HJNO Jan/Feb 2022

52 JAN / FEB 2022 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS MEDICAL SOCIETY Juan Gershanik, MD 2020-2021 Co-President Medical Association of Southeast Louisiana COLUMN MEDICAL SOCIETY Medical Societies Install Presidents at Joint Holiday Event Incoming Leaders Value Associations’ History and Look to Future Jefferson and Orleans Parish Medical Societies founded the Medical Association of Southeast Louisiana in late 2020. In December 2021, the three organizations installed their new leadership. MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA (MASELA) George S. Ellis, Jr., MD, was installed as the 2022 president of the Medical Association of Southeast Louisiana (MASELA) at a hol- iday reception in December. Ellis is an ophthalmologist who spe- cializes in pediatric eye diseases and adult strabismus. He has been practicing in the greater New Orleans area since 1983 and served on the full-time faculties at LSU Eye Center and Tulane University department of ophthalmology. In 1995, he assumed the directorship of ophthalmology at Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans, which he led for over 25 years. Not only is Ellis a renowned ophthal- mologist, he is also a renowned physician organization leader at the local, region- al and national levels. Being president of many medical associations has given Ellis the opportunity to participate in gover- nance, strategic planning, value creation and membership recruitment initiatives. These include the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, theAmerican Eye Study Club, the Southern Medical Association, the Louisiana-Mis- sissippi Ophthalmology and Otolaryngol- ogy Society, the New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, the Louisiana Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Orleans Parish Medical Society and the American Orthoptic Council, among others. These insightful experiences led Ellis and several other physician leaders in Or- leans and Jefferson parishes to create the shared vision that became the Medical As- sociation of Southeast Louisiana (MASE- LA) in late 2020. They understood that physician practice challenges and public health crises, like COVID-19, don’t stop at the parish line and that, by coming togeth- er in a meaningful way, a stronger, more unified professional association could be a more effective advocate for both physi- cians and patients. Ellis noted, “I congratulate and thank Tanya Busenlener, M.D., of JPMS and Juan Gershanik, M.D., of OPMS, who served as Co-presidents of MASELA for 2020-2021, for launching MASELA and making the vision a reality despite a raging pandem- ic. They have established a foundation of strength, service, and unity for MASELA upon which we will continue to build.” According to Ellis, “MASELA’s priorities are in enhancing professional satisfac- tion and physician well-being, business of medicine education, and celebrating phy- sicians’ contributions to our communities throughout Southeast Louisiana.” MASELA’s Executive Committee is composed of Ellis as president; Tanya Busenlener, MD, and Juan Gershanik, MD, immediate past co-presidents; Gabriella Pridjian, MD, MBA, president-elect; Mark Rice, MD, secretary; and Harold Miller, Jr., MD, treasurer. Additional members of the board are: Lisa Casey, MD, William Daly, Jr., MD, Eric Ehrensing, MD, Aniko Nowa- kowski, Robert Maupin, MD, Marideli Scanlan, MD, Michael Wheelis, MD, and Ryan Wolfe, MD. MASELA’s vision is to create a medical practice environment, which supports and encourages physicians’ professional satis- faction and well-being and enables them to provide accessible, equitable and qual- ity medical care.