On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Dr. Randy W. Hawkins of Los Angeles was elected by his fellow members of the Medical Board of California (Board) to serve as the Board’s president. The Board also elected Ms. Laurie Lubiano as Vice President and Mr. Ryan Brooks as Secretary.
The mission of the Board is to protect healthcare consumers and prevent harm through the proper licensing and regulation of allopathic physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professionals and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act, and to promote access to quality medical care through the Board’s licensing, policy, and regulatory functions.
“It is an honor to be selected to lead this vital organization, which works tirelessly to protect California’s healthcare consumers,” said Hawkins. “Collaboration and dialogue between the Board, consumers, licensees, and our other stakeholders is critical for our success. I look forward during my time as Board President to continue to improve on our past work in this area.”
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Dr. Hawkins was first appointed to the Board by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., in 2015, and was reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020.
He has been in private practice since 1986 in Inglewood, California. His medical practice is composed of primary care, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and hospice care. He is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary and critical care medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. He is a member of a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee.
He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1979 and completed his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University of California at San Diego in 1985.
“The first thing that consumers should know about the Board is that we exist to protect them. If you think your physician has treated you in a negligent or incompetent manner we encourage you to file a complaint with the Board. Our job is to promote access to quality medical care, and we need input from the public to help us determine how we can best continue to innovate. I hope the public will consider attending or observing one of our quarterly Board meetings so they can get to know our work better and see how we are working to improve their quality of care.”
“Currently, the Board is working to add new staff positions, so we are better able to educate the public about our role and the work we do, along with an online system to help them track the progress of their complaint. These, and other changes, are in the works at the Board after hearing from patients and patient advocates. They are a partner in our work and a voice that I and the rest of the Board welcome.”
“Other key partners include the health care providers we regulate, such as physicians and licensed midwives. It is important for the Board to increase our communications with the schools and programs that educate and train these valued providers so that they increase their understanding of the responsibilities and requirements of their profession.”
