Dr. Jerry P. Abraham, board member with Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles and a 2021 recipient of the GMCLA Voice Award, will be installed as the 152nd President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) on August 18 at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena. Dr. 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.
Dr. Abraham is a nationally recognized leader for his crusade to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccines to communities of color in South Central Los Angeles. 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, Dr. Abraham has tirelessly fought for the rights of minoritized and marginalized communities. His dedication to African-American, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ patients' access to safe, reliable, and nondiscriminatory quality care has been unwavering.
Notably, Dr. 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. By creating programs specifically tailored to address the needs and social determinants of underrepresented and underserved communities, Dr. Abraham's initiatives have brought reliable transportation for medical care, assistance for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and housing and food insecurity, and resources for those living with HIV (PLWH). 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.
In addition to his role on the GMCLA board, Dr. Abraham serves on the Board of Directors of the 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. 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.
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