Page 13 - Bulletin Fall 2024

Executive Director’s Desk (continued)
followed by six years at James Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Cohen’s calm and courteous demeanor made communicating with him very easy. He was especially proud to serve as HCMA president.
Dr. Pierre Bouis (HCMA President 1993)
Dr. Bouis spent many years in private practice on the east coast of Florida prior to moving to Tampa where he became a full-time faculty member of USF. At the time of his Presidency, Dr. Bouis was Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the USF Health Sciences Center and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Ed- ucation.
Dr. Bouis was also a talented pianist and played at sever- al HCMA events including our receptions at the FMA Annual Meetings. I remember one holiday event where members and their guests enjoyed an HCMA Dinner Cruise around Tampa Bay. The musical entertainment was provided by “Generations,” a band that included our illustrious leader on keyboard. He used to light up around music and loved showing off his skills outside of medicine.
Dr. Frederick Reddy aka “A Gentle Giant” (HCMA President 1994)
Dr. Reddy was a brilliant doctor with a big heart and known as much for his generosity of spirit as his civil rights activism. He was a mentor and role model to black youths and worked to ex- pand indigent health care in the community, leading the charge for the Hillsborough County’s nationally recognized health care plan. He also organized several mission trips to Haiti.
I used to love to hear the many stories he shared, from his childhood challenges in a segregated society to his emergency room escapades as a physician. They would be most interesting and always a bit humorous. Dr. Reddy also helped integrate Ye Mystic Krewe in 1992 and enjoyed being part of the Gasparilla parade for many years.
Dr. Reddy served as the HCMA Interim Executive Director in 1998 prior to me assuming the position. He had so much faith in my ability and his influence and encouragement helped me accept the promotion with confidence and enthusiasm. I will also never forget his kindness and our one-on-one conversations when my son was first diagnosed with Type I diabetes, at age six, the very same illness that took Dr. Reddy’s life only seven years later.
In 2006, the Frederick A. Reddy, MD, Memorial Award was es- tablished, exemplifying Dr. Reddy’s belief in giving back to socie- ty, his dedication to medicine, community service, social justice, and the youth of Tampa Bay.
Dr. Robert Yelverton (HCMA President 1997)
After serving two years as a Major at MacDill AFB, Dr. Yelver- ton joined three OBGYN physicians in private practice. Over the years, the practice evolved into Women’s Care Florida for which he served as Charter President and CEO. Dr. Yelverton retired from clinical practice in 2001 but remained involved by serving
as CMO of Women’s Care until he fully retired. He also served as Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF.
Dr. Yelverton’s passionate dedication to women’s health issues was reflected in his sustained involvement with a wide range of local, regional, and national women’s health organizations. He was an experienced authority on the latest innovations and qual- ity improvements in perinatal care.
During his Presidency the HCMA Committee on Managed Care and Insurance was created. He wrote an article in The Bulle- tin about the harmful and negative actions of managed care com- panies and the critical need for reform. He included a photo in the middle of his article (which might not be published in our journal today) which showed him standing on a street corner in his white coat holding a sign: WILL DO PAP SMEAR 4 FOOD - HMO VET. Point well taken.
Last year, the HCMA Foundation and USF MCOM created the Robert Yelverton, Sr., MD, Memorial Scholarship which will be presented annually to a senior medical student who demonstrates compassion and excellence in care to help improve the lives of women.
Dr. John Warren (HCMA President 2002)
Dr. Warren proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a flight surgeon, followed by three years in the Naval Reserves. He was an assis- tant professor at USF COM for eight years and a highly respected family practitioner in Tampa for sixteen years. He then completed a residency in anesthesiology at USF which he practiced for the next twelve years. Dr. Warren also served as Chief of Staff at the former University Community Hospital, as well as HCMA Foun- dation President for several years.
Dr. Warren was at the helm during the implementation of the HCMA “Day of Awareness” rally in Tampa. It was a significant event which gathered over one thousand physicians and advo- cates who rallied against skyrocketing medical liability premi- ums. Despite all the hard work medicine was still short of achiev- ing substantial reforms, including legislation that would place a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages. Amendment 3 was then created which limited attorney compensation from medical liability awards. Dr. Warren was once again at the helm and trav- eled to Tallahassee by bus with over 20 members to participate in the FMA’s “Enough is Enough” rally. On Election Day, HCMA acquired sponsorship for an aerial banner ad that flew over pre- cincts in our county which read, Your Doctor Says – Vote Yes on Amendment 3! Happily, the amendment passed with a resound- ing 64% of votes.
The length or lack of information provided for some of the past presidents in this article does not denote or take away from their many contributions to HCMA and the profession of medicine. I was privileged to know them all, some more than others.
(continued)
HCMA BULLETIN, Vol 70, No. 2 – Fall 2024
13