HJNO Jan/Feb 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2023 53 Skilled physician, surgeon, and attorney; charismatic leader; proud veteran and patriot; visionary strategist; stalwart cham- pion and advocate; effective teacher and storyteller; humble mentor; life-long learn- er; talented photographer; accomplished author; sought-after orator and frequent commentator — Donald J. Palmisano was all those roles and more. And, he was a gentleman. He will be missed. Palmisano was impressive to everyone he met, and he was genuinely interested in everyone he met. If you were fortunate to cross paths with him, the memories of your interactions lingered long after. He was memorable. He freely shared his knowl- edge and expertise on an extensive list of topics, including how to take the best photographs possible — a skill he learned from his mother. With the very latest cam- era slung over his shoulder, he was always at the ready to document chance encoun- ters. Photography and medicine were two of his life-long passions. After completing medical training at Tu- lane School of Medicine in 1968, Palm- isano entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served as chief of surgery for the 821st Medical Group. In 1970, he established a general and vascular surgical practice in New Orleans East where he made a significant difference in the lives of his patients and his medical colleagues. His desire to make a professional difference went far beyond the parish lines of Orleans where he was born and raised, the son of a policeman. As an outspo- ken advocate on medical liability and health system reform, patient safety, and ethical science-based medicine, he aspired to improve de- livery of and access to healthcare in Louisiana and across the nation. Palmisano saw organized medicine as the instrument of change, and he knew that “together we are stronger,” encouraging physicians to be engaged in their local, state, and national organizations. He was a believer in “walking the walk and talking the talk.” In 1975, Palmisano was a key figure in the passage of Louisiana’s Med- ical Malpractice Act, which established a process for review of claims and a cap on total recovery to avoid an access crisis in Louisiana’s healthcare system due to physicians leaving the state because they could not afford the cost of skyrocketing medical liability insurance. The impact of passage of this legislation still benefits patients and physicians today. Because of his interest in tort reform, Palmisano pur- sued a law degree from Loyola University School of Law so that he could be even better informed about the legal environment in which physicians must practice and the nuances of medical malpractice law. He recognized advocacy and leadership were needed to improve pol- icy, laws, and regulation — first becoming active at the local level in Orleans Parish Medical Society and lat- er as president of the Louisiana State Medical Society. Recognizing that many health reform issues were best addressed on a national stage within the “House of Medicine,” Palmisano campaigned for and was elected to the American Medical Association’s board of trustees and then became the 158th president of the AMA in 2003. During his term, it was commonplace to see him on television in a relentless pursuit to reform the broken medical liability system and other aspects of our healthcare delivery system. He was no stranger to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” or “Nightline”; NBC’s “Today Show”; CNN’s “The Capital Gang” or “Cross- fire”; the National Press Club; C-SPAN; MSNBC’s “Hardball” with Chris Mat- thews; and many other news shows. He did his homework, and, in every interview, he brilliantly and eloquently translated often complex issues into understandable concepts for consum- ers of healthcare and policymakers. Even after retirement from practice following Hurricane Katrina, he continued to teach and mentor med- ical students and residents at Tulane University School of Medicine as an adjunct professor of surgery and clinical professor of medical jurisprudence, expanded his consulting practice through his company, Intrepid Resources, and continued speaking engagements, including KevinMD. He also turned his attention to writing about leadership, in- cluding On Leadership and The Little Red Book of Leadership Lessons and his last book, A Leader’s Guide to Giving a Memorable Speech . Deservedly, Palmisano was often recognized for his contributions. He was awarded the Loyola University President’s Medal, Tulane Medical Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumnus, The Doctors Company Award for the Advancement of Patient Safety, membership in the Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Award of the Louisiana State Med- ical Society, the Ed Annis Medical Freedom Award from the American Medical Association, and was bestowed honorary fellowship by the American Psychiatric Association for his advocacy on patient privacy and medical record confidentiality. Donald Palmisano will be remembered as a skilled surgeon, extraor- dinary leader, and aspirational role model. He was appreciated and admired by his colleagues and loved by his family whose support and encouragement gave him the ability to make a significant difference that will benefit patients and physicians for decades to come. May we all aspire to be more like him and live by his guiding principles: “Do your homework, have courage, and don’t give up!” A Tribute to an Extraordinary Physician Leader: Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, FACS (1939-2022)