October 12, 2016
AMGA Foundation Gala Celebrates 50 Years of Transforming Health Care Five industry leaders to be honored for their leadership and dedication
Newswise — ALEXANDRIA, VA – AMGA Foundation today announced they are celebrating 50 years of transforming health care with a 50th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco on November 16, 2016. Five influential leaders whose support has enabled the work of the Foundation will be honored at the event.The Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AMGA, will host the gala in conjunction with the AMGA Institute for Quality Leadership,November 15-17.
“This event will celebrate the work of the Foundation and AMGA members to redesign care delivery and improve health care for millions of patients, recognizing distinguished leaders and supporters who have made this possible,” said Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A., president, AMGA Foundation and chief medical and quality officer, AMGA.
At the gala, five of AMGA’s past and present leaders will be honored for the leadership, dedication, and support they have provided for the Foundation and its work to improve patient outcomes.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMGA and Secretary, AMGA Foundation. Dr. Fisher has been at the helm of AMGA and the Foundation for 36 years, empowering members and staff to provide programs, research, and resources that have led the way in quality health care. He also initiated AMGA Analytics, the trade association’s data analysis and clinical translation arm, which measures the Foundation’s impact and informs the Foundation’s quality improvement efforts.
Legacy Award RecipientsCarleton T. Rider, M.P.H., M.A., Senior Administrator Emeritus, Mayo Clinic; Chair, AMGA Foundation, 2005-2010. Mr. Rider revitalized the Foundation, expanding critical research projects and initiatives demonstrating the importance of integrated delivery systems in the quest for high-quality care for patients. In addition, he initiated the Foundation’s first member fundraising campaign to support these critical programs.
William A. Conway, M.D., Executive Vice President, Henry Ford Health System and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ford Medical Group; Chair, AMGA Foundation, 2011-2012. During his tenure as Board Chair, Dr. Conway advanced the Foundation to a nationally recognized organization that improved care for people living with chronic conditions. Under Dr. Conway’s leadership, the Foundation launched Measure Up/Pressure Down®, its first national campaign, which focused on improving high blood pressure detection and control.
Ronald H. Kirkland, M.D., M.B.A., Past Chairman of the Board, The Jackson Clinic, P.A.; Chair, AMGA Foundation, 2013-2014. Dr. Kirkland amplified the Foundation’s reach by overseeing an expansion of the Foundation’s Best Practices Learning Collaboratives, implementing Measure Up/Pressure Down®, and launching the Chronic Care Roundtable to provide guidance for the planning of Together 2 Goal®, the Foundation’s second national campaign, focusing on diabetes.
Distinguished Leader Award RecipientJulie Sanderson-Austin, R.N, Senior Advisor, AMGA Analytics; Director, AMGA Foundation. Ms. Sanderson-Austin served as Vice President of Quality Management and Research at AMGA for over 21 years and brought quality to the forefront of health care by developing initiatives that included the Best Practices Learning Collaboratives and AMGA’s prestigious Acclaim Award. These innovative programs demonstrate the delivery of exceptional quality of care and highlight AMGA members’ progress in providing cost-effective, high-quality care. “We have been so fortunate to have these industry icons lead AMGA and the Foundation over the years,” said Dr. Penso. “They have mobilized and empowered our members to provide the best practices, resources, and outcomes for our patients, making them leaders in population health throughout the nation.”
In addition to the gala, the AMGA Foundation recently launched the Charter Club Campaign to acknowledge 50 years of transforming health care. The Charter Club enables member groups, individuals, and corporations to reaffirm their commitment to quality care and their ongoing support of the Foundation. Donations to the Charter Club will fund the critical programs that enable AMGA Foundation to consistently improve health care for millions of patients for the next 50 years and beyond. ###About AMGA FoundationAMGA Foundation is AMGA’s philanthropic arm that enables medical groups and other organized systems of care to consistently improve health and health care. AMGA Foundation serves as a catalyst, connector, and collaborator for translating the evidence of what works best in improving health and health care in everyday practice. amga.org/foundation
About AMGAAMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of medical groups’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, cost-effective care. More than 170,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans. For more information, amga.org
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