Abstract: An authoritative text for health policy makers and health historians presents a comprehensive and comprehensible review of the American Medical Association (AMA) activities and interactions with health promotion and US health policy from 1940 to the present. The 23 text chapters are focused in 4 principal areas. The first area addresses the changing US medical care system, medical and surgical breakthroughs, and the major move towards the development of medical specialization fields, defining the changing environment in US health brought about by medical advances and an increased attention in US policy over the past 44 years. The second area describes the role and functions of the AMA. Most of the text addresses the third area, covering significant events in medical policy and costs. The final section discusses the interactions of the AMA with medical education, medical science, and medical care today. Information on the "physician masterfile", AMA's response to the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE), interviews conducted to develop the text material, and a listing of AMA chairmen and presidents, are appended. (wz).