Councils and Committees for 2022-23



FMA Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs is responsible for providing guidance on the issues pertaining to questions of medical ethics, including the imposition of unethical fees, dissension and disputes referred to the FMA by members of the FMA, questions of membership and disciplinary action.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Mark Dobbertien, DO, Jacksonville
  • Vice Chair, Marc Inglese, MD, Tallahassee
  • Mara Cvejic, DO, Tampa
  • Claudia Emmons, MD, Ocala
  • Ronald Giffler, MD, Pompano Beach
  • Robert Lastomirsky, MD, Sarasota
  • Charles Riggs, MD, Gainesville
  • Arthur Palamara, MD, Ft. Lauderdale

Staff contacts: Jeff Scott

 

FMA Council on Legislation
The FMA Council on Legislation is responsible for making recommendations to Board of Governors regarding state legislative and regulatory matters. The Council’s primary function is to provide a vetting process for legislative proposals to be considered for inclusion on the FMA’s state legislative agenda.  The Council is also periodically called upon to provide guidance related to specific bill language or amendments filed during the legislative session. 

 

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, James St. George, MD, Jacksonville
  • Vice Chair, Ryan Hall, MD, Lake Mary
  • Will Adams, MD, Sarasota
  • Robert Bader, MD, Deerfield Beach
  • John Bailey, DO, Tallahassee
  • Andrew Borom, MD, Tallahassee
  • Monique Butler, MD, Tallahassee
  • Eva Crooke, MD, Tampa
  • Michelle Falcone, MD, Coral Springs
  • Vania Fernandez, MD, Hollywood
  • Adam Fier, MD, Melbourne
  • Andy Gardiner, Orlando
  • Steven Gayer, MD, Miami
  • Brad Glick, MD, Pompano Beach
  • George Douglas Letson, MD, Tampa
  • Charles Lockwood, MD, Tampa
  • Darby Miller, MD, Jacksonville
  • Rudolph Moise, DO, Miami
  • Robert Monsour, MSS, Tampa
  • Michael Patete, MD, Sarasota
  • Sanjay Pattani, MD, Orlando
  • Ben Schachner, MSS, Miami
  • Stacie Wenk, DO, Clearwater
  • Jason Wilson, MD, Clearwater

    •  


Staff contacts: Chris Clark, Shari Hickey, and Mary Thomas

 

FMA Council on Medical Education, Science & Public Health
The Council on Medical Education, Science & Public Health is responsible for providing guidance to the FMA Board of Governors on issues relating to medical education in Florida. The Council serves as the FMA’s liaison to the Council of Florida Medical School Deans and works closely with the medical schools on public policy matters. The Council develops and presents programs, including the scientific programs for the FMA Annual Meeting, and serves as the continuing medical education accrediting body for the association. 

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Amra Resic, MD, Palm Harbor
  • Vice Chair, Elizabeth Devos, MD, Jacksonville
  • Amer Beitinjaneh, MD, Miami
  • Christopher Cogle, MD, Gainesville
  • Deborah DeWaay, MD, Tampa
  • Michael Dogali, MD, Tarpon Springs
  • Tra’chella Johnson Foy, MD, Jacksonville
  • Dino Fanfan, MSS, Miami
  • Eugene Fu, MD, Miami
  • Sarah Girshfeld, MSS, Delray Beach
  • Shelley Glover, MD, Clermont
  • Kristin Kelly, MD, Vero Beach
  • Himangi Kaushal, MD, Miami
  • Cynthia Miller, MD, Dunedin
  • Carmen Nan, MD, Brooksville
  • Dino Pantages, MD, Palm Harbor
  • Thomas G. Peters, MD, Jacksonville
  • Joseph Pearson, MD, Miami
  • Charles Riggs, MD, Gainesville
  • Natalia Solenkova, MD, Miami
  • Wallace Thomas, MD, Jacksonville
  • Tisha Val Pelt, MD, Tampa
  • Dale Wickstrom-Hill, DO, Winter Haven
  • Zachary Wilson, MD, Niceville

    •  



Staff contact: Melissa Carter

 

FMA Committee on Accreditation and CME
The Committee on CME and Accreditation serves the Council on Medical Education by performing the responsibilities necessary to accredit CME providers in Florida and to approve activities for CME credit through direct sponsorship and joint sponsorship with the FMA.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Zachary Wilson, MD, Niceville
  • Vice Chair, Lauren Berkow, MD, Gainesville
  • Neha Agrawal, MD, Jacksonville
  • Lilia Correa, MD, Tampa
  • Jean Yves Dastain, MD, Naples
  • James Dunnick, MD, Bonifay
  • Kelechi Esoga, MD, Lakeland
  • Emily Krzykwa, MSS, Clearwater
  • Richelle Malott, MD, Longboat Key
  • Arthur A. Mauceri, MD, Gainesville
  • Joseph Parker, MSS, Tallahassee
  • James V. Talano, MD, Naples
  • Jill Ward, MD, Jacksonville
  • Stephen E. Vernon, MD, Miami

