LACMA CEO
G U S TAV O F R I E D E R I C H S E N After celebrating 151 years supporting physicians, LACMA is at a crossroads. Imagine arriving at a place in our history where there is clarity. That clarity stems from a new president, Dr. Omer Deen, who redefines humility, has a disdain for ego, and is the consummate selfless leader, a true partner, colleague, and friend. For the first time in some time, LACMA is in the midst of a youth movement, a sort of renaissance, but before older members inundate my inbox with angry emails, consider this: the future of the organization, its very life, value, and growth, lies with our younger doctors who understand the power of politics and advocacy, but embrace collaboration, transparency, and innovation as key drivers for change. At the same time, it’s our veteran members who provide invaluable wisdom so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. As I conclude my sixth year as CEO, I’ve worked with some of the finest physician leaders anywhere, and I routinely ask our resident historians such as Robert Bitonte, MD; Sam Fink, MD; David Aizuss, MD; Pedram Salimpour, MD; C Freeman, MD; Troy Elander, MD; Vito Imbasciani, MD; Hector Flores, MD; Peter Richman, MD; advice and counsel. I often don’t hear what I want to hear, but what I need to hear and improve as a leader. Dr. Deen consistently, to a fault, brings a global view (both literally and figuratively), and combines it with a passion for helping all physicians, particularly those in private practice and even more so those helping the underserved. There is a universal consensus that he wants to solve the crisis that plagues physicians and consequently their patients; from inexplicable funding for Medi-Cal payment and reimbursement models, to categorically unfair and complex documentation and regulatory processes which are not sustainable, to politicians amnesia when it comes to social determinants of health, the need to constantly educate nonmembers about key LACMA benefits or the MICRA issue resulting in Assembly Bill 35, its impacts on physicians, coverage and premiums. With Dr. Deen, there is never a hidden agenda. No economic or political aspirations. No desire for limelight. No media interviews. No fanfare. No credit or attention. He is in it to help physicians and their patients.
More recently, we have frequent discussions around gun violence, mass shootings, and the impact on children, parents, communities, physicians and first responders. It’s why we’ve initiated substantive conversations with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, New York Attorney General Leticia James, public health experts and like-minded medical societies such as Chicago Medical Society in addition to Dallas, Houston, and Bexar County (Texas) medical associations. We are exploring the development of a readily accessible digital platform that features resources and information, starting with Chicago’s “See, Hear and Speak Up” program to fight gun violence developed by Robert Bernat, MD, JD, Chicago Medical Society board member. Ironically, Dr. Bernat is a resident of Highland Park, Illinois, and witnessed firsthand the shootings on July 4th, 2022. The Ukrainian war and the humanitarian crisis that has ravaged a country has also connected me with the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America based in Chicago and two local Ukrainian American physicians, Dr. Marta Vakulenko and Dr. Jerry Maryniuk. We spoke with the Ukrainian Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk to find ways to help physicians serving in Kyiv, and as of this writing, there is potential for prosthetics and medical supply help. We will be unveiling a brand-new member experience featuring over 100+ solutions, an increase from 30, to help solve physician, practice, and group problems. We are tackling physician well-being with a firstof-its-kind Southern California well-being symposium in February 2023. We remain committed to educating our members on universal access to care via the successful town hall series led by Dr. Deen and Dr. Flores. In addition, we will be extending the Medical Practice Makeover initiative into 2023 as well. Finally, I wanted to extend a debt of gratitude to the unsung heroes that make LACMA a national leader: Lisa Le, Sheri Carr, Henry Rogers, Brooke Nicholas, Stephanie Mares, Noemi Corona, and our finance team of Leah, Angelica, and Deena. I look forward to a year filled with milestones, none of which would be possible without the incredible work of these dedicated professionals. Thank you, team, and welcome, Dr. Deen!
“After celebrating 151 years supporting physicians, LACMA is at a crossroads.”
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