Medical Community Loses Richard F. Kammerman, M.D. January 28, 2014 General Dr. Kammerman, OCMA, Past president, Richard Kammerman, UCI 0 It is with great sadness that we announce that Richard F. Kammerman, M.D., past president of OCMA, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital on January 9, 2014. He was 83. Dr. Kammerman was board certified in family medicine. He was a Clinical Professor of the UCI Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Kammerman was president of OCMA in 1991-92. In 1997, he was named OCMA's Physician of the Year. Even after he retired, Dr. Kammerman could be counted on to assist OCMA whenever he was needed. He was a popular mentor in OCMA's "Speed Mentoring" program that OCMA organized for UCI medical students. In recent years, Dr. Kammerman served on the Physicians of Excellence Selection Committee. In addition, Dr. Kammerman founded and served as president of OCMA's Toastmasters Club (chapter 3773). Dr. Kammerman contributed countless hours to service and leadership positions within OCMA and other professional associations and hospitals since the early 1960's. In addition to his work within OCMA, Dr. Kammerman served as president of the Orange County Chapter of the Academy of Family Physicians and served as a representative to the California State Academy of Family Physicians and the California Medical Association. He served on the hospital staffs of St. Joseph Hospital, CHOC, and Western Medical Center, and was elected chair of the Family Medicine Department in each of these hospitals. Dr. Kammerman's greatest influence on the community has been the positive impact on the lives of the uninsured and under-insured in Orange County. His tireless work and unwavering commitment to the poor resulted in the unprecedented launching of CalOptima, the county's Medi-Cal managed care organization. He was involved with the program's design and was instrumental in forging the partnership among the county government, private physicians, hospitals and community clinics that continues to this day. While serving as part of the UCI Volunteer Faculty, Dr. Kammerman was devoted to educating future physicians and volunteered many hours each week to mentor medical students. In a written statement, Dr. Ralph Clayman, dean of the UCI School of Medicine, said: "A member of the School of Medicine Alumni Board since its inception, Dr. Kammerman had knowledge and appreciation of the roots and foundation of the School of Medicine and therefore was often looked to as a historian for the group. As co-president in 2011, Dr. Kammerman helped reengage and reenergize the board. Dr. Kammerman received the Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award for the UC Irvine School of Medicine in 2011 in recognition of the tremendous amount of time and energy he devoted to making the UC Irvine School of Medicine the great institution that it is today." Dr. Kammerman volunteered his time and service to many groups and organizations, including the Discovery Science Center, the Santa Ana Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Lions Club. He received commendations for service from the Boy Scouts of America, the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the California State Senate, the California State Assembly, and the U.S. House of Representatives. A few years ago, the UCI Department of Family Medicine created the Richard Kammerman, M.D. Award. This award is presented each year to a volunteer faculty member in recognition of outstanding service to the department and the community. Dr. Kammerman was the first recipient and the award has continued to be named in his honor in recognition of his service - displaying the characteristics that form the selection criteria for this honor. Richard F Kammerman, M.D. will be missed by his family, friends and the medical community at large. Comments are closed.