JSA2017-17: Andrew Gurman MD, immediate past president, American Medical Association

The Lubetkin Media Companies

Andrew Gurman MD, the immediate past president of the American Medical Association, and a hand surgeon from Hollidaysburg, PA, is the guest on this week's edition of the Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast. Dr. Gurman discusses healthcare issues for Baby Boomers and the need for health insurance reform in the US.

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About the Guest

[caption id="attachment_5331" align="alignleft" width="150"] Andrew Gurman MD[/caption]

Andrew W. Gurman, MD, an orthopaedic hand surgeon from Hollidaysburg, Pa., was the 171st president of the American Medical Association. Prior to becoming AMA president in June 2016, Dr. Gurman was an active and highly visible member of the AMA Board of Trustees, and both speaker and vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates during a period of change and refocus for the organization. In August 2016 Dr. Gurman was named one of Modern Healthcare magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare (No. 27).

As the first hand surgeon and only the second orthopaedic surgeon to have served as AMA president, Dr. Gurman believes strongly that nurturing the profession is crucial for America’s physicians and the generation who will one day take their place.

Born in New York City and raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Dr. Gurman is a graduate of Syracuse University. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, in 1980.

Dr. Gurman’s advocacy work in medicine began early as a student delegate to the AMA Student Business Session, precursor to the AMA Medical Student Section of today. After completing his surgical internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the combined Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein program in New York City, and a fellowship in hand surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Gurman entered practice in central Pennsylvania and became active in the local medical society and civic organizations.

In addition to being a past president of the Blair County Medical Society in Pennsylvania, Dr. Gurman’s distinguished record includes past service as vice speaker and then speaker of the Pennsylvania Medical Society House of Delegates, and as a two-time chair of the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Political Action Committee. He has also served as professional chair for the United Way campaign and as a member of the board of trustees of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Gurman resides in Hollidaysburg with his wife, Nancy. They have two grown children, and one grandchild.