Melissa Montgomery, age 13, of Fargo, N.D., for her question:

WHEN WAS THE AMA FOUNDED?

The AMA, more properly known as the American Medical Association, was founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897. The organization was formed to promote medical knowledge and protect the welfare of United States physicians.

Activities of the association include maintaining standards of medical education and ethics, providing scientific information to the profession and health education information to the public and developing programs to advance the practice of medicine and serve the health needs of the public.

The AMA publishes the "Journal of the American Medical Association," "The AMA News" and 10 specialty journals.

The association holds semiannual conventions and scientific assemblies.