Louis J. Goodman, Ph.D., former Texas Medical Association (TMA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Vice President (EVP) passed away on Friday, July 31, 2020, at the age of 71. Dr. Goodman served as CEO and EVP of TMA for 22 years, until he retired in August 2019.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Lou, both for what he meant to me personally and what his presence meant for the larger health care community,” said Dustin Corcoran, CEO of the California Medical Association (CMA). “Lou was a mentor to me and I will always be grateful for the time that I was able to spend with him.  I cannot count the number of times he took time out of his day to help guide younger CEOs and impart his wisdom and knowledge upon us.”

Dr. Goodman was born on Sept. 29, 1948, in Paterson, N.J., and received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in public affairs and medical economics from New York University.

After college, he took positions with the American Medical Association (AMA) and then with the former Michael Reese Medical Center in Chicago. He joined TMA in 1987 as director of the Division of Medical Economics and became CEO 10 years later.

Dr. Goodman held many roles and wore many hats throughout his career. He served as president of the American Association of Medical Society Executives and chair of the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE). He was a board member and former president of The Physicians Foundation and was the treasurer of the Physician Advocacy Institute. He was also an adjunct professor of public health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Dr. Goodman had been recognized for his outstanding leadership with AMA’s Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award and the TSAE Distinguished Executive Award.

The TMA headquarters building in downtown Austin was renamed in his honor last year.

“Lou loved TMA and was immensely dedicated to the profession of medicine.  He filled the room wherever he went and commanded attention and respect,” said Corcoran. “We enjoyed a playful rivalry over the years that I believe bettered both associations.  I knew the minute I met him that I wanted to be on his good side and sought to earn that place and stay there from that moment on.”

Outside of his career, Dr. Goodman was an avid golfer, a second-degree black belt in karate, a former marathon runner, a voracious reader, and an outdoorsman. He is survived by his wife Joann Goodman, his sister Sheree Wiener, his children Melissa Goodman (Peter Crossland) and Wendy Goodman (Daniel Perry), and his 5-month-old granddaughter Liberty Fox Goodman Crossland. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made Dr. Goodman’s memory to the Glioblastoma Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.