Councils and Committees



FMA Committee on Accreditation and CME
The Committee on Accreditation and CME 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, Fort Walton Beach
  • Vice Chair, Lauren Berkow, MD, Gainesville
  • Lilia Correa, MD, Tampa
  • Kelechi Esoga, MD, Lakeland
  • Richelle Malott, MD, Longboat Key
  • Sarah Marsicek, MD, Gainesville
  • Arthur Mauceri, MD, Gainesville
  • Ghada Mitri, MD, Jacksonville
  • Joseph Parker, MS, Jacksonville
  • Mohammed Ruzieh, MD, Gainesville

Staff contact: Melissa Carter

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, Venice
  • Vice Chair, Douglas Murphy, MD, Ocala
  • William Adams, MD, Sarasota
  • Vania Fernandez, MD, Hollywood
  • Tra'chella Foy, MD, Jacksonville
  • Ronald Giffler, MD, JD, FCAP, Pompano Beach

Staff contact: Jeff Scott

FMA Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs is responsible for providing guidance on 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, Orange Park
  • Vice Chair, Marc Inglese, MD, Tallahassee
  • Mara Cvejic, DO, Lakeland
  • Claudia Emmons, MD, Ocala
  • Ronald Giffler, MD, JD, FCAP, Pompano Beach
  • Robert Lastomirsky, MD, Venice
  • Arthur Palamara, MD, Fort Lauderdale
  • Charles Riggs, MD, Gainesville

Staff contact: Jeff Scott

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.

Committee Members

 

  • President, Vincent DeGennaro, MD, Jacksonville
  • Treasurer, Ronald Giffler, MD, Pompano Beach
  • Secretary, Jeff Scott, FMA General Counsel
  • Treasurer, Kristy Jones, FMA CFO
  • Chris Clark, FMA CEO
  • Alan Pillersdorf, MD, Palm Beach
  • Douglas Murphy, MD, Ocala
  • Ralph Nobo, MD, Bartow

Staff contact: Kristy Jones

FMA Council on Legislation
The Council on Legislation is responsible for making recommendations to the FMA Board of Governors regarding state legislative and regulatory matters. The primary function of the Council on Legislation 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. Staff support is provided by the FMA legal and legislative team.

Committee Members

  • Chair, Michael Patete, MD, Venice
  • Vice Chair, William Adams, MD, Sarasota
  • Gerald Applegate, MD, Miami Beach
  • Maya Babu, MD, Englewood
  • Robert Bader, MD, Deerfield Beach
  • John Bailey, DO, Tallahassee
  • Andrew Borom, MD, Tallahassee
  • Del Carter, MD, Tallahassee
  • Andrew Cooke, MD, Tavares
  • Michelle Falcone, MD, Palm Beach Gardens
  • Vania Fernandez, MD, Hollywood
  • Adam Fier, DO, Melbourne
  • Steven Freeland, MD, Gainesville
  • Steven Gayer, MD, Miami Beach
  • Brad Glick, DO, Pompano Beach
  • Ryan Hall, MD, Lake Mary
  • Ali Kasraeian, MD, Jacksonville
  • Brian Kirby, MD, Pensacola
  • Jayme Looper, MD, Jacksonville
  • Wade Sexton, MD, Tampa
  • Jessica Walsh O'Sullivan, MD, Clermont

Staff contacts: Chris Clark and Brittany Jackson

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, Ocoee
  • Daniel Bendetowicz, MD, Fort Myers
  • Jeffrey Berman, MD, Boca Raton
  • Rebekah Bernard, MD, Bonita Springs
  • Henry Cusnir, MD, Fort Lauderdale
  • Douglas Dew, MD, Saint Augustine
  • Marek Hirsch, MD, Jacksonville
  • Ross Jones, MD, Fleming Island
  • Ali Kasraeian, MD, Jacksonville
  • Robert Keenan, MD, Tampa
  • Philip Kondylis, MD, Chicopee
  • Rudolph Moise, DO, Miami
  • Barbara Montford, MD, Miami
  • John Montgomery, MD, MPH, FAAFP, CPE, Fleming Island
  • Amay Parikh, MD, Orlando
  • C. Pittman, MD, Tampa
  • Michelle Rossi, MD, FACP, Gainesville
  • Bruce Saltz, MD, Boca Raton
  • Sandra Schwemmer, DO, Boca Raton
  • Michael Zimmer, MD, MACP, Saint Petersburg
  • Zachary Zippi, Pharm.D., MD, Tampa

