Monday Rx | October 15, 2018 | Your New California Medical Association President October 15, 2018 Monday RX 1154 Dr. David H. Aizuss Becomes the 151st President of the California Medical Association This past weekend was historic in so many ways. The California Medical Association (CMA) installed David Aizuss, M.D., as its 151st president during the organization's annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting. In his address to the delegates, Dr. Aizuss said that physician satisfaction and practice sustainability would be among his top priorities in the upcoming year."The presence of third parties in clinical decision-making is corrosive to our relationship with patients," said Dr. Aizuss. "We must protect both our patients and professional prerogatives, independence and authority." Dr. Aizuss also noted that heavy administrative demands and emerging payment systems have forced physicians to spend increasing amounts of time on computer work at the expense of patient care, leading to physician dissatisfaction and burnout. "CMA recognizes the urgent need for additional programming to mitigate physician burnout…Good care includes caring for us, the physicians," said Dr. Aizuss. Dr. Aizuss officially took the reins at the close of this year's annual meeting and will serve a term of one year as CMA president. "My goal as your president is to be an effective spokesman and to communicate your concerns, desires, needs and hopes for a professionally satisfying medical practice and effective patient care." Dr. Aizuss has been a CMA and LACMA member for 37 years. He has been a member of the CMA Board of Trustees since 2010—serving as vice-chair and chair of the board before being named president-elect at last year's HOD. Dr. Aizuss has also represented the physicians of California as a delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA), and is currently serving on the AMA Council on Legislation. Dr. Aizuss is a former president of LACMA and the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Through the David H. Aizuss, M.D., Medical Corporation, and the Ophthalmology Associates of the Valley Medical Surgical Group, a partnership of medical corporations, Dr. Aizuss focuses exclusively on direct patient care. He is a medical staff member at Tarzana Hospital and West Hills Hospital and serves as an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. LACMA's current president, Dr. C Freeman, LACMA's first African American female president, introduced Dr. Aizuss to an enthusiastic audience at the 22nd Annual Presidential Gala on Saturday evening. On behalf of our board, our members, affiliates and partners, congratulations Dr. Aizuss! The 2018 House of Delegates I would like to recognize and thank LACMA's delegation to the CMA for their participation and contributions this past weekend. Approximately 30 LACMA physician delegates advocated on behalf of members during an intense two day session discussing and forming important health policies affecting physicians.This year, the delegates tackled one major issue with many facets —addressing the cost and affordability of health care via four major categories: Addressing Utilization Through Improved Care Delivery Addressing Increasing Pharmaceutical Costs Reducing Administrative Burdens on Physician Practices Enhancing Competitiveness of the Health Care Market Thank you to Dr. Maria Lymberis for leading the delegation over the past year. Her hard work and and commitment to organized medicine are greatly valued and I would like to share our appreciation for her leadership. As the 2018 HOD came to a close, LACMA welcomed Dr. Jerry Abraham, Dr. Stacey Ludwig, Dr. Samuel Huang and Dr. Sunny Jha as the new officers of LACMA's delegation to the CMA. We look forward to an upcoming year of dynamic and productive debate on the most important issues affecting members, the Association, and the practice of medicine. Congratulations to our new officers! As a reminder, any member of LACMA and CMA can be involved in the House of Delegates and share their voice on the issues addressed. We encourage all members to be involved in the resolution process because it preserves the value of each members perspectives and experience and empowers physicians to shape the ever-changing health care landscape. Learn more here. I'd like to personally acknowledge the LACMA team of Carol Chaker and Lisa Le for organizing and managing the LACMA delegation events, from logistics, materials, meetings to social events. Thank you both! Influencing Health Policy I often get asked by members and non members alike, what LACMA and CMA do in the policy arena. Influence. It's what we deliver locally, regionally and statewide. We begin with relationships, an understanding of issues impacting physicians and we take decisive action to thwart bad legislation or support good policy. At the same time, CMA and medical societies across the state work together to generate efforts like Prop 56 which has resulted in $1B for those physicians serving the most vulnerable populations. If any physician would like to get involved or learn more, especially as we near elections, let me know. I would like to hear from you and share your thoughts with colleagues. 2019 Quickly Approaching With only 70+ days left in 2018, we are formulating an exciting plan for LACMA in 2019 highlighted by an abundance of new members, new partnerships, our third Saving Private Practice Consortium (hopefully no rain!), an e-commerce platform that allows members to buy what they need to thrive in private practice at reduced prices and much more. I would love to hear your ideas relative to what we can do to better serve your needs in 2019 and beyond. Input from members is invaluable! LACMA's Patient Care Foundation Annual Los Angeles Healthcare Awards The 2018 Los Angeles Healthcare Awards is on November 30th! The Patient Care Foundation is hosting this wonderful event where physician leaders and healthcare organizations will be honored for their work in quality, patient loyalty, community impact and more. The funds raised will benefit crucial medical student programs at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. I hope you can join us. To learn more and purchase tickets, please click here. Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association "If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me." EVENTS AND COMMUNITY Monday, October 22, 2018 - 5:30pm Physician Networking Mixer at LA Stadium Premiere Center Presented by the Cooperative of American Physicians EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK FOR PHYSICIANS PREVIEW THE NEW HOME OF THE LA RAMS AND LA CHARGERS Special Opportunity for LACMA Members SEE THE FLYER You're invited to an exclusive experience at the LA Stadium Premiere Center before it opens to the general public. Mingle with your fellow physicians and watch the televised Monday night football game as the New York Giants take on the Atlanta Falcons. Drinks and appetizers will be provided! Attendees of this event will also get the opportunity to skip the waiting list and purchase Rams and/or Chargers season tickets at the new stadium. LA Stadium Premiere Center 12035 Waterfront Drive, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90094 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Parking: Complimentary valet parking in the covered parking lot. RSVP Today If you have any questions, please contact us at RSVP@CAPphysicians.com or 800-361-5569. REGISTER NOW CME Programs 5TH ANNUAL GAYLE BRINKENHOFF BREAST CANCER SYPOSIUM WHEN: October 23, 2018 WHERE: Argyros Auditorium, City of Hope 1500 E. Duarte Road Duarte, CA 91010 TIME: 8:00 AM -4:00 PM Click here for more information and click here to register This program will bridge the gap of current practice to include recent developments in disease classification, molecular biology, diagnostic algorithms, testing modalities and therapeutic advances. NEOPLASTIC HEMATOPATHOLOGY UPDATE WHEN: November 8 to 10, 2018 WHERE: The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel 21100 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Click here for more information. Join experts for this exclusive interactive conference. This is a unique opportunity for up-close learning and discussion with experts in the treatment of neoplastic hematopathology. HOW THE EXPERTS TREAT HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES WHEN: March 21 to 23, 2019 WHERE: Waldorf Astoria, Las Vegas 3752 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109 Click here for more information. This two-and-a-half-day symposium has been designed by experts in the field of hematologic malignancies and affords the conference attendee specialized educational tracks for both physicians and nurses, providing an opportunity to learn about the most recent advances in the treatment of bone marrow transplant, multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia. For questions contact: cme@coh.org or 626-218-5622.