Orange County Physician Becomes CMA President

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 21 Oct 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Dr. Brennan Cassidy, a former emergency physician who rushed to the aid of earthquake victims in Nicaragua and Guatemala years ago and presently works in cosmetic dermatology in Santa Ana, took over as president of the California Medical Association on Monday, as the group concluded its annual House of Delegates session.

"As doctors, we take care of people 24/7," Cassidy said. "It's our mission to restore the health of our patients. As the national debate on health care reform moves forward, it's crucial that physicians communicate clearly and loudly about what we need to do our jobs and provide the high quality of care that is today's standard."

Cassidy was one of nearly 1,000 physicians from around the state who gathered last weekend in Anaheim to set CMA policy for the upcoming year and elect new officers. Cassidy accepted the presidency of the 35,000-member organization, and Dr. James Hinsdale was elected president-elect, a post he will hold for one year before succeeding Cassidy.

At CMA's annual convention, physicians debated over 100 resolutions relating to medical ethics, public health, science, insurance and public policy. Among its many policy decisions, the House of Delegates voted to endorse using taxes on soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks to fund public health efforts, such as nutrition education and obesity prevention. CMA also voted to encourage schools to provide the maximum time allowed for physical education classes.

Dr. Cassidy set the tone with a speech imploring physicians to use the "time, patience and persistence" required to educate the public and lawmakers about what is needed to provide the best care for patients. He said doctors should "never give in" when fighting for patients and the medical profession.

Dr. Cassidy is a past president of the Orange County Medical Association and has participated on many committees throughout his 36 years as a member of CMA. For the last year, Dr. Cassidy has held the positions of president-elect and chair of the CMA Board of Trustees.

During college at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Cassidy worked as a night X-ray technician, a job that gave him an early understanding of caring for patients. He went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Louisville.

At the beginning of his career, Dr. Cassidy served in the U.S. Navy as a flight surgeon. He received a Personal Achievement Citation for outstanding service to the United States on June 24, 1970. Shortly after his time in the Navy, Dr. Cassidy traveled at his own expense to aid victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit Nicaragua in 1971 and Guatemala in 1974.

Dr. Cassidy has taught at the University of California, Irvine as a clinical instructor and an assistant clinical professor of family medicine. He is board certified in emergency medicine and family practice, and has been on the staff of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach since 1971.

At the hospital, Dr. Cassidy was the founding chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and its medical director from 1977 to 1981.

Dr. Cassidy currently works in private practice at West Coast Laser Dermatology Medical Center in Santa Ana. The center provides quality cosmetic procedures, including Botox, fillers, tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation procedures, such as fotofacial.

Stepping in as president-elect is Dr. Hinsdale, the director of trauma at Marin General Hospital and executive director of trauma at Regional Medical Center in San Jose. He is a board-certified surgeon and the founder and president of the Northern California Trauma Medical Group, a collection of 18 practicing trauma surgeons.

In October 2008, Dr. Hinsdale was elected chair of CMA's Board of Trustees. A member of the association since 1987, Dr. Hinsdale has served on and been vice-chair of the Board of Trustees, too. He is past president of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.

In addition to his activities at the state level, Dr. Hinsdale is a delegate to the American Medical Association.

Dr. Hinsdale is currently assistant clinical professor of surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine and has been the medical director of California Shock/Trauma Air Rescue for the past 23 years. He also maintains an active clinical practice in trauma and cancer surgery.

Dr. Hinsdale received a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He had his internship and residency at Stanford University Hospital from 1974 to 1980.

Also serving on CMA's Executive Committee are the following physicians:

- Immediate Past President Dr. Dev GnanaDev, who is the medical director and chairman of the surgery department at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino County.

- Speaker of the House Dr. James Hay, who is a family physician in Encinitas. He founded North Coast Family Medical Group in 1978 and North County Physicians Medical Group (an IPA) in 1990.

- Vice Speaker of the House Dr. Luther Cobb, who is a surgeon in Humboldt County. He is a former department chair of surgery and currently vice chief of staff at Mad River Community Hospital.

- Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Paul Phinney, who is a general pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in Sacramento. He has worked for Kaiser for over 20 years, almost all in pediatric settings.

- Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees Steve Larson, who is a practicing internist and infectious diseases consultant at Riverside Medical Clinic in Riverside County. Dr. Larson is also the clinic's CEO and chairman of the clinic's board of directors.

Source
California Medical Association