Donald Palmisano
President, American Medical Association
National Press Club Luncheon Speaker -- July 9, 2003

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A general and vascular surgeon, Donald Palmisano is the 158th president of the nation's largest advocate for physicians and patients. Palmisano took the post in June 2003, after a year-long term as president-elect.

Palmisano has held positions within the organization since 1996, when he was first elected to the AMA's board of trustees. Palmisano has been a member of the organization's executive committee since 1999 and served as AMA secretary-treasurer in 2001.

A 1963 graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, Palmisano completed a surgical residency at Tulane and Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He then entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served as chief of surgery for the 821st Medical Group. Driven by his interest in medical liability reform, Dr. Palmisano also obtained a juris doctorate from Loyola University School of Law in 1982. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana.

Dr. Palmisano is a clinical professor of surgery and clinical professor of medical jurisprudence at Tulane University School of Medicine. He is board-certified in surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also an honorary fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Palmisano holds appointments to the Litigation Center of the AMA and State Medical Societies, the Board of Directors of the National Patient Safety Foundation and the National Advisory Council of the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences.

Palmisano has spoken out on behalf of physicians before Congress and the national media. In 2000, the Department of Defense named Palmisano one of 60 U.S. "opinion leaders" to participate in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. In August 2001, Palmisano was selected by an editorial board of physicians as one of New Orleans' top doctors.

Palmisano and his wife, Robin Spencer Palmisano, a health care attorney, live in Louisiana.



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• The American Medical Association

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