Meet the
Candidates for
2008
Bexar County
Medical Society
Edmundo O. Garcia, MD
Candidate for President-elect
It is an honor and privilege to announce my candidacy for
Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS) President-elect for
2008. I have been an active member of TMA for 26 years.
My participation within BCMS includes being a member
of the Board of Directors for three years and also chairing
the membership committee and co-chairing the finance
committee. Most recently, I served as BCMS vice president
in 2006 and currently serve as chair of Bexar Credentials
Verification, Inc.
Other medical positions I have held include CHRISTUS
Santa Rosa President and chief of staff from 2002-2003.
I lost a very difficult race for the BCMS presidency last
year, and here I am again knocking on the door. I perceive
this position as being extremely important, and one that is
not about me but about what I can do to help and represent
the entire BCMS membership.
I have been in solo private practice as a family physician
for 23 years. Issues that are important to all of us as physicians
in this current climate include malpractice insurance,
physician reimbursement and access to medical care for all
patients.
I will continue to work diligently with and on behalf of
all Bexar county physicians in improving these areas of
vital concern to our profession.
The position of president-elect is at least a three year
commitment, possibly more. I understand and welcome
the challenges such a commitment presents, and I kindly
ask for your support in helping me represent all members
of Bexar County Medical Society throughout the next several
years.
Sincerely,
Edmundo O. Garcia, MD
Robert W. Kottman, MD, FACEP
Candidate for
President-elect
My name is Robert Kottman, MD and I am running for
the office of President-elect of the Bexar County
Medical Society. For more than 30 years I have been an
active member of the Society as well as the Texas Medical
Association, and I believe I have the diversity of experience,
the dedication and drive to serve as your BCMS president
with distinction and honor.
Space limitations prohibit me from naming all the
BCMS committees and boards I have served on, but currently
I chair the Socioeconomics Committee and serve as
a delegate to the TMA House of Delegates.
Additionally, I serve on the TMA’s Select Committee on
Medicaid/CHIP, and I am in my sixth year of service on the
TMA Socioeconomics Council.
The challenges facing Bexar County physicians today have
never been greater. Physicians must unite in associations such
as the Bexar County Medical Society and the Texas Medical
Association to face these challenges with all our might.
As individuals advocating for preservation of the best
health care system in the world, we need all the political
clout we can muster. As part of a county medical society
with more than 4,000 members, we can have a positive
impact on our patient’s health care and on the way the
legislature deals with issues pertinent to our profession.
I want to lead the BCMS in that effort.
I have been around long enough to know my way
around the BCMS, the TMA and the legislative process. I
have run a medical practice, I know insurance, I understand
the medical business system and I have strong experience
in the socioeconomics of medicine.
I humbly ask for your vote and I pledge to serve to the
best of my abilities.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Kottman, MD, FACEP
Roberto San Martín, MD,
MS, FACS
Candidate for
President-elect
It is with a sense of deep pride and responsibility that I
submit my candidacy for President-Elect of the Bexar
County Medical Society.
I have been an active member of the society since
1980, having served in elected positions for 15 years.
My experience on the Board of Mediations for three
years, on the Board of Censors for three years and on the
Board of Directors for six years prepared me for two years
of service as Secretary and my current position as Vice
President of the Society.
I have seen many changes and endured difficult periods
in the society as we progressed to our current sound
fiscal standing. I was a member of the search committees
that hired our last two executive directors.
I am aware of the physical plant needs of the Society
of today as we plan for a new building in the near future.
I have served the society as Chairman of the Membership
Committee for two years during which time I was
the program director of the Physician Retirement
Conference and of the Private Practice Financial
Conference. During these same two years I served as a
member of the Membership Committee of the Texas
Medical Association.
With your prayers and help I will continue to support
the wishes of the membership and I will champion
the efforts to protect our honorable and distinguished
profession.
I am humbly asking for your vote as BCMS Presidentelect
for 2008.
Sincerely,
Roberto San Martin, MD, MS, FACS
Donald J. Gordon, PhD, MD
Candidate for
Vice president
I have been active in the Society and have served on most
of the BCMS committees since 1979.
