California physicians continue to shape the future of American medicine. At this week’s American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, six California physicians were elected to prominent leadership roles, reinforcing California’s influence in driving national health policy. These appointments reflect not just individual achievement, but the collective strength and vision of California’s medical community.

David H. Aizuss, M.D., a Los Angeles ophthalmologist, took office as chair of the AMA Board of Trustees. Dr. Aizuss, a longtime leader in organized medicine, was first elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2020. He is also a past president of the California Medical Association (CMA), the Los Angeles County Medical Association, and the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Before being elected as CMA president in 2018, he served as chair of the CMA Board of Trustees.

Toluwalase A. Ajayi, M.D., a San Diego pediatrician, pediatric and adult palliative medicine specialist, and clinical researcher, was elected chair-elect of the AMA Board of Trustees. First elected an AMA trustee in 2022, Dr. Ajayi also previously served as chair of the CMA Council on Medical Services and is past president of the San Diego County Medical Society, where she was the first black woman president in the organization’s 152-year history.

Alex Ding, M.D., a radiologist and health policy leader, was elected secretary of the AMA Board of Trustees. Dr. Ding has been an active leader in organized medicine since medical school, with a distinguished record of service across the Federation. During his tenure on the AMA Board, he has provided key leadership on finance, health equity, and physician wellness, and is a co-leader of the AMA’s Gun Violence Taskforce. Dr. Ding has also served on many CMA councils and committees, and is past president of the San Mateo County Medical Association

Pauline Huynh, M.D., a resident physician with Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland, was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees as its Resident Trustee. Dr. Huynh previously served as Chair of the AMA Resident and Fellow Section and as an officer on the CMA Resident and Fellow Section Executive Council.

Helene Nepomuceno, M.D., a fellow in the Stanford Division of Pediatric Surgery, was elected to the AMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws. Dr. Nepomuceno previously served as the Chair of the AMA Resident and Fellow Section, as well as the AMA Medical Student Section.

Jerry P. Abraham, M.D., a family medicine physician from Los Angeles, was re-elected to the AMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws where he serves as Chair. Dr. Abraham is also Immediate Past President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, a member of the CMA Board of Trustees and has served in numerous other leadership positions in organized medicine at the state and national levels.

Also, continuing her term on the AMA Board of Trustees is Lynn Jeffers, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in Oxnard.  An active member of AMA and CMA member since medical school, Dr. Jeffers has served as chair of the AMA’s Council on Medical Service and is the former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Interested in making a difference?

CMA and its county medical societies provide many avenues at the local, state and national levels, including opportunities to volunteer; serve on a committee, council or board; and shape the future of the medical profession. Learn more at cmadocs.org/opportunities.