CMA membership reaches all time high of 44k The collective voice of physicians just got a little louder. The California Medical Association (CMA) now has over 44,000 members, after a year of record-setting growth. In 2018, CMA’s active, dues paying membership grew by 6.3 percent, with a 92.2 percent retention rate. According to CMA Vice President of Membership and Marketing Mike Steenburgh, membership growth has been driven by the association’s group recruitment strategy, with several medium-sized groups signing membership agreements throughout the state this year. “We say it all the time –Together we are stronger. When we speak with one voice, the physicians of California can –and do—make a huge impact on the health of California,” said Steenburgh. “Let’s keep the momentum going. Because together, we will keep California healthy and thriving.” Learn what joining can do for your practice and patients today at cmadocs.org/why-join. January 22, 2019 CMA Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
2019 Q1 reports open for comments The California Medical Association (CMA) is now accepting comments on council reports for the first quarter of 2019. The reports represent recommendations from CMA's various councils—informed by testimony from CMA members—that will go before the Board of Trustees at its first quarter 2019 meeting. These council reports are available online and open for further comment and discussion through January 20, 2019. If you have any feedback that you think would be critical for the board to consider, now is your opportunity to make your voice heard. To view the reports and/or to make a comment, click here to access the HOD discussion portal. January 14, 2019 CMA Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Apple Valley pediatrician, Damodara Rajasekhar, M.D., San Bernardino pediatrician, honored with CMA membership award Apple Valley pediatrician Damodara Rajasekhar, M.D., has been named the 2018 recipient of the California Medical Association (CMA) Dev A. GnanaDev, M.D., Membership Award, which recognizes a special or unique effort toward membership recruitment. The award was announced today at CMA’s annual House of Delegates in Sacramento. Dr. Rajasekhar this year played a major role in continuing CMA’s partnership with Loma Linda University Medical Center, leading to a membership renewal for 440 Loma Linda physicians. “[Dr. Rajasekhar was] the vital spark that reignited the flame, creating an alliance between one of the largest and most well-respected statewide academic medical groups with the most dominant representation of organized medicine in California,” said Eric R. Hansen, DO, past-president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS), who nominated Dr. Rajasekhar for the award. Dr. Rajasekhar is a solo pediatrician in Apple Valley, where he provides primary care for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. He also provides neonatal ICU care at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville. He has been a member of CMA and SBCMS for 19 years. Dr. Rajasekhar received his medical degree from the University of Madras in India. After completing his residency in Pediatrics from the University of Connecticut Medical Center, he also completed a fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He is Board certified in both Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal medicine. After completing his fellowship in Massachusetts, he worked in Kentucky for two years before starting a solo pediatric practice in California in 1996. Dr. Rajasekhar was sworn in as president of SBCMS in June, and he is currently a member of CMA Board of Trustees, representing the Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS). Prior to that, was an OMSS board member for 10 years and served as the chair of OMSS. He is also currently the treasurer for CMA Political Action Committee (CALPAC). Dr. Rajasekhar was named “Fundraiser of the Year” by the CMA in 2017 after accomplishing the monumental feat of raising $100,000 for CALPAC—which allowed CMA to aggressively support the hospital medical staff at Tulare Regional Medical Center in its successful lawsuit against the hospital. October 16, 2018 Awards, CMA Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senator Holly Mitchell to keynote 2018 NEPO Summit Physicians for a Healthy California is thrilled to announce that California State Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) is joining the 2018 Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) Summit as keynote speaker. Senator Mitchell is a strong advocate for children, passionate defender of women’s rights and the environment, and fighter for equity and justice. She is also the founder and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Inequality. The 2018 NEPO Summit will be held September 13-15 in Pasadena. This year's theme, Building the Best You: Celebrating the Joy of Medicine, will address issues of physician burnout and provide solutions to create a culture of wellness and physician well-being. The three-day summit is an innovative educational event for physicians, public health professionals, health care advocates and community leaders that offers policy and best practices for reducing health disparities, building diversity in the workforce and increasing cultural competency in clinical care. Other featured topics and speakers include: Sleep