As Treasurer for the past two years, I am happy to report
that we continue to improve our financial position and
that we are industriously growing our money for a building
fund, and have accumulated almost $1.34 million.
Last year we realized a 6.3 percent gain that amounts to
an increase of 13.17 percent on the proceeds from the old
building’s sale.
We also underwent a completely “clean” audit. Mr.
Fitzer, Ms. Newsom and Ms. Baldeschwiler are doing a
superb job of managing our business affairs.
It is a pleasure to work with them. We are lucky to have
them on our team.
Future vision includes land acquisition and construction
of a new BCMS “home building,” and we now see the
emergence of a profitable BCVI.
We look to continuing success from our automobile
program and a more profitable Service Bureau.
The Circle of BCMS friends continues to be very important
and I encourage all members to patronize their businesses
and praise their support.
I enthusiastically support our efforts to grow new and
profitable ventures that support our Society.
Thank you for allowing me to serve this year. I want to
continue to serve as your BCMS Vice President, supporting
your choices and your agenda.
My view is to continue to grow the society and make it
stronger with continued vibrancy. I thank you for your past
support and I humbly ask for your vote for me for Vice
President. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Donald J. Gordon, PhD, MD
Bernard T. Swift, Jr., DO, MPH
Candidate for
Treasurer
An officer of the BCMS has many roles and responsibilities
upon assuming such a leadership position. He or
she becomes the public face of medicine in the local community,
and must have the trust of member physicians to
ensure that issues of interest are projected to the public in a
way that engenders respect and support.
Additionally, identifying significant issues toward which
Society resources must be directed, and then articulating
those to the membership, appropriate legislators and/or
city officials should also be expectations of members.
A particularly important responsibility of the Treasurer
position is to ensure appropriate decisions are made regarding
expenditures so as to bolster the financial soundness of
the Society, both from a short and long term perspective.
Honesty, integrity and fairness in dealing with patients,
peers and business associates are fundamental to successful
leadership. As CEO of Texas MedClinic, I have had the
opportunity over the last 25 years to lead our company in
its growth to what are now multiple locations with more
than 50 physicians.
I have recently assumed the role of Chairman of the
Society’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, and we are
in the process of identifying the Society’s role in the event
of various catastrophic events that could involve the local
community.
I have developed an ability to lead through listening,
analyzing and quickly grasping the essential issues from
which rational, firm decisions must be made. I am now at a
point in my career where I believe I can impart those skills
on behalf of the Society to represent our members effectively
in a leadership position. I respectfully ask each member
to support my candidacy for the position of Treasurer of the BCMS.
Respectfully,
Bernard T. Swift, Jr., D.O., M.P.H.
Diplomat, ABPM in Occupational Medicine
Bernard T. Swift, Jr., DO, MPH
Candidate for
Treasurer
First, I want to thank my colleagues and supporters who
have enabled me to serve for the past five years on the
BCMS Board of Directors.
I have been a member of BCMS since 1992 and have
served on multiple committees, presently as chair of the
Board of Mediations.
Being in private practice, I understand the multiple challenges
we encounter as physicians.
My goal always has been to make a difference.
I was part of the team to renovate the financial stability
of the Society and preserve its mission of serving the membership
in as many useful ways as possible.
When election reform was undertaken, our ideal was
that the BCMS should lead the way to help its members in
seeking tort reform. Once unified with physicians throughout
the state, we made the difference.
I recall standing in the parking lot of Crossroads Mall
asking voters to help their physicians. I spoke out on
behalf of physicians and tort reform on radio, TV and in
the San Antonio Express News.
I personally spoke with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson
and asked her to help lead our community with tort
reform.
The rest is history and tort reform has begun.
I feel that more battles lie ahead and we should be prepared.
I ask for the honor of representing you as BCMS
Treasurer for 2008.
Medical care provided by physicians and the preservation
of scope of practice are worth fighting for, and I
humbly ask for the opportunity to help.
I have worked hard for my fellow BCMS physicians and
I am ready to continue that effort.
Thank you for considering me for your vote.
Respectfully,
Roberto Treviño, Jr., MD
