Los Angeles — L.A. Care Health Plan today announced the appointment of Richard Seidman, MD, MPH to the role of Chief Medical Officer in early 2017. He will succeed retiring CMO Gertrude Carter, MD.
"We are very excited to welcome Dr. Seidman as our Chief Medical Officer," said L.A. Care CEO John Baackes. “A board-certified pediatrician with a well-rounded understanding of managed care and the health care needs of Los Angeles County residents, Dr. Seidman will play a critical role in our organization as we fulfill our mission to provide high-quality care to those who need it most.”
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Seidman will oversee all areas of clinical operations, including care management, quality improvement, pharmacy, health information technology, social services, and behavioral health, among others. He will lead L.A. Care’s efforts to ensure the appropriate delivery of quality health care services to its more than two million members.
Dr. Seidman brings over 20 years of medical and managed care experience. Currently, he serves as Chief Medical Officer at Northeast Valley Health Corporation where he is responsible for the quality and safety of clinical care throughout the organization.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Community Health at UC Davis, and graduate degrees (MD, MPH) at the Drew/UCLA School of Medicine and the UCLA School of Public Health. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and residency in preventive medicine at UCLA and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
“As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Dr. Seidman, we are also filled with gratitude and appreciation for the excellent and dedicated service from Dr. Carter,” added Baackes. “We have been fortunate to count on her as a guiding force during times of tremendous change and growth brought on by the Affordable Care Act. We wish her all the best in retirement.”