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Andrew LaMar

Sacramento - Dr. Richard Pan, a Sacramento pediatrician who is a member of the California Medical Association's Board of Trustees, received the Medical Board of California's 2010 Physician Humanitarian Award today.

The award recognizes "excellence by individual physicians . . . who strive to improve access and to fill gaps in the health care delivery system for underserved populations," among other attributes, according to the board, which licenses and regulates physicians in California.

Pan is a physician and educator at the UC Davis Children's Hospital and has a history of strong community service and leadership. As associate professor of pediatrics, Pan previously headed UC Davis's Pediatric Residency Program, where he developed a national award-winning program to promote healthy lifestyles by partnering with community groups.

"Dr. Pan is the living example of a dedicated, caring, socially active physician who is devoted to expanding patients' access to care in innovative new ways," said Brennan Cassidy, M.D., president of CMA. "CMA congratulates Dr. Pan on receiving this well-deserved recognition."

Pan helped found Communities and Physicians Together, a grassroots program placing pediatricians in disadvantaged communities; co-founded the Sacramento Health Improvement Project, which brings together doctors, hospitals, clinics and community leaders to ensure that all Sacramento County residents are able to access primary health care; and co-founded the Healthy Kids Healthy Future program, which secured health, dental and vision coverage for over 65,000 children in Sacramento, Colusa, El Dorado, Placer and Yuba counties.

"I am honored to receive this award from the Medical Board," Pan said. "I strongly believe physicians have a duty to reach beyond the walls of their clinics and hospitals and into their communities to serve their patients. We must work to provide all Californians access to a doctor and get the preventive care they need to stay healthy."

Pan also is running as a Democrat in the 5th Assembly District and has been endorsed by CMA.

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The California Medical Association represents 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.