HOUSTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Medical Association (AMA) proudly presented Lisa James, Director of Health at the Family Violence Prevention Fund, with the Citation for Distinguished Service today at its semi-annual policy-making meeting. The Citation for Distinguished Service is the highest honor the AMA House of Delegates bestows on a non-physician.

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"Ms. James has worked selflessly on the connection between health and family violence for many years, and we're delighted to honor her with the Citation for Distinguished Service," said AMA President J. James Rohack, M.D. "Ms. James' work in identifying and preventing family violence has helped educate medical communities both nationally and abroad."

Ms. James, of Berkeley, California, has developed educational materials for health care professionals on domestic violence and is the editor of four Family Violence Prevention Fund manuals. She has collaborated with health care professionals, domestic violence experts and health policy makers in 15 states to develop statewide health care responses to domestic violence, and coordinates the biennial National Conference on Health Care and Domestic Violence and the US Department of Health and Human Services designated National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Ms. James was a steering committee member of the AMA's national Advisory Council on Violence and Abuse and a board member of the Academy of Violence and Abuse. Prior to joining the Family Violence Prevention Fund, she worked in the Czech Republic to develop educational and public health programs for Czech and Slovak students. She has a Master's degree in Women's Studies and social policy from the University College Dublin, Ireland and a Bachelor's degree in Humanities from San Francisco State University, California.

About the American Medical Association

The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues. Working together, the AMA's quarter of a million physician and medical student members are playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org

SOURCE American Medical Association