The National Medical Association, or NMA, has a very important function: it serves as the collective voice of African-American doctors and patients, and it is the primary force for parity in the practice of medicine. The NMA is the oldest and largest organization in the US that advocates for African-American patients and doctors.

It is committed to improving minority health, community education, professional development, research, advocacy and partnerships with private and Federal agencies. Throughout its long history, the NMA's primary focus has been on African-American health issues but its core philosophy is inclusive.

The NMA's mission is to keep its members up to date on the changes and advances that affect all areas of medical practice. It is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and it provides continuing education for doctors at the regional, state and national levels. It strives to advance clinical and scientific knowledge to allow medicine to grow in new directions, and the Journal of the NMA is the way the association disseminates its information to the public. The journal has been produced since 1909.

The NMA is devoted to the needs of African American patients and doctors, and it is a participant in the ongoing fight for health care parity for minorities. It was the force behind the healthcare reforms that brought about Medicaid and Medicare, and it today provides leadership in shaping national health care policy.

The association is committed to increasing the number of African-American and other minority groups in the medical field, and it provides thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving medical students (both for college education as online education scholarships). The scholarships are funded by NMA members, philanthropists, corporate donations and scholarship drives.