The top officer ranks of the Los Angeles County Medical Association have been filled for 2006-07. Ralph Di Libero, MD, a Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon and former president of District 1, will serve as president. He was most recently president-elect. Simultaneously, Robert Bitonte, MