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Management Staff | Executive Committee | Board of Directors

2008-2009 Board of Directors

Michael N. Abeshaus, MD Direct Member Director
Michael N. Abeshaus, MD will serve as Direct Member Director until June 2009. Dr. Abeshaus is an orthopedic surgeon, and received his medical degree from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in 1986. He has been an ArMA member since 1991.

Suresh C. Anand, MD Central District Director
Suresh C. Anand, MD is a Allergy And Immunology specialist who practices in Tempe. Dr. Anand, who will hold the title of Central District Director until June 2009, has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association since 1970. Dr. Anand graduated from King George's Medical College, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow, India in 1954.

Bruce A. Bethancourt Jr., MD AMA Delegate
Bruce Bethancourt, MD was President from June 2003 until June 2004. He has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association since 1984. Dr. Bethancourt received his degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He has been in practice in Phoenix since 1984. Dr. Bethancourt is a member of the Maricopa County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Physicians. He is currently the medical director of the Samaritan Prime Care Network. Dr. Bethancourt will serve as AMA Delegate until December 2009.

Henri R. Carter, MD President
Henri Carter, MD will serve as President until June 2009. Dr. Carter graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency at the University of Louisville. Dr. Carter's specialty is general/vascular surgery, and he is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Carter has had a private practice in Yuma since 1988. He is an active staff surgeon, and currently the vice-chairman of the department of surgery at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He is a member of the Yuma County Medical Society, the American Society of General Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

Jacqueline A. Chadwick, MD AMA Delegation Chair
Jacqueline Chadwick, MD graduated with a degree in zoology from Arizona State University, received her MD from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and completed her residency at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital. Dr. Chadwick has been practicing in Scottsdale since 1978. In 1992 she became the first woman president of the Arizona Medical Association. Also in 1992, Dr. Chadwick was appointed Associate Dean for Phoenix Programs for the University of Arizona College of Medicine to act as a liaison between the College of Medicine and the Phoenix community. Currently, she is a member of the Maricopa County Medical Society, the American Medical Association and both the Arizona and American Academies of Family Physicians.

Gary S. Christensen, MD AMA Alternate Delegate and Northern District Director
Gary Christensen, MD is an anesthesiologist at Flagstaff Medical Center. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his residency at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Virginia. Dr. Christensen is currently a member of the Coconino County Medical Society, the Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Medical Association and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. He will serve as AMA Alternate Delegate until December 31, 2008 and the Northern District Director until June 2011.

Daniel T. Cloud, MD AMA Former President
Daniel Cloud, MD served as president of the American Medical Association in 1980. He has been on the Arizona Medical Association Board of Directors since 1984. Dr. Cloud graduated from the University of Illinois in Chicago, and completed a residency in surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chicago, a residency in Orthopaedic surgery at the United States Naval Hospital, another residency in surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois, and a residency in thoracic surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Cloud has been an ArMA member since 1956.

John H. Crothers, MD Direct Member
John Crothers, MD has practiced at Arizona Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Associates, Ltd. in Mesa since 1977. Dr. Crothers graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and completed his residency at the Phoenix Orthopaedic Residency Program. He has been on the Arizona Medical Association Board of Directors since 1998 and is also a member of the American Medical Association.

George B. Deckey, MD Southwestern District Director
George B. Deckey, MD is a general surgeon practicing in Yuma. Dr. Deckey, who will hold the title of Southwestern District Director until June 2009, has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association since 1993. Dr. Deckey graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston in 1988.

Leonard Ditmanson, MD AMA Alternate Delegate
Leonard Ditmanson, MD was President from June 2005 to June 2006. He graduated from the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota, and completed his residency in internal medicine in Tucson. Dr. Ditmanson has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association since 1997, and on the Pima County Medical Society Board of Directors since January 2001. Dr. Ditmanson is board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics.

Ronnie K. Dowling, MD AMA Delegate
Ronnie Dowling, MD will serve as AMA Delegate until December 2008. Dr. Dowling graduated from the University of Colorado Medical Center, where she also interned and completed her residency in orthopaedics. She has practiced in Show Low since 1982. An ArMA member since 1983, Dr. Dowling is also a member of the Apache County Medical Society, the Arizona Orthopaedic Society, the American Medical Association, the Association of Women Surgeons, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, the American Medical Women's Association and the Western Orthopaedic Society.

Kyle P. Edmonds, Medical Student Member
Kyle Edmonds will serve as the medical student member of the board for one year until June 2009. Mr. Edmonds is a fourth year student attending the University of Arizona, and will graduate in May 2009. He has been an ArMA member since August 2005.

Timothy C. Fagan, MD, Southern District Director
Timothy Fagan, MD specializes in chemical pharmacology and interal medicine; he practices in Tucson. Dr. Fagan graduated from the University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles in 1973. He has been a member of ArMA since 2003.

R. Screven Farmer III, MD Immediate Past President
R. Screven Farmer III, MD has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association for almost 20 years. He was president from June 2007 until June 2008. Dr. Farmer graduated from Emory University, and completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Farmer is a member of the Pima County Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Society of Anesthesiology.

Gary R. Figge, MD Vice-President
Gary R. Figge, MD will serve as Vice-President until June 2009. Dr. Figge is an emergency medicine physician, and received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1992. He has been an ArMA member since 1993.

Howard B. Fleishon, MD Central District Director
Howard B. Fleishon, MD will serve as Central District Director until June 2010. Dr. Fleishon specializes in diagnostic radiology, and received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia in 1982. He has been an ArMA member since 1987.

Michael F. Hamant, MD Secretary
Michael Hamant, MD will serve as Secretary until June 2010. Dr. Hamant is a family practice and sports medicine physician practicing in Tucson. He medical degree from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in 1983. He has been an ArMA member since 1998.

Thomas H. Hicks II, MD AMA Alternate Delegate
Thomas Hicks II, MD graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his residency in urology at University Medical Center. Dr. Hicks has been practicing in Tucson since 1976. He is a member of the Pima County Medical Society, serving as its president in 1992. He is also a member of the Arizona Urologic Society, the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons and the American Urologic Association.

M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD Outgoing Past President
M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD served as President from June 2006 until June 2007. Dr. Jasser is an internal medicine physician, and received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1992. He has been an ArMA member since 2000.

Jody L. Jenkins, MD Southeastern District Director
Jody L. Jenkins, MD will serve as Southeastern District Director until June 2010. Dr. Jenkins is a general surgeon practicing in Sierra Vista. She graduated from Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia in 1985. Dr. Jenkins has been an ArMA members since 1998.

Keith A. Joiner, MD Dean, Univ. of AZ College of Medicine
Keith A. Joiner, MD began a members of the board as Dean of the U of A College of Medicine in April 2004. Dr. Joiner graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver in 1974. His specialty is internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Philip E. Keen, MD Direct Member Delegate and AMA Alternate Delegate
Philip E. Keen, MD served as President from June 2004 - June 2005 and he will be the AMA Alternate Delegate until December 2008. He will also serve as Direct Member Director until June 2009. He has been a member of ArMA since 1975. Dr. Keen graduated from the University of New Mexico. He completed a residency in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology at the University of New Mexico, Affiliated Hospitals and did a fellowship in Forensic Pathology with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Oklahoma City.

Peter C. Kelly, MD Direct Member Director
Peter C. Kelly, MD will serve as Direct Member Director until June 2009. He is an infectious disease specialist practicing in Phoenix and graduated from Boston University School of Medicine, Boston in 1965. Dr. Kelly has been an ArMA member since 1998.

Marilyn K. Laughead, MD Speaker/Parliamentarian
Marilyn Laughead, MD holds the position of Speaker/Parliamentarian until 2010. Dr. Laughead is a past president of ArMA, and has served on numerous committees. She graduated from the University of Arizona, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Laughead is a past president of the Phoenix Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, and a member of the Maricopa County Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.

Marc L. Leib, MD Treasurer
Marc Leib, MD will hold the office of Treasurer until June 2009. Dr. Leib is an anesthesiologist currently practicing administrative medicine in Phoenix. He medical degree from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in 1979. He has been an ArMA member since 1987 and served as ArMA's president from 1997-1998.

William J. Mangold Jr., MD AMA Delegate
William Mangold Jr., MD is currently Medicare Carrier Medical Director for Arizona. Dr. Mangold graduated from the University of Texas Medical School, and also has his Juris Doctor from there. He was president of ArMA from 1992-93, and is currently a member of the Pima County Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American College of Legal Medicine. Dr. Mangold had a private practice of plastic & reconstructive surgery in Tucson from 1980 to 1996.

