools. It focuses on fostering meaningful career pathways, promotion and tenure, enhancing teaching and leadership skills, supporting work-life integration, and promoting a culture of recognition and inclusion. | Group on Faculty Affairs; Group on Collaboration, Engagement, and Community; and Group on Women in Medicine and Science; Group on Business Affairs – Human Resources Interest Group | facultystaffvitality@aamc.org |
| Biomedical Research Advancement, Training, and Oversight Group | This community focuses on the biomedical research enterprise and connects faculty, staff, and administrative leaders who advance biomedical discovery, education and training, workforce development, oversight, and innovation within academic medicine. It focuses on fostering research excellence; supporting education and career and professional development for biomedical PhD students, MD-PhD students, and postdoctoral scholars; and addressing federal funding and oversight of research, including interactions between academia, industry, and government. | Group on Research, Education, and Training; Group on Research Advancement and Development; Forum on Conflict of Interest | biomedicalresearch@aamc.org |
| Curriculum, Assessment, Instruction, and Research Group | This community brings together faculty, learners, and staff professionals, engaged in the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of medical education across the continuum (undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and continuing professional development). Focus areas include curriculum innovation, evidence-based instructional methods, educational research and scholarship, and meaningful assessment of learner outcomes. | Group on Educational Affairs | mededinnovation@aamc.org |
| Medical Education Leadership and Administration Group | This community unites faculty leaders and staff professionals who manage and support the operational and strategic functions of the medical education mission. It focuses on areas such as accreditation, program management, regional campus leadership, policy development, transitions, and learner services across the continuum of undergraduate and graduate medical education (specifically related to educational programming), as well as continuing medical education. | Medical Education Senior Leaders; Group on Regional Medical Campuses; Chief Academic Officers | mededleadership@aamc.org |
| Finance and Business Affairs Group | This community brings together staff professionals responsible for the financial and administrative health of academic health campuses, including medical schools and academic health systems. It focuses on strategic budgeting, resource allocation, financial planning, and departmental leadership across all missions. | Group on Business Affairs/Principal Business Officers; Senior Administrative/Fiscal Officers; Group on Faculty Practice | financebusiness@aamc.org |
| Planning and Operations Group | This community connects faculty and staff professionals involved in the strategic and operational planning efforts that support the mission of medical schools and academic health systems. Focus areas include facilities management, organizational strategy, process improvement, institutional effectiveness, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, and change management. | Group on Institutional Planning; Chief Operations Officers; Chiefs of Staff | planningops@aamc.org |
| Technology and Data Group | This community brings together faculty and staff professionals who leverage technology and data to advance the missions of medical schools and academic health systems. Focus areas include IT support across all missions, data analytics, information systems, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. | Group on Information Resources | techdata@aamc.org |
| Clinical Leadership and Physician Enterprise Group | This community will convene professionals leading the delivery, management, and continuous improvement of inpatient and ambulatory clinical services within academic health systems whose professional interests include clinical operations, quality and safety, patient experience, interprofessional collaboration, strategic and operational oversight of the faculty practice plan and/or other components of the clinical enterprise, and the alignment of clinical and academic missions. | Chief Medical Officers' Group; Group on Faculty Practice | clinicalleadership@aamc.org |
| Graduate Medical Education Group | This community brings together faculty and staff professionals responsible for the administration and oversight of graduate medical education programs. Focus areas include accreditation compliance, program management, resident and fellow support, data reporting, and policy development. | Group on Resident Affairs; Group on Educational Affairs; Program Directors | GMEgroup@aamc.org |
How can I join one of the new groups?
Based on your previous affinity group involvement, you have automatically been enrolled in a new affinity group that aligns with your professional role. No action is needed on your part. You are welcome to join additional AAMC affinity groups as well, based on your role or area of professional interest. Feel free to send questions to the individual group email addresses noted above.
Can constituents join more than one group?
Yes. Our intent is for new group structures to be broader, more flexible, and to permit constituents to join more than one group or to move easily between groups if they choose. For example, someone may identify with one group as their “networking home” because of shared roles but might also join another group based on professional interest in the topic area.
How does this impact the AAMC Virtual Communities for affinity groups?
AAMC Virtual Communities are not going away. The virtual communities for the new affinity groups will be available beginning July 1, 2026.
How can I find resources or other content from the former affinity groups?
Webpages for the new affinity groups were published on the AAMC’s website when the new groups went into effect on July 1, 2026. Webpages for former groups will remain available through December 2026 to support the transition. You can also contact your constituent engagement director or the individual group email addresses noted above to request a specific resource.
How will the significant contributions of affinity groups and constituent leaders be recognized?
We recognize the tremendous contributions of AAMC affinity groups and constituent leaders, and we are continuing to recognize these contributions through awards and other forms of acknowledgement. During the 2026 spring meeting season, many groups held events or activities to recognize the work of the former affinity groups, and steering committee members received letters of appreciation from David J. Skorton, MD, AAMC president and CEO. Additionally, the AAMC is developing digital recognition collections for each affinity group that will be shared with group members later in 2026.
What does this mean for how affinity groups will be convened and governed in the future?
In February 2026, the AAMC finalized governance and administration documents for each new group, including:
- Rules and regulations, approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with AAMC bylaws.
- An administrative manual that codifies a group’s name, purpose, membership, roles, programs, and other operations.
- Steering Committee transition plans, including guidance for the first transitional year.
- Recommendations on how groups may more effectively engage with each other and with the AAMC to seek and share feedback.
Additionally, we are evaluating how and when Professional Development Conferences (PDCs) and networking will occur, the right mix of in-person and virtual learning opportunities, and how to best convene across groups around topics of interest.
Will groups support opportunities for regional activities?
Effective July 1, 2026, the AAMC transitioned to a model of AAMC Regional Scholarship Meetings, as communicated to steering committees in February 2026 along with governance and administrative materials for each new affinity group.
Future gatherings will strengthen the academic medicine community by creating accessible, collaborative spaces for faculty, staff, and learners—at every career stage—to share scholarly work, build regional connections, and advance excellence across the academic mission. These events underscore the AAMC’s commitment to an evidence based future for academic medicine and support the development, dissemination, and impact of social sciences research across disciplines. While scholarship is represented within many AAMC meetings and at Learn Serve Lead: The AAMC Annual Meeting, constituents have expressed a desire for smaller, regional, scholarship focused meetings that bring together the full range of scholars and practitioners, from novice to expert, for deep discussion and connection.
We do not anticipate the first regional meetings to take place until FY2028 (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028) at the earliest. We look forward to working with constituents and collaborators across academic medicine to support a thriving, evidence-driven future for this model. More information about timelines, planning processes, and opportunities for involvement will be shared as this model is further developed.
Will the AAMC continue to provide opportunities for constituents to convene around tough issues facing professionals working in academic medicine?
Yes. The AAMC remains committed to being the premier source of convening, leadership development, and learning for the academic medicine community. During this transitional period, we will continue developing our new model to understand the different ways (e.g., in-person meetings, virtual convenings, topic-based conversations) that constituents will be able to engage with different groups.