INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Amber Comer, Ph.D., J.D., has taken on the significant role of director of ethics policy and secretary of the council on ethical and judicial affairs at the American Medical Association (AMA).
In her new position, Comer is responsible for overseeing all policy-related activities concerning ethics within the AMA and its council on ethical and judicial affairs. Specifically, she will oversee managing the development and periodic updates of ethics guidance within the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, which serves as the official policy stance of the AMA on matters of ethical significance in the realms of medicine and healthcare.
Comer will also be responsible for supervising the creation of educational resources based on the AMA Code, targeting both medical students and physicians. In addition, she will oversee the submission of code-based manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, collaborate with the AMA advocacy team to identify legislative and regulatory proposals requiring ethics evaluation and prepare responses to government stakeholders, including congressional committees, U.S. federal agencies, and state legislatures.
Comer will also engage with AMA Enterprise Communications to address media inquiries, draft letters to the editor, and review amicus briefs, and other legal documents intended for submission to court cases supported by the AMA. Moreover, she will prepare responses to inquiries related to ethics from various stakeholders, including AMA leadership, such as the board of trustees, physicians, patients, and the wider public. Additionally, Comer will collaborate with the AMA international relations team to offer substantive support for the World Medical Association and other international medical initiatives.
Holding degrees from Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health and Indiana University McKinney School of Law, Comer serves as an associate professor of Health Sciences in the School of Health & Human Sciences and IU School of Medicine. Comer is also affiliated with the Center for Bioethics, the RESPECT Center, and the Regenstrief Institute, as well as holds an adjunct faculty position at the McKinney School of Law.
“It is indeed an honor for both the School of Health & Human Sciences at Indiana University and the American Medical Association to have Dr. Comer in her prestigious role as director of ethics policy and secretary of the council on ethical and judicial affairs,” School of Health & Human Sciences’ Dean Rafael Bahamonde said. “Her extensive qualifications and dedication will undoubtedly shape the future of medical ethics for the benefit of all in the healthcare field.”
Comer will continue to hold her title as associate professor of Health Sciences and Medicine at Indiana University and Indiana University School of Medicine.