Fresno Madera Medical Society Elects New Officers

Fresno, CA – Fresno Madera Medical Society announced the appointment of new officers for 2016. The Board of Governors and the following new officers began their term on January 1.

President: Hemant Dhingra, MD            

Nephrology, The Nephrology Medical Group, Inc.           

President-Elect: Alan Kelton, MD
Internal Medicine, Central California Faculty Medical Group

Vice President: Trilok Puniani, MD
Neurology, Kaiser Permanente

Secretary/Treasurer: Cesar Vazquez, MD            

Pediatrics, Cesar Vazquez, MD, Inc.

Immediate Past President: A.M. Aminian, MD

Allergy, Allergy Institute

Board of Governors:

Christine Almon, MD

Alan Birnbaum, MD

Jennifer Davies, MD

Joseph Duflot, MD

William Ebbeling, MD

Don Gaede, MD

David Hadden, MD

Christina Maser, MD

Ranjit Rajpal, MD

Oscar Sablan, MD
Katayoon Shahinfar, MD

Roydon Steinke, MD

Jessica Lee, MD (Resident Board Member)

“It is a trying time for the medical community, but we are fortunate have leaders who are passionate and committed to improving the wellbeing of our local physicians,” said Nicole Butler, executive director at Fresno Madera Medical Society.

Incoming president Hemant Dhingra, MD, nephrologist, President and CEO of The Nephrology Medical Group, Inc., has practiced medicine in Fresno since 2007. Dr. Dhingra has been a rising leader within the Medical Society, having previous experience serving in all of the officer positions as President-Elect, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF Fresno and also supports and serves in various leadership roles of other local organizations.

Fresno Madera Medical Society and California Medical Association (CMA) strive to protect physicians. This past year, they prevented a 21 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement by winning a 12-year fight to end the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). A one-year grace period for ICD-10 implementation was provided to continue to prepare physicians and their office staff for the upcoming changes. More than $10 million in unpaid claims were recovered for physicians in medical societies across the state. SB277 was passed to increase immunization rates, a plan brought forward by CMA Member and California State Senator Richard Pan, MD.

“In 2016, the medical community can expect more legislative threats to the practice of medicine in California, economic shifts in service reimbursement, and further changes to provider networks. Fortunately, we are ready – armed with new officers, who will work hard to support our local physicians wholeheartedly,” Butler said.

This year the Medical Society will bring more educational symposiums for physicians, debut its new magazine Central Valley Physicians, provide training for physician managers and staff, and will continue be a resource for physicians throughout the region.