ISMA President William Pond, MD, stressed the importance of transparency in health care, prior authorization reform, physician protections, and physician-led health care in an address to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) of Northwest Indiana.

Dr. Pond and his wife Cami, past AMA Alliance president, were the guests of ISMA past president Vidya Kora, MD, at the IMA’s annual gala on Oct. 26. AMA President-elect Bobby Mukkamala, MD, also attended the event in Schererville.

In a speech to 800 members and guests of the IMA, Dr. Pond emphasized ISMA’s legislative successes in protecting the patient-physician relationship by removing anticompetitive restrictions for primary care physicians, and said ISMA would work diligently to extend freedom and protections to all physicians and patients in Indiana.

“The future remains bright for us in medicine: more than any profession, we are blessed to be able to render vital services to patients in their most vulnerable time, to share their most intimate confidences, to enjoy great community respect and to use our minds and skills to their utmost potential,” Dr. Pond said. “With all of you here, we will continue to lead good, fulfilling lives with a sense of purpose.”

Dr. Pond presented the prestigious Volunteer Service Award to Marie Hagler for four decades of dedicated service.