NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The American Medical Association (AMA) honored Stuart Samuel Friedman, former executive director of the Suffolk County Medical Society (SCMS), with the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors a medical association executive who has contributed substantially to the goals and ideals of the medical profession.
“For more than 25 years, Stuart Friedman led the Suffolk County Medical Society by encouraging membership and engagement, facilitating face-to-face meetings with legislators, and by mentoring and challenging the next generation of leaders,” said AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “Stuart knew that you could disagree without being disagreeable, and, as the leader of SCMS, he always sought – and normally found – common ground on even divisive issues.”
Under Friedman’s leadership, SCMS became the first county medical society in New York to establish institutional membership for hospital medical staff, and grew the organization to have the most hospital-based medical society members in the state. Additionally, he initiated legislative breakfasts for physicians to discuss policies and needs with the legislators of Suffolk County. Friedman also led the charge on bringing physicians to Albany to discuss critical health policy issues with their representatives.
The AMA presented the award to Friedman during the 2018 AMA Interim Meeting.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
