Dear Colleagues:

The 152nd Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will convene October 21-22, 2023, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

Vice-Speaker Vacancy

CMA Leaders,

It is with great regret that I inform you all that I have received and accepted the resignation of our respected colleague Dr. Lawrence Cheung in his current role as Vice-Speaker to the California Medical Association House of Delegates. In my conversations with Dr. Cheung, due to personal reasons, he felt obliged to step down at this juncture and I and the members of the Executive Committee support his decision and will continue to offer wholehearted support to him and his family going forward. While I anticipate questions, I would humbly request that we respect Lawrence’s privacy during this period of transition.

This resignation takes effect immediately, and as such will result in a vacancy in the customary upcoming election for the second one-year term of the three consecutive terms for which the person occupying the seat of the Vice-Speaker is eligible. A process is being enabled to allow all persons with interest in filling that role for this upcoming term (to begin at the close of House) to run, with an election to be conducted at this upcoming House of Delegates in October. I would thus encourage all interested candidates to submit statements of interest to Michelle Chapanian, VP of Governance, in accordance with the standing rules governing elections at your earliest convenience.

The House is in capable hands with your Speaker, Dr. Jack Chou, and you have our full assurance that this upcoming House will be conducted competently and in accordance with tradition.

Most respectfully,

Donaldo M. Hernandez, M.D., FACP
CMA President

Election Information

Each year, the House of Delegates at each Annual Session elects the CMA President-Elect to serve until the adjournment of the meeting of the House of Delegates at the following Annual Session. Additionally, the House of Delegates also elects a Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates, each to serve until the end of the meeting of the House of Delegates at its next Annual Session, or until their successors are elected and assume office. Should a CMA member seek to run for any of those three offices for 2023-2024, they must announce and submit a declaration of candidacy no later than seven days in advance of Annual Session.

Given that the incumbent Vice-Speaker has resigned and will not be seeking re-election, we want to bring this unexpected occurrence to your attention to allow eligible members who previously may not have considered the opportunity to serve at this time to do so. If you have questions about the responsibilities of the role and time commitments, please contact CMA staff or previous office-holders for additional details and insights. Your Speaker respectfully asks that campaign activity for the Office of Vice-Speaker not formally commence until August 1.

A full copy of the Campaign and Election Protocols is posted here.

Please visit our website for updates on the House of Delegates.

Sincerely,

Jack Chou, M.D.
Speaker of the House