Rajiv R. Varma, MD, has been installed as the 2012 president of the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS). Dr. Varma is the 147th president of the local physician organization. Four other physicians will assume new leadership roles as elected officers (photos avaialable upon request). The 2012 ACMS officers are:
Rajiv R. Varma, MD
2012 ACMS President
Dr. Varma is a pediatric neurologist certified in pediatrics and neurology with special qualifications in child neurology. He is clinical director of the pediatric neurology division of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
A member of ACMS since 1987, Dr. Varma has been very active with the Society in addition to his service on the board of directors from 2003 to 2005 and again in 2008 to 2010. He was a member of the Legislative Committee from 1993 to 2006. He was chair of the Member Benefits Committee in 1999 and participated on the Membership Committee from 2000 to 2005, serving as vice chair in 2000 and chair from 2001 to 2005. Dr. Varma was the Board of Directors Presidential Appointee from 2000 to 2002. He served on the Nominating Committee in 2006 and the Finance Committee in 2008 and 2010. He was a member of the Awards Committee in 2009. He participated on the Peer Review Board in 2010 and was chair of the Bylaws Committee that same year. Dr. Varma served as ACMS treasurer in 2008, secretary in 2009, vice president in 2010 and president-elect in 2011, serving on the Executive Committee during that time. At the state level he served as an alternate delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1993 to 1995 and in 2002. Dr. Varma served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1996 to 2001; 2003 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. Dr. Varma has also served on the PMS Strategic Planning Committee for several years.
Dr. Varma is a member of many professional and scientific societies, including the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society. In addition, Dr. Varma is involved with the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
Dr. Varma earned his medical degree from Prince of Wales Medical College in Patna, India, in 1974 and then served as senior house officer in Royal Gwent Hospital, England. From there, Dr. Varma moved to Michigan where he completed his pediatrics residency at the Hurley Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
In 1980, Dr. Varma came to Pittsburgh as a pediatric neurology fellow at UPMC and Children’s Hospital. Prior to joining Children’s, Dr. Varma was chief, division of child neurology and vice-chairman of pediatrics at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Varma and his wife, Dr. Swarna Varma, reside in Upper St Clair. They have three children.
Amelia A. Paré, MD
2012 ACMS President-Elect
Dr. Paré is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is in private practice and is affiliated with Jefferson Medical Center, Washington Hospital, St. Clair Memorial Hospital and UPMC. She is also affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Paré has been a member of ACMS since 2000. In addition to serving on the board of directors since 2009, she served on the Nominating Committee from 2003 to 2004 and in 2007. She has also served on the Communications Committee since 2006, becoming its chair in 2008. Dr. Paré participated on the Legislative Committee in 2007 and the Awards Committee from 2007 to 2009. Dr. Paré was a member of the finance committee in 2009 and was the Board of Directors Presidential Appointee from July 2007 to 2008. She served as ACMS treasurer in 2009, secretary in 2010 and vice president in 2011, serving on the Executive Committee during that time.
At the state level Dr. Paré served as alternate delegate from 2000 to 2002 and, since 2003, as delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society, serving as chair of the ACMS delegation in 2011. In addition, Dr. Paré has been on the Pennsylvania Medical Society Political Action Committee (PAMPAC) since 2005, and currently serves as chair of the committee. She is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pittsburgh Plastic Surgery Society and the Harvard Alumni Society. On behalf of physicians in this area, Dr. Paré has visited local legislative offices, as well as those in Harrisburg and Washington.
Dr. Paré earned her bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Harvard University and studied at Oxford University in England. She received her medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in 1992. She trained in general surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, University Hospital of Columbia University College of Physicians in New York City, where she served as chief resident of general surgery. She completed specialized training in aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCLA, where she also served as chief resident. She has worked with Doctors Missions in Honduras.
Dr. Paré and her husband Kyung Park, MD, reside in Upper St. Clair with their son.
Kevin O. Garrett, MD, FACS
2012 ACMS Vice President
Dr. Garrett is a board certified general surgeon, practicing at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital, where he serves as chairman of surgery. He is a clinical professor of general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Dr. Garrett has been a member of ACMS since 1985, serving on the board of directors since 2006. He was a member of the Nominating Committee in 1999 and the Medical-Legal Committee from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Garrett served on the Membership Committee in 2006, the Awards Committee in 2007 and the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2010. Dr. Garrett was ACMS treasurer in 2010 and secretary in 2011, serving on the Executive Committee during that time. He has also been a delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society since 1998, serving as vice chair and chair of the ACMS delegation in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Dr. Garrett has served as an alternate delegate to the AMA from the Pennsylvania Caucus since 2007.
Dr. Garrett has been a member of the American College of Surgeons since 1995 and has served as a governor since 2007. He has also been active with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, serving as treasurer, council member and program chair.
Dr. Garrett received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and served his surgical internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
He and his wife Jennifer reside in Allison Park with their three children.
John P. Williams, MD
2012 ACMS Secretary
Dr. Williams is chair of the department of anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh where he is the Peter and Eva Safar Professor of Anesthesiology. Board certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine, Dr. Williams has been the associate medical and scientific director for international operations for UPMC since 2007. In addition, Dr. Williams is a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management and was a member of the Analgesic Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics from 1994 to 2004.
A member of ACMS since 1998, Dr. Williams was a member of the Communications Committee from 2000 to 2001. He was a member of the Legislative Committee from 2002 to 2007, serving as its chair in 2007. Dr. Williams has served on the Board of Directors since 2006. He was a member of the Membership Committee from 2008 to 2010 and was chair of the Awards Committee in 2010. He has also served as an alternate delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 2002 to 2004 and as a delegate from 2005 to 2010. He has also served as an alternate delegate to the AMA for the PMS.
Dr. Williams received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas, and his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and a fellowship at Guy’s Hospital in London, England.
Dr. Williams has dedicated his career to education and research with a clinical emphasis on cardiac illness and cardiac surgery. He previously served as chief at UMPC Presbyterian Hospital from 1999 to 2001 and as interim chair from 2001 to 2002. He has also served as the director of cardiac anesthesiology and co-director of intensive care at UCLA and prior to that at the University of Texas, Houston.
Dr. Williams and his wife Valerie reside in Gibsonia with their three children.
Lawrence R. John, MD
2012 ACMS Treasurer
Dr. John is a board certified family practitioner. He is in private practice and is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and UPMC St. Margaret.
A member of ACMS since 1977, Dr. John has served on the board of directors since 2007. He was a member of the Communications Committee from 2007 to 2010 and has also served as co-chair the ACMS Primary Care Working Group since 2008. At the state level, Dr. John was an alternate delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 2008 to 2009 and a delegate since 2010, serving as vice chair of the ACMS delegation in 2011.
Dr. John is a member of the By-Laws and Credentialing Committees at UPMC St. Margaret. He is chairman of the Risk Committee (USO), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), as well as a member of the PAC Committee (Advisory Panel for University Service Organization), UPMC. Dr. John has been a clinical instructor in the department of family medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine since 1997. In addition, he has been the Fox Chapel team physician, performing sports evaluations for all athletes and providing on-field physician coverage for all football games since 1980.
Dr. John is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, ACMS, Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Dr. John received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame in 1972 and received his medical degree in 1977 from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in family practice in 1978 and completed his residency in family practice in 1980, both at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital.
Dr. John and his wife, Dr. Martha D. John, reside in Fox Chapel. They have four children.
The Allegheny County Medical Society represents physician members from all specialties and is dedicated to providing leadership and advocacy for patients and physicians. The organization has been serving Allegheny County since 1865.
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