A Message from the President
SCCMA 2020 Awards: Incoming President’s Remarks Dr. Cindy Russell
by Cindy L. Russell, MD
SCCMA President
It is truly an honor and a privilege to be elected as the President of the Santa Clara County Medical Association, of which I have been a member for over 30 years. I would like to take a moment to first acknowledge that 2020 has been a challenging time, with COVID 19, shelter-in -place orders, wildfires and a contentious election. There has been a great deal of sacrifice, suffering and uncertainty. We hope to find 2021 to be a better year. I follow a long line of distinguished Presidents, some of whom later became president of the California Medical Association such as Dr. Robert Burnett and Dr. Jim Hinsdale (who also became AMA President). Dr. Tanya Spirtos is now Speaker of the House for the CMA. I thank them as well as all the past presidents before me for being ethical role models for all of us. I want to thank our CEO April Becerra for her hard work and efforts in this tumultuous time, running the Association, developing programs and collaborating with the CMA to help the physicians of this County, and improve the health and well-being of the community at large. This is the mission of the SCCMA. I also want to thank all the staff of the SCCMA for their diligence and long hours of work keeping everything organized and professional. I thank our Executive Committee and Council for their wisdom and hours sitting through many Zoom meetings that can often go into overtime. We have a strong diverse Council with different strengths, perspectives and contributions which makes for better decision making.
One person I cannot fail to mention who has made this transition easier is our past president. Dr. Seema Sidhu. She is organized, thoughtful and has an incredible memory. Her continued presence and guidance has been critical. You learn quite a bit in this job in a short amount of time and passing the gavel is a longer-term proposition than a nod and a handshake, the latter which we do not do these days. I appreciate Dr. Sidhu’s continued involvement and look forward to working with her and our president-elect Dr. Clifford Wang in the coming year. The California Medical Association is Our Critical Ally I wish to thank the CMA for their continued efforts on our behalf in so many areas. Next year there are several critical issues that will affect the practice of medicine, including the implementation of AB 890 Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice, Medical reimbursement rates and MICRA. So stay tuned for updates and get involved. Most of all I want to thank my family for their love, support and patience. Without them I could not do any of this. I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband David, who is my rock on this journey, and my daughter Kayla who is a senior in high school working on college applications now. I am proud of her resilience, wisdom and humor. My family is my relaxation and inspiration.
The Bulletin | 3