Staff contact: Jarrod Fowler

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 the State of Florida. The Council on Medical Education serves as the FMA’s liaison with 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, Elizabeth DeVos, MD, Jacksonville
  • Vice Chair, Amra Resic, MD, Palm Harbor
  • Avan Armaghani, MD, Tampa
  • Amer Beitinjaneh, MD, Miami
  • Brittany Bruggeman, MD, Gainesville
  • Christopher Cogle, MD, Gainesville
  • Deborah DeWaay, MD, Tampa
  • Michael Dogali, MD, Tarpon Springs
  • Tra'chella Foy, MD, Jacksonville
  • Eugene Fu, MD, Hollywood
  • Shelley Glover, MD, Clermont
  • Himangi Kaushal, MD, MBA, Miami
  • Kristin Kelly, MD, Vero Beach
  • Sarah Marsicek, MD, Gainesville
  • Efstratios Pantages, MD, Palm Harbor
  • Thomas Peters, MD, Jacksonville
  • Charles Riggs, MD, Gainesville
  • Natalia Solenkova, MD, Miami
  • Upma Suneja, MD, MBA, Tampa
  • Tisha Van Pelt, MD, Tampa
  • Robert Weinfurtner, MD, Tampa
  • Zachary Wilson, MD, Fort Walton Beach

Staff contact: Melissa Carter

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

Committee Members

 

  • Ronald Giffler, MD, JD, FCAP, Pompano Beach
  • Jason Goldman, MD, FACP, Coral Springs
  • Douglas Murphy, MD, Ocala
  • David Becker, MD, Safety Harbor
  • Lisa Cosgrove, MD, Jacksonville
  • Joshua Lenchus, DO, FACP, Fort Lauderdale
  • Alma Littles, MD, Tallahassee
  • Ashley Norse, MD, Jacksonville
  • Mark Rubenstein, MD, Jupiter

Staff contact: Kristy Jones

Women in Medicine Committee
The purpose of this committee is to support women in medicine by fostering community, engaging women in leadership roles, and encouraging women physician involvement in organized medicine.

Committee Members

 

  • Chair, Rebekah Bernard, MD, Bonita Springs
  • Christina Adams, MD, Jacksonville
  • Rose Berkun, MD, Miami
  • Megan Core, MD, Winter Garden
  • Petrenia Davis-Jenkins, MD, MBA, Ponte Vedra
  • Stacy Greeter, MD, Sarasota
  • Catherine Kowal, MD, Naples
  • Ajoy Kumar, MD, Tierra Verde
  • Jay Millson, , Jacksonville
  • Deborah Mulligan, MD, Pompano Beach
  • Vicki Norton, MD, Boca Raton
  • Nikita Shah, DO, Orlando
  • Diana Twiggs, MD, Fernandina Beach

Staff contact: Brittany Jackson and Erika Peterman

The Below committees are filled by members of the Board per FMA bylaws…


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, Rebekah Bernard, MD, Bonita Springs
  • Roger Duncan, MD, Palm Beach Gardens
  • Ajoy Kumar, MD, Tierra Verde

Staff contact: Kristy Jones

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, FASA, Winter Park
  • Vice Chair, Alma Littles, MD, Tallahassee
  • Lisa Cosgrove, MD, Jacksonville
  • Jason Goldman, MD, FACP, Coral Springs
  • Ryan Hall, MD, Lake Mary
  • Ashley Norse, MD, Jacksonville
  • Sanjay Pattani, MD, Windermere
  • Mark Rubenstein, MD, Jupiter

Staff contact: Kristy Jones