Contact:
Karen Nikos, CMA Media Relations, 916-551-2069

Ronald P. Bangasser, M.D., who served as CMA president in 2003-2004, died Wednesday in Redlands after his struggles with cancer. He was 57.

Dr. Bangasser had practiced medicine since 1975. He had been active in state and national medical societies for nearly 30 years, serving as speaker and vice speaker of the CMA House of Delegates and as president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society. He served on the CMA Board of Trustees for eight years before taking office as president. He also served energetically in multiple AMA leadership roles.

“Ron’s death is a tremendous loss to all of us – his family, his patients, his friends and colleagues, and all of medicine,” said Dr. Anmol S. Mahal, president of the CMA. “Ron was always an example of what a doctor should be, operating his wound care clinic, his practice, treating patients in the hospital, all the while serving his patients and colleagues through his advocacy for the CMA.”

The California State Assembly today adjourned in memory of Dr. Bangasser. Asssemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands, told the assembly of Dr. Bangasser’s service and political activism on behalf of physicians and patients. “The medical profession lost one of its strongest members, and he will be missed,” he said.

Dr. Bangasser was a family practitioner with Beaver Medical Group in Redlands, serving as both Medical Director and Director of External Affairs. He specialized in the management of chronic complicated wounds and founded the nationally recognized Paul F. Bangasser Wound Care Center (dedicated to Ron’s father in 2005) at Redlands Community Hospital in 1986.

Often a national spokesperson on influenza issues and a vigorous advocate for immunizations, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Integrated Healthcare Association; Chairman of the California Adult Immunization Coalition, and served four years as a speaker for the Centers for Disease Control/AMA National Flu Vaccine Summit.

Dr. Bangasser received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and interned at San Bernardino County Medical Center. He trained in hyperbaric oxygen research at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at the Navy Diving Medical Officers’ Training School. He also was an avid SCUBA diver and instructor.

For 28 years, Dr. Bangasser was a key figure in the San Bernardino County Medical Society, CMA and AMA, serving as president of SBCMS before serving in that role for the CMA. He served as Chair of the California Delegation to the AMA, Chair of CMA’s Finance Committee and Vice Chair of CMA’s Hospital Medical Staff Section. He was an AMA delegate and member of the AMA Council on Medical Services. He also served on the Board of CMA’s Institute for Medical Quality.

Dr. Bangasser served as president of the California Foundation for Medical Care and the San Bernardino County Foundation for Medical Care. He served on the Boards of the Inland Empire Foundation for Medical Care and the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care, dedicating many years to the Foundation movement in California.

Dr. Bangasser served on the Board of Directors of Blue Shield of California; was vice chair of the Blue Shield Foundation; served on the National Council for Quality Assurance’s Committee on Performance Measurement as well as the NCQA’s Practicing Physicians’ Advisory Committee.

He also served on the Quality Forum, District IX, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Dr. Bangasser is past chair of the Institute for International Research and the Network Professional & Technical Advisory Committee for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. He served on the Task Force on Provider Solvency for the Department of Corporations.

In 1995, the SBCMS honored Dr. Bangasser with the prestigious Nicholas P. Krikes, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to SBCMS for his years of dedicated service. In 2002 he received the AMA Pride in the Professions Award and the CMA Young Physician’s Joseph Boyle Young at Heart Award. Other awards include the Riverside County Medical Association’s Outstanding Contribution to Organized Medicine Award; the James C. MacLaggan M.D. Political Action Award and the Medical Board of California’s Physician Humanitarian Award.

For 22 years, Ron served as the team physician for San Bernardino Valley College; he gave 12,000 sport physicals and attended 110 football games. In 1999, the college presented him with their Distinguished Service Award. Ron also served as the team physician for the San Bernardino Stampede Professional Baseball Team.

As a SCUBA Diver (expert and instructor), Ron Bangasser taught many colleagues, friends, patients and citizens the joy of SCUBA diving. He served as an instructor for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department team responsible for retrieving boats, planes, people and bodies.

Bangasser worked diligently for the local United Way, previously serving as Chairman of the Professional Division of the United Way fundraising campaign. He was successful in obtaining record contributions from physicians in the area.

He promoted the involvement of medical students and residents in organized medicine. He annually sponsored students from Loma Linda University School of Medicine to attend CMA’s Legislative Leadership Day.

Dr. Bangasser is survived by his wife Susan, two daughters, Debbie Waxler and Sandi Bangasser, and his mother Florence Bangasser.

Arrangements are as follows: May 6, 2007, noon to 2:30 pm, Visitation at Cortner Chapel, 221 Brookside Ave., Redlands, 909-793-2353.

May 6, 2007, 3 p.m., Memorial Service, University of Redlands Memorial Chapel, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands.

A Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ronald P. Bangasser, M.D. Medical Student Scholarship Fund, c/o the Physicians Memorial Gift & Benevolence Fund (PMGBF), 3993 Jurupa Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506.