A professor in the MU School of Medicine has been elected president of the largest medical specialty group in the U.S.

Professor of Medicine David Fleming will serve as president-elect of the American College of Physicians beginning April 11, and his official presidency will begin in April 2014.

As president of the ACP, Fleming will represent the college at multiple national and international events. He will also be responsible for advising the Board of Regents in formulating policies.

The election results did not come as a surprise to Fleming, as there were only four or five individuals nominated by the Board of Regents, the policy-making branch of the ACP, Fleming said.

I am very thrilled about this, Fleming said. It is an honor to be selected and represent the organization at a very high level.

The ACP, founded in 1915, is the largest medical-specialty organization in the country. It has 133,000 members consisting of professionals, students, internal medicine sub-specialists and fellows.

It started out as an education institution but has grown since then to educate and mentor internal medicine doctors, said Alan Forker, governor of the Missouri chapter of the ACP in 2011. The organization also monitors and responds to policy issues affecting the healthcare system.

Fleming, a former governor of the Missouri chapter of the ACP, held a position on the board of governors for a year before joining the Board of Regents in 2012.

The board nominated Fleming for presidency, and he won by a majority, Forker said.

(Fleming) is a great leader and contributor to policy formations, Forker said. I think his leadership, great voice and expertise helped him get to where he is. He is going to be a fabulous president.

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Professor to head American College of Physicians