Dr. Jerry P. Abraham, a steadfast advocate for equitable access to public health and healthcare delivery, was installed as the 152nd president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) on August 18, at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena.
Abraham’s appointment marks a significant milestone in his exceptional career, further solidifying his commitment to serving the people of Los Angeles County and advancing health justice for all. He will be the first FQHC-employed physician as president of the organization.
Throughout his tenure as chief vaccinologist of the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Initiative of KEDREN and director of the CDU-KEDREN Mobile Street Medicine program, Abraham has advocated for African American, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ patients’ access to safe, reliable, and nondiscriminatory quality care.
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Notably, Abraham’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic garnered global recognition. He spearheaded a groundbreaking vaccine equity initiative that received numerous awards and commendations, including acclaim from Governor Gavin Newsom. His initiatives have brought reliable transportation for medical care, assistance for people experiencing homelessness and housing and food insecurity, and resources for those living with HIV.
In addition, he has provided access to crucial COVID-19 resources, including testing, vaccines, therapeutics, and patient education on vaccine safety and efficacy. Through these efforts, Dr. Abraham and his team successfully vaccinated over 300,000 individuals in South Los Angeles, tested hundreds of thousands more, distributed thousands of COVID-19 therapeutics, and significantly reduced COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and fatalities.
Abraham has presented before the National Academy of Medicine and testified before the U.S. Senate and Congress on the COVID-19 Pandemic. He currently serves as a Fellow of the American Medical Association in Medical Justice and Advocacy, a joint program with the Morehouse School of Medicine Satcher Health Leadership Institute.
Most recently, he served as a Climate Health Organizing Fellow for the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Advocacy of the Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Teaching Hospital.
Recently appointed to the Hearing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Dr. Abraham also serves as a delegate to the United States Pharmacopeia, the L.A. County Ending the HIV Epidemic Steering Committee, and Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopment Risks).
Also, he is on the board of directors of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, The National LGBTQ Task Force, Physician Aid Association, Urban Voices Project, and the Charles R. Drew Medical Society.
“Dr. Jerry P. Abraham’s presidency of the Los Angeles County Medical Association heralds a new era of healthcare equity, where the needs of every individual are prioritized, and access to high-quality care is universal,” said a spokesperson.
“His indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication to health justice will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals throughout Los Angeles County.”