Staff contact: Melissa Carter

 

FMA Council on Medical Economics and Practice Innovation
The Council on Medical Economics and Practice Innovation is responsible for providing recommendations and guidance to the FMA Board of Governors related to the economic aspects of the delivery of medical care.  The Council is charged with overseeing and protecting the interests of physicians on Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health program issues, and in matters relating to health care finance and relations with private insurance carriers.   The Council studies, evaluates and recommends policies to the Board of Governors relating to health care system reform, health information technology, managed care, accountable care organizations, patient safety, and quality improvement.  The Council is also responsible for developing tools and resources for practice physicians in all areas of health care delivery with a specific focus on new payment models and health information technology.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Aaron Sudbury, MD, Bradenton
  • Vice Chair, Michael Howell, MD, Lake Mary
  • Daniel Bendetowicz, MD, Ft. Myers
  • Jeffrey Berman, MD, Palm Beach
  • Henry Cusnir, MD, Ft. Lauderdale
  • Douglas Dew, MD, Palatka
  • Marek Hirsch, MD, Jacksonville
  • Ross Jones, MD, Fleming Island
  • Ali Kasraeian, MD, Jacksonville
  • Robert Keenan, MD, Tampa
  • Philip Kondylis, MD, Kissimmee
  • Barbara Montford, MD, Miami
  • John Montgomery, MD, Orange Park
  • Sandra Schwemmer, DO, Boca Raton
  • Amay Parikh, MD, Orlando
  • Christopher Pittman, MD, Tampa
  • Michelle Rossi, MD, Gainesville
  • Michael Zimmer, MD, St. Petersburg
  • Zachary Zippi, MSS, Miami

Staff contact: Jarrod Fowler

 

Audit Committee
The primary function of the FMA Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Governors in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Mark Dobbertien, DO, Jacksonville
  • Vice Chair, Nitesh Paryani, MD, Tampa
  • Rebekah Bernard, MD, Naples

Staff contact: Kristy Jones

 

Committee on Bylaws, Policies and Procedures

The Committee on Bylaws is responsible directly to the Board of Governors and annually recommends necessary changes to the FMA Bylaws and governance and operations policies.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Michael Patete, MD, Sarasota
  • Vice Chair, Ronald Giffler, MD, Pompano Beach
  • William Adams, MD, Sarasota
  • Vania Fernandez, MD, Hollywood
  • Tra’chella Johnson Foy, MD, Jacksonville

Staff contact: Jeff Scott

 

Committee on Finance & Appropriations
The Committee on Finance and Appropriations shall annually prepare for consideration by the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors a proposed budget of the Florida Medical Association.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Charles Chase, DO, Orlando
  • Vice Chair, Alma Littles, MD, Tallahassee
  • Lisa Cosgrove, MD, Jacksonville
  • Jason Goldman, MD, Coral Springs
  • Joshua Lenchus, DO, Ft. Lauderdale
  • Doug Murphy, MD, Ocala
  • Ashley Norse, MD, Jacksonville
  • Mark Rubenstein, MD, Jupiter

Staff contact: Kristy Jones

 

FMA Committee on Physician Wellness
The Committee on Physician Wellness is responsible for providing recommendations and guidance to the FMA Board of Governors related to aspects of physician burnout, coping and preventive strategies, and work/life balance.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Rebekah Bernard, MD, Naples
  • Vice Chair, Elisa Sottile, MD, Jacksonville
  • Heidi Allespach, PhD, Miami
  • Jennifer Bickell-Young, MD, Tampa
  • Martha Brown, MD, Gainesville
  • Samantha Cotler, DO, Orlando
  • Jorge Del Toro, MD, Ft. Lauderdale
  • Mark Jackson, MSS, Tallahassee
  • Michelle Lanspa, MSS, Hollywood
  • Jordyn Lee, MSS, West Palm Beach
  • Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski, MD, Miami
  • Alma Littles, MD, Tallahassee
  • Amanda Marsch, MD, Lake Worth Beach
  • Amaryllis Sánchez Wohlever, MD, Kissimmee
  • Alka Singh, MD, Pompano
  • Naren Vellanki, MD, Oveido
  • Aida Winter, DO, Tallahassee

Staff contact: Melissa Carter

 

Foundation for Healthy Floridians
The Foundation for Healthy Floridians is the FMA’s philanthropic vehicle for supporting physician leadership training, medical education, public health, and physician health.

- Members to be determined

FMA Services
FMA Services is the for-profit corporate entity that does marketing for the FMA including products and services.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Ronald Giffler, MD, Pompano Beach
  • Vice Chair, Douglas Murphy, MD, Ocala
  • Jason Goldman, MD, Coral Springs
  • Joshua Lenchus, DO, Ft. Lauderdale
  • Alma Littles, MD, Tallahassee
  • Ashley Norse, MD, Jacksonville
  • Mark Rubenstein, MD, Jupiter