Daniel R. Marino, MD At-Large Member of the Executive Committee
Daniel Marino, MD will hold the office of At-Large Member of the Executive Committee for one year. Dr. Marino is an infectious disease specialist practicing in Gilbert. He medical degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine in 1980. He has been an ArMA member since 2005.

William R. Martin, III, MD Central District Director
William R. Martin, III, MD is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in 1992. Dr. Martin will server as Central District Director until 2010. He has been a member of ArMA since 1997.

Robert R. Orford, MD Central District Director
Rober Orford, MD is a Central District Director until 2010. Dr. Orford graduated from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and is board certified in Internal Medicine, General Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Aerospace Medicine, and Occupational Medicine. He is currently Chair of the Division of Preventive, Occupational Medicine and Aerospace Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona, and is President-elect of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He has been a member of ArMA since 1997.

Amalia D. Pineres, MD Northeastern District Director
Amalia D. Pineres, MD will serve as Northeastern District Director until June 2011. Dr. Pineres is a family practice physician from Payson. She graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago in 1989 and has been an ArMA member since 1992.

Beth A. Purdy, MD President-Elect
Beth A. Purdy, MD will serve as President-Elect until June of 2009, when she will become President. She graduated from the University of Arizona, Tucson in 1991. Dr. Purdy is a hand surgeon practicing in Phoenix. She has been a member of the Arizona Medical Association since 1988.

Thomas C. Rothe, MD At-Large Member of the Executive Committee
Thomas C. Rothe, MD, will serve as an At-Large Member of the Executive Committee for one year. He is a family practitioner. Dr. Rothe has been a member of ArMA since 1982. He graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo in 1977.

Brian N. Sabowitz, MD Northwestern District Director
Brian N. Sabowits, MD will serve as Northwestern District Director until June 2011. Dr. Sabowitz is an internal medicine specialist practicing in Lake Havasu City. He graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque in 1996 and has been an ArMA member since 2000.

Eve C. Shapiro, MD Southern District Director
Eve Shapiro, MD serves as souther district director, her term runs until 2010. She graduated from SUNY Health Sciences Center in New York, and completed her residency at Strong Memorial Hospital and Montefiore Hospital, both also in New York. Dr. Shapiro has been a member of ArMA since 1987. She is also a member of the Pima County Medical Society, serving as its president in 1999, the Pima County Pediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Michael W. Shrader, MD Direct Member Director
Michael W. Shrader, MD will serve as Direct Member Director until June 2009. Dr. Shrader is an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Sun City West. He graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago in 1999 and has been an ArMA member since 2005.

Jeremy Slone, MD Resident Physician Member
Jeremy Slone, MD will serve as the resident physician member of the board for one year until June 2009. Dr. Slone is a resident at the Mayo Hospital, Phoenix, specializing in pediatrics. He attended Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, graduating in 2006. He has been an ArMA member since April 2007.

Carol S. Taylor, MD Direct Member
Carol S. Taylor, MD has been named Direct Member Director, her term will run until June 2009. She graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in 1992. Dr. Taylor is an anesthesiologist practicing in Flagstaff.

William J. Thrift, MD At-Large Member of the Executive Committee and Vice Speaker
William Thrift graduated with his medical degree from the University of Arizona, and completed his residency in family practice at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital. He has been a member of ArMA since 1983, is a past president of the Yavapai County Medical Society, a past vice president of the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians and is a member of the American Medical Association and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Thrift will hold the office of At-Large Member of the Executive Committee for one year and vice speaker until 2009.

A. Judson Tillinghast, MD Central District Director
Judson Tillinghast will serve as the Central District Director until June 2011. Dr. Tillinghast is a pulmonologist practicing in Scottdsale. He graduated from the Louisiana State Univ School of Medicine, New Orleans in 1971 and has been an ArMA member since 1999.

Robert O. Wilson, MD Direct Member
Robert Wilson, MD graduated from the University of Utah Medical School. Since 1979 Dr. Wilson has been practicing in Peoria, Sun City and Sun City West. He has been on the Board of Directors since 1992. Dr. Wilson is currently a member of the Arizona Orthopaedic Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Medical Equestrian Association. Dr. Wilson has been direct member director since 1992 and will serve until 2011.

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