Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D., president-elect of the California Medical Association, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in Redwood City, Calif.

Dr. Spirtos earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago and her medical degree at Northwestern University Medical Center. She completed her residency at Los Angeles County Medical Center/ University of Southern California and is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Her medium-sized group of physicians recently affiliated with Stanford Healthcare and she continues to practice gynecology only at both Sequoia Hospital and El Camino Hospital. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of Sequoia Hospital Systems from 2003-07 and served on the Community Board of Directors of Sequoia Hospital from 2007-15. She has also been an adjunct clinical faculty of Stanford University Medical School since 1995, with an academic appointment as adjunct clinical assistant professor from 2006-14. Since 2010 she has served at the Arbor Free Clinic with the Stanford medical students and has been recognized for exemplary contributions in teaching. Despite this—and her participation on various health boards—she receives 100 percent of her compensation from patient care.

Dr. Spirtos has been a member of the CMA and AMA since 1985, and is a member of both the San Mateo County Medical Society and Santa Clara County Medical Association—the latter of which she served as president from 2005-06. She was elected to the CMA Board of Trustees in 2009 and continues to serve on the CMA delegation to the AMA.

She lives with her husband Elias Eleftheriades in Redwood City, where they are both active in the Greek community and culture. Her children, Michael and Alexandra, born in 1989, have grown up surrounded by the practice and profession of medicine. Alex is currently a resident in Obstetrics/Gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas; Mike is a practicing lawyer with Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton in New York City in the division of Mergers and Acquisitions.