ABOUT US

What is the AMTA? The American Medical Tennis Association (AMTA) is a non-profit educational organization whose purpose is to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs for physicians. Physicians earn Elective CME credit for participating in the scientific program "Omni-Specialty Medical Update." A non-elimination tennis tournament for physicians and spouses complements the scientific program. The domestic and international meetings are sited at tennis resorts. The AMTA is celebrating its 39th anniversary and has over 150 successful meetings to its credit. The official thrust of the AMTA is to encourage fitness in the medical community through participation in tennis. There is a special place for all tennis playing physicians, no matter what your proficiency level may be. This allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy membership in the AMTA. Since its beginning, three distinct types of tennis-playing physicians have been attracted to the association: top-level tournament players, club players, and novice or beginner players. The format has been designed to serve each level and allow everyone an opportunity to enjoy the events - physicians and spouses alike. Click here to see our current Board of Directors. It All Began in 1967 The AMTA was born in the summer of 1967 when Dr. Bill McGannon, a Lakewood, Ohio opthamologist, wrote Mr. Bill Drake, editor of a sports and leisure magazine published for Physicians. Dr. McGannon suggested that Mr. Drake publish an article about tennis in the magazine. The persuasive doctor submitted a comprehensive treatise on tennis which was published in the July/August 1967 issue...and the feedback from the readers was such that Dr. McGannon and Drake felt they had a mandate to form a medical/tennis group. Without knowing where they were going or what they were going to accomplish, the doctor and the editor invited all physicians who were interested in tennis to join the ATMA. The applications began to flood Drake's office, 300-plus in less than 60 days, and the AMTA was off and volleying. Among those early joiners were two physicians from widely separated states, Dr. Andre Capi, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. Charles Supple, Palm Springs, California. First Meeting in Florida, 1968 Dr. Capi and Dr. Supple offered to host tournaments for the fledgling association in their respective cities. Dr. McGannon assigned Dr. Capi with dates in Frebruary, 1968, and the first of a long series of AMTA meetings was conducted. Appropriately enough, the tournament director of that meeting was Mr. Jimmy Evert, father of those precocious ladies who have made the name Evert internationally famous. Dr. Supple conducted the second AMTA meeting at the famous Charlie Farrell Racquet club in Palm Springs, in April 1968, and a pattern began to develop for future meetings. Since those first two events, the AMTA has convened in such interesting places as Newport Beach, CA; Tucson, AZ; San Francisco, CA; the Bahamas island; Hilton Head Island, SC; Amelia Island, Fl; the Gulf Coast of Florida; tennis resorts at New Braunfels and Austin, TX; Williamstown, MA; Pinehurst, NC; Seattle, WA; the Hawaiian Island; La Costa, Carlsbad, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Wickenburg, AZ; Kiamesa Lake, NY; Wesley Chapel, FL; Isle of Palms, SC; and Napa, CA. The impact of this unique medical association has even spread overseas. In June, 1971, Dr. Stanley R. McCambell, Oklahoma City, the second president of the AMTA, led an AMTA delegation to Monte Carlo, Monaco, to participate in an international scientific meeting where the scientific program was augmented with an exciting international tennis competition. At that meeting, Dr. McCampbell called together representatives from each of the countries represented (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Austria) and directed the formation of the World Medical Tennis Society (WMTS). Now, there are over 50 countries that are delegated to the world group. Annual meetings are conducted, structured in the pattern of the AMTA format with scientific, recreational and social functions featured. Founder and First President In those formative months, Dr. McGannon served as the first president. He was assisted by an executive committee consisting of Drs. Supple, McCampbell, and Ira Parker of Oklahoma City. Selected to serve on the first board of directors were Drs. Robert Blake and Bill Kohl, Tucson, Arizona; Paul McBride, Huntington Beach, California; and Ernie Reiner, Tampa, Florida. In 1969, the Association appointed Drake, who had left the magazine with which he had been associated, to be the executive director. The Association was issued a charter as a non-profit corporation in Oklahoma shortly thereafter, and a quarterly newsletter was originated. The AMTA has been blessed with strong leadership. In 1970, Dr. McCampbell succeeded Dr. McGannon as presidend, and introduced the first AMTA constitution. Dr. Supple followed Dr. McCampbell as the chief AMTA executive officer. The 70's also saw great leadership from Dr. Ernie Reiner, Dr. Sam Montello and Dr. Lon Olsen. The 80's were a period of continued growth led by Presidents Home Peabody, Jack Jacobson, Farris Coggins, Jim Manion, John Pagana, David Hunter, John Osmer, Steve Cagle, Jim Van Brocklin and Jack Pulizzi. The 90's began with Jim Manion (second term), Rick Back, and in 1993 Larry Repsher from Denver, Colorado was President with Glynn Bergeron as President-Elect. In 1990, Bill Drake retired after 22 illustrious years as Executive Director. Dr. Jim Van Brocklin, a former AMTA president, responded to the call of duty and served for over a year as Interim Executive Director. In the Fall of 1991, Al Evans, Ph.D. and husband of member Dr. Cassandra Evans, assumed the responsibilities of Executive Director. In 1998, Sheryl Treadwell, wife of Dr. Terry Treadwell, held the position of Executive Director for 5 successful years. The current Executive Director is Betty Olsen, wife of Dr. Lon Olsen and member since 1969. Currently there are over 500 active members in the AMTA and data is available on over 5,000 tennis playing physicians who have been referred to the organization or have been members in the past. A more complete history has been written and published by Dr. Stan McCampbell. Honoring Co-Founder, Bill Drake Bill Drake, our Executive Director for 23 years, passed away suddenly on Sept. 12th, 2001. Bill leaves a legacy to long be remembered by all of us who knew him and to those who in the future will enjoy his ATMA creation. It is a legacy of love, compassion, respect, and great imagination for the ATMA, its many members, and physican friends all around our wide world. As Bill has said to us so many times, we now say to him, "Thank you and God Bless."