medicine for physicians and patients: Raj Dasgupta, M.D. (as seen on The Doctors) Providing care to undocumented immigrants: Lilia Cervantes, M.D. LGBTQ cultural competency: John Madrigal Advancing diversity and inclusion: Christine Santiago Improving diagnosis of dementia: Freddi Segal-Gidan, Ph.D. Medi-Cal funding and Prop 56: Jodi Black, CMA Vice President of Economic Services and Janus Norman, CMA Senior Vice President and Chief Lobbyist. Women physicians in leadership roles: Eleni Linos, M.D., MPH, Dr.PH Mental health disparities: Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., MPH Health care in immigration detention centers: Scott Allen, M.D. The California Medical Association/Institute for Medical Quality (CMA/IMQ) designates this live activity for a maximum of 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The California Medical Association/Institute for Medical Quality (CMA/IMQ) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. August 29, 2018 CMA, General Cultural Competency, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Blue Shield CEO addresses California physicians on digital health efforts Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield California, on Friday addressed the California Medical Association’s (CMA) Board of Trustees, to discuss the payor’s initiatives to develop new health care technologies including sharable digital patient records and electronic claims among other initiatives. Markovich told the CMA trustees that Blue Shield was seeking to reduce administrative costs significantly over the next three years to help support investment in numerous digital efforts. Blue Shield and CMA announced in June a new, multi-year collaboration to develop and support a new health care model that includes technology support for independent physicians’ practices. Blue Shield and CMA launched pilot projects in Butte and Monterey counties to introduce the technology. Blue Shield is investing $30 million to support the commitment, with goal to scale the projects statewide. “CMA is proud to collaborate with Blue Shield to bring California’s health care system further into the modern age,” said CMA President Theodore M. Mazer, M.D. “This innovative pilot project will utilize state-of-the-art technology to build a new health care model that expands and streamlines patient access to care while reducing administrative work.” “This new pilot project will greatly improve patient care by utilizing technology to better meet the needs of patients in Butte County,” said former CMA President and Paradise Medical Group CEO Richard Thorp, M.D. “By streamlining administrative burdens for physicians and improving the delivery of high-quality care, this pilot project will enable physicians to focus more on treating patients rather than paperwork, and make it easier for small practices that serve rural areas to continue to provide care to our community.” Blue Shield is involved in a number of other digital health projects, including efforts to develop a statewide electronic health record platform in California. The payor is also working on a new drug-price transparency service for prescribers and patients that provides real-time, patient specific cost information on their prescriptions and alternative drugs during the doctor visit. Physicians based in Butte and Monterey who are interested in participating in the CMA/Blue Shield pilot project should contact communications@cmadocs.org. July 26, 2018 CMA, General, Managed Care Health Information Technology, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Register today for IMQ's Stepping Up to Leadership Conference The Institute for Medical Quality’s (IMQ) Stepping Up to Leadership conference will be held at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego on February 22-23, 2018. This program is widely recognized as the “go to” course for acquiring knowledge and skills to successfully lead a medical staff. Offered in conjunction with the University of California, San Diego PACE Program, the program was developed in response to a commonly expressed need for better, more practical hands-on training for medical staff leaders. In addition to interactive training in communicating and handling disruptive or impaired individuals, the 2018 program will also address workplace violence, preventing and treating physician burnout, aging physician policies, and recent legal and regulatory changes. The program offers unique hands-on and interactive learning opportunities and excellent faculty in a beautiful, relaxing, San Diego location. Thanks to a generous grant from the Physicians Foundation, this course is offered at prices significantly lower than other courses of its caliber. For more information or to register, click here. February 5, 2018 General IMQ, Institute for Medical Quality, Organized Medical Staff Section, Hospital Medical Staff, Medical Staff, Organized Medical Staff, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Theodore M. Mazer, M.D., inaugurated as California Medical Association's 150th president The California Medical Association (CMA) installed San Diego otolaryngologist Theodore M. Mazer, M.D., as its 150th president during the organization's annual House of Delegates meeting this weekend in Anaheim. Dr. Mazer has been a CMA and San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) member for 29 years. He has served on the CMA Board of Trustees since 2002, as Speaker of the House of Delegates from 2013 to 2016, and chaired various committees, including those focused on medical services and access to specialty care. Dr. Mazer is a past president of SDCMS and a delegate to the American Medical Association. "I take the role of leading this organization as an awesome responsibility,” said Dr. Mazer. “I look forward to working hard this year to ensure practicing physicians have a seat at the table to promote policies that protect our patients, our practices and our ability to care for our communities." A defender of patients’ right to access medical care, he has fought for Medi-Cal access all the way up to the Supreme Court and worked for over a decade with Congress and CMA to correct improper Medicare payment rates in San Diego and throughout California. Dr. Mazer currently practices at Sharp-Grossmont Hospital, where he has served as chair of surgery, and at Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, where he has served as chief of staff. Dr. Mazer is a consultant to the Alvarado Hospital Medical Executive Committee and was a member of the national Physicians Advisory Commission at Anthem Blue Cross. He completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Mazer is very active in San Diego’s medical community. He is founder and member of several Independent Practice Associations (IPA) and management groups. He served as a board member and medical director for several years with Mercy Physicians Medical Group. He presently serves as a director with Scripps Mercy Physicians Partners messenger model IPA and its management group, which provides integrative support services for small and medium practices. He has been selected as a San Diego Top Doctor several times and awarded the San Diego Business Journal’s Health Leaders Award. "CMA can forge ahead with confidence with Ted Mazer at our helm,” said CMA Immediate Past President Ruth Haskins, M.D. “He has the will to get the job done, the data to back up his plan, the heart to steer us in the right direction and the energy to move us steadily forward.” CMA presidents serve a year-long term, starting and ending in October. Dr. Mazer was elected to serve as president for the 2017-18 year. # # # The California Medical Association represents the state’s physicians with more than 43,000 members in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California. For more information, please visit CMAnet.org, and follow CMA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. November 14, 2017 CMA House of Delegates, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
Tickets now available for 21st Annual President's Reception and Awards Gala The California Medical Association (CMA) and the CMA Foundation invite you to the 21st annual President’s Reception and Awards Gala on the evening of Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The black tie event will immediately follow CMA’s annual House of Delegates session that day. Individual tickets and tables of 10 are now available for purchase. Tickets are $200 per person and tables are $2,500. Table sponsorships also include VIP seating and program recognition. Space is limited and this special event is expected to sell out, so secure your seats early. There will not be onsite or week-of ticket sales. Each year, CMA and the CMA Foundation honor the extraordinary leadership of individuals and organizations making a difference in the health of Californians. The incoming CMA president and recipients of the Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Award and the Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award will be recognized at this prestigious event, which includes a cocktail reception, dinner, inspiring program, live auction and exciting entertainment. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.cmanet.org/gala. Contact: Jennifer Moller, (916) 551-2541 or jmoller@cmanet.org. August 16, 2017 Awards, CMA Awards, CMA Foundation(CMAF), House of Delegates, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
California medical students elected to AMA offices Two California Medical Association (CMA) medical students were elected to American Medical Association (AMA) offices at the interim meeting held in November in Florida. Karthik Sarma, an M.D./Ph.D. student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees as the AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) representative. Helene Nepomuceno, a second-year medical student at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, was named chair-elect of the AMA MSS. Sarma has been a member of the California delegation to the AMA for the past five years. He is a leader in the fields of health information technology, medical education and payment reform. Sarma has provided compelling testimony on numerous occasions before the CMA House of Delegates and has been an excellent representative for the medical students. He has also been very active in medical student leadership at the AMA, starting with his service on the AMA-MSS Committee on Legislation and Advocacy. Talking about his role and the recent presidential election, Sarma says it is a good time for medical students to get involved in organized medicine. “I think it is essential for students to get involved with organized medicine because the decisions that are being made at the state and federal levels right now will have an enormous impact on the health care system that we will soon be practicing in as physicians," he said. "By making our voices heard, we can help bring about the type of changes that will result in a better system for our patients and our profession." Sarma has been the driving force in the AMA-MSS for broader consideration of health information technology issues. He led a successful campaign for the establishment of an AMA-MSS Health Information Technology Task Force and served as that group’s inaugural chair from 2014 to 2015. Since then, the task force has been formally adopted by the AMA-MSS as the Committee on Health Information Technology. This past year, Sarma was appointed as the medical student member of the AMA Council on Medical Service, where he has used his experience to help write reports on diverse issues including pharmaceutical pricing, inmate health care and mobile medical apps. Sarma's term on the AMA Board of Trustees will begin next June. Nepomuceno has been an invaluable asset to CMA, lending her policy analysis and communication skills to the CMA House of Delegates and as a member of CMA's Committee on Membership, Finance and Governance. She has served as an alternate delegate to AMA for the past year. Her distinctive personal attributes include sensitivity to the needs of her peers and an ability to serve as a bridge between leaders and the greater community. She has demonstrated a dedication to fairness, inclusion and teamwork that sets her apart as the kind of leader who lifts others up. Through devoted and persistent outreach and engagement of her fellow students, Nepomuceno and her peers have built the UC Irvine medical student chapter of CMA into one of the strongest and most active chapters in the state. Nepomuceno said she is coming to her new role in organized medicine focused on how medical students can advocate for their patients and the profession of medicine on the political stage. “Organized medicine has allowed me to participate in something much larger than myself or my immediate community. I believe emphatically that advocacy is an important component of any plan to change the world, and that the physician is the ultimate patient advocate," said Nepomuceno. "Physicians have the privilege of caring for people at their most vulnerable, and it is imperative that physicians continue to protect our patients’ interests by shaping our evolving health care system. There has perhaps never been a more important moment for advocacy, political action and engagement. When it sometimes feels like one voice is too small, together, our collective voices are powerful.” December 13, 2016 General American Medical Association, Medical Students, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation recognizes two physicians with leadership awards The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation recognized two deserving physicians at the Annual President's Reception and Award Gala, held October 15 in Sacramento. Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D., received the 2016 Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award, which honors an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution toward improving access to health care or reducing health care disparities in California. Dr. Bretan, a renal transplant surgeon and urologist with special training in laparoscopic surgery, has demonstrated a longstanding dedication to improving individual and community health through effective leadership at a variety of levels. As the founder and lead transplant surgeon for Life Plant International, a charitable organization, he promotes disaster preparedness, organ donation and early disease screening in the U.S. and abroad. He organizes and participates in life-saving medical missions that include performing and teaching about kidney transplants and laparoscopic kidney removal. He received his medical degree and completed his residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He is active in the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California. He is serving his fifth term as president of the Marin Medical Society and has been a delegate for CMA and the American Medical Association House of Delegates. David S. Kim, M.D., received the Robert Sparks, M.D., Leadership Achievement Award, which honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to community health. Dr. Kim, a Los Angeles ob-gyn, embodies this mission through his dedication to improving the health and wellness of Korean Americans through collaborative planning, community action and policy advocacy. Dr. Kim is assistant director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is also the president of the Korean American Graduate Medical Association and a board member and research and education chair of the national Korean American Medical Association. He has also served on many national committees of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Kim received his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center Downstate Medical Center. He completed his residency at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and advanced his training with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical research, as well as an MBA from the University of Hawaii. November 4, 2016 Awards Awards, CMA Foundation (CMAF), Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
