Dr. Jerry Penso chosen to lead AMGA

Dr. Jerry Penso will lead AMGA as its new president and CEO effective next week, according to the physician group trade association. He's replacing Donald Fisher who passed away earlier this year after 35 years at the helm of AMGA.

"Health care in America is experiencing great change, and Jerry's ability to advocate, innovate, energize, and collaborate will fuel AMGA's and our members' future success," said AMGA board chair Donn E. Sorensen, the executive vice president of operations at Mercy.

Penso currently serves as president of the AMGA Foundation and chief medical and quality officer, AMGA. Previously, he served as medical director of continuum of care for the largest multispecialty group in San Diego. Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2007 and the AMGA's highest honor, the Acclaim Award in 2010.

"New payment models, regulatory burdens, physician burnout, consolidation in the market, and increased patient expectations for convenience and service are just a few of the challenges our members face," Dr. Penso noted. "My aim is for AMGA to be our members' preferred partner as they navigate the transition to value-based and high-performance health models."

Penso has served on the boards of the Integrated Healthcare Association and the Behavioral Diabetes Institute. He also chaired the Technical Quality Committee for California's Pay for Performance program and currently sits on the Board of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance.

Ryan O'Connor, the AMGA's vice president of membership and marketing has served as interim president and CEO since June 2017.