New President to Lead CMA-USA at the March for Life

January 12, 2024

Philadelphia, PA – January 11, 2024 – The Catholic Medical Association’s new president, Dr. Michelle Stanford, will be leading the organization at the 51st Annual March for Life that will take place January 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

The annual march gathers hundreds of thousands of advocates for the unborn and mothers hurt by abortion to continue to pray for an end to abortion and bring awareness to life-giving alternatives. Since Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, concurrent pro-life marches take place at state capitols around the country.

“The Catholic Medical Association is, and always has been, committed to protecting life from the moment of conception until natural death,” said Dr. Stanford. “We will continue to fight with hope for the day when our nation recognizes the dignity of every human life.”

Dr. Stanford, a practicing pediatrician, took leadership of the association on Jan. 1, 2024 after serving on the national board for several years in various leadership positions. She will serve a two-year term during which she will build on CMA’s strong advocacy work and strategic partnerships with other organizations to promote human dignity, the protection of all human life, and the freedom to practice medicine according to one’s conscience.

“Dr. Stanford has been very successful advocating for authentic health care on the local and state levels before coming onto the Board,” said Executive Director Mario Dickerson. “Additionally, Dr. Stanford is beloved by our student and resident members as an attentive mentor. Her deep faith is really the wellspring of all she does in service to CMA and its membership.”

Past President Dr. Craig Treptow agrees: “She is a woman of deep faith, ethics, enthusiasm, and conviction. I look forward to seeing the fruits of her presidency.”

Dr. Stanford will continue the longstanding tradition of CMA participation at the annual March for Life, adding the voice of the largest Catholic physician-led medical association in the country.

“Considering all the ethical issues physicians and health care professionals face, CMA is the answer,” she said. “It is a place where we can intertwine science, faith and reason. We are able to get together with like-minded people and discuss and debate in fruitful ways issues within the practice of medicine. We learn how to become better physicians by treating all our patients with the dignity of the human person and with evidence based medicine –– that’s good health care.”

To promote good health care compels Dr. Stanford and other CMA members to march for a country that will safeguard the fundamental right to life.

Join CMA at the March by meeting at the southeast corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street by the National Gallery of Art at noon on January 19. Please remember to wear your white coats. Members will march together. For any additional questions, email info@cathmed.org. To schedule an interview with Dr. Stanford at the March for Life, contact Communications Director Nadia Smith at nadia@cathmed.org.