JAMA
Peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association.
JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of biomedicine. The journal was established in 1883, with Nathan Smith Davis as its founding editor, and it superseded the earlier Transactions of the American Medical Association. In its early decades, medical journals were similar to other forms of journalism, and publishing in JAMA was considered a privilege of membership in the AMA. Before the 1920s, the editor’s primary concern was simply filling the journal’s pages, but between the 1910s and the mid-1920s, submission volume increased enough to allow rejections based on quality, marking the start of a selective editorial process. Routine peer review was not formally institutionalized until after World War II. The journal acquired its current title, JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, in 1960. The publisher describes it as the most widely circulated general medical journal globally, with over 101,000 print recipients, more than 2.9 million recipients of electronic tables of contents and alerts, and over 29 million annual website visits. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo became editor-in-chief on July 1, 2022, succeeding Howard Bauchner. According to Journal Citation Reports, the journal’s 2025 impact factor is 65.4, ranking it 4th out of 336 journals in the category “Medicine, General & Internal.” JAMA Network reports that the journal accepts 10% of more than 11,500 annual submissions and 4% of more than 5,400 research manuscripts. The journal has also been involved in notable events, including the publication of an article by sitting U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016, which was not subject to blind peer review, and a 2021 controversy over a podcast and tweet regarding structural racism that led to the resignation of the deputy editor and the editor-in-chief.
Lore & Background
In the late nineteenth century, medical journals closely resembled other kinds of journalism, and publishing in JAMA was understood as a privilege of AMA membership. Prior to the 1920s, the editor's main concern was filling the journal, but between the 1910s and the mid-1920s JAMA entered the 'turndown era,' when submission volume was high enough to start rejecting submissions based on quality. The journal did not institutionalize routine peer review until after World War II. Established in 1883 by the American Medical Association, it superseded the organization's earlier Transactions. Its founding editor was Nathan Smith Davis. The journal is published 48 times per year and covers all aspects of biomedicine through original research, reviews, and editorials. Its publisher claims it is the most widely circulated general medical journal globally, with over 101,000 print recipients, more than 2.9 million electronic table-of-contents subscribers, and over 29 million annual website visits. The journal accepts 10% of its more than 11,500 annual submissions and only 4% of over 5,400 research manuscripts. Its 2025 impact factor is 65.4, ranking it 4th out of 336 journals in general internal medicine. The current editor-in-chief is Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, who assumed the role on July 1, 2022. A notable 2016 publication featured an article by sitting U.S. President Barack Obama, the first academic paper ever published by a sitting president, which was not subject to blind peer review. From 1964 to 2013, the journal featured artwork on its cover, a practice intended to link humanities and medicine, before a redesign moved the art inside; the arts feature was discontinued entirely in 2024. A 2021 controversy over a podcast and tweet regarding structural racism led to the resignation of the deputy editor and the editor-in-chief.
Reader's Guide
JAMA has been a central force in medical publishing since its founding in 1883, when it replaced the AMA’s earlier transactions and functioned more like general journalism, with publication initially seen as a membership benefit. By the 1910s, submission volume had grown enough to allow selective rejection, though routine peer review was not formalized until after World War II. The journal adopted its current name in 1960. It is published 48 times annually and claims to be the most widely circulated general medical journal globally, with over 101,000 print recipients, nearly 3 million electronic table-of-contents subscribers, and more than 29 million yearly website visits. Its 2025 impact factor of 65.4 ranks it fourth among 336 general internal medicine journals. Acceptance rates are highly competitive: roughly 10% of over 11,500 total submissions and only 4% of more than 5,400 research manuscripts. The journal’s influence extends beyond research dissemination. It has engaged with public policy, most notably in 2016 when it published an article by President Barack Obama—the first academic paper by a sitting U.S. president—which bypassed blind peer review. Editorial independence became a flashpoint after the 1999 firing of editor George Lundberg, prompting creation of a seven-member oversight committee that meets annually. A 2021 controversy over a podcast and tweet about structural racism led to the deputy editor’s resignation and the editor-in-chief’s departure, with commentators arguing the episode stifled meaningful dialogue. From 1964 to 2013, the cover featured artwork with accompanying essays to link humanities and medicine; a 2013 redesign moved the art inside, and the feature was discontinued in 2024. Continuing medical education listings, once a semiannual or annual print section, transitioned in 2016 to a digital platform across the JAMA Network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JAMA?
JAMA, short for The Journal of the American Medical Association, is a peer-reviewed medical publication released 48 times per year under the American Medical Association's banner. It covers the full spectrum of biomedical research and clinical practice.
What types of content does JAMA publish?
The journal features original research articles, review pieces, and editorial commentary spanning every area of biomedicine.
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