AMA Inaugurates Denver Psychiatrist Jeremy Lazarus as President


CHICAGO, June 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D., a Denver psychiatrist in private practice, was inaugurated today as the 167th president of the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest and most influential physician organization.

A dedicated runner and athlete, who has completed 13 marathons and 13 triathlons, Dr. Lazarus emphasized endurance and persistence in meeting the challenge of strengthening the heath care system for the long run in his inaugural address as AMA president. Dr. Lazarus told the nation's physician leaders assembled for the AMA Annual Meeting that he looked forward to making great strides together on the road to a better health care system.

"I am excited to be your president, now let's run this race together and get the job done," said Dr. Lazarus. "Now is the time to rise up. Rise to the occasion. Be persistent. And keep going no matter how tiring it may get."

Dr. Lazarus also pledged to assist the mental health needs of combat troops, veterans and their families, as well as victims of violence and abuse.

"As AMA president, my focus will include the need to better integrate mental health care into other aspects of medical care - to provide more resources to treat more people," said Dr. Lazarus.

Dr. Lazarus is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and a voluntary professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.

First elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2003, Dr. Lazarus served as speaker and vice-speaker of the House of Delegates, the AMA's primary policy-making body. He has chaired several AMA task forces on a wide range of topics, including health system reform.

Dr. Lazarus has a distinguished record of service and leadership in organized medicine. He is a former president of the Colorado Medical Society, the Colorado Psychiatric Society and the Arapahoe County Medical Society. He has also served as speaker of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) assembly.

Dr. Lazarus received the Colorado Psychiatric Society Outstanding Achievement Award in 2008. He has also been recognized by the APA with the Special Presidential Commendation in 2003, the APA Assembly Warren Williams Award in 2004 and the APA Distinguised Service Award in 2012.

Born in Chicago, Dr. Lazarus attended a city high school named for Nicholas Senn, M.D., the AMA's 49th president. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and received a medical degree with honors in psychiatry from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Lazarus is also an accomplished lecturer and author, who released the book, "Entering Private Practice: A Handbook for Psychiatrists."

Dr. Lazarus and his wife, Debbie, have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Media Contact:
Robert J. Mills
AMA Media Relations
Newsroom: (312) 239-4991
Office: (312) 464-5970
robert.mills@ama-assn.org

About the American Medical Association (AMA)

The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional, public health and health policy issues. The nation's largest physician organization plays a leading role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.

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