American Medical Association’s next CEO brings policy experience and ‘digital savvy’

Just a month ago, Dr. John Whyte posted a video on his LinkedIn page, talking about the career lesson he wished he knew at the age of 21.

John Whyte, MD, has been named the next chief executive officer of the American Medical Association. He'll begin in the role on July 1.

Whyte said that it would have been good to know earlier that careers don’t have to follow a straight line.

“You think you have to have the perfect career plan, but what I’ve learned, it’s those unexpected detours, those pivots, those chance conversations, and even those failures, that can help you have the best career,” Whyte said.

“I thought I was going to be a surgeon,” he explained. “And here I am, someone who’s involved in health policy and media, and I love the career I’ve chosen.”

Now, Whyte’s career has taken him to a leading role in health policy. Whyte has been named the next chief executive officer and executive vice president of the American Medical Association, which represents more than 271,000 physicians. He’ll begin in the post on July 1.

Whyte will succeed James L. Madara, MD, who has led the AMA for 14 years. Madara said last year he would step away at the end of his contract.

Most recently, Whyte served as the chief medical officer for WebMD, a position he has held for nearly seven years. He has held posts at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Whyte also spent several years as the chief medical expert on the Discovery Channel, and he has written several books. The AMA touted his standing as a leading health influencer.

Bruce Scott, MD, the AMA’s president, praised Whyte in a post on X. “With digital savvy, health policy expertise, and clinical experience, he's set to lead a bold new era in American medicine,” Scott said.

In a news release, Whyte said he is honored “to join the AMA as CEO and serve all patients and physicians across the country.”

“I have tremendous respect and admiration for this venerable, science-based organization and its important work that improves the lives of millions of people,” Whyte said. “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 has been a strong proponent for the increasing use of AI in medicine. Two out of three doctors (66%) say they are using AI in their practice, a significant uptick from 38% in 2023, according to an AMA survey released in February.

But Whyte has suggested physicians could do more to unlock the potential of AI and should look beyond using AI to help with documentation.

In a December 2024 op-ed for USA Today, Whyte wrote, “For the most part, doctors are using AI all wrong.”

Whyte wrote that AI can be used to help reduce medical errors and save more lives, but he said wider adoption is hampered by regulatory hurdles’ and “doctors’ own pride.” Whyte champions the power of AI to examine huge amounts of data to detect patterns doctors may not easily see, if at all.

“AI has extraordinary potential to transform the practice of medicine and help patients lead longer and healthier lives,” Whyte wrote. “But to make that a reality, doctors and regulators will have to view it in a new light.”

The AMA serves as a major voice for physicians in federal health policy. The association has been pushing Congress to boost payments to physicians through the Medicare program. The AMA says that Medicare payments haven’t kept up with the cost of practices and are forcing practices to stop accepting Medicare patients or shut down. The AMA has also been pushing Congress for reforms regarding insurers’ use of prior authorization, saying delays and denials of treatment are hurting patient care.

Michael Suk, MD, chair of the AMA’s board, pointed to Whyte’s varied experience.

“Dr. Whyte is an exceptionally qualified leader who has distinguished himself across many fronts,” Suk said in a statement. “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.”

Whyte earned his medical degree at Hahnemann University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Duke University Medical Center and served as a physician and research fellow at Stanford University Medical Center. He also earned a Master of Public Health degree in health policy and management at Harvard University.

Whyte’s career may not have followed a straight line, “and that’s a good thing,” as he said in his LinkedIn post. He now finds himself in a role where he can have a key role in shaping health policy.

As he said in his video, “Be open to opportunity, and even be open to chance as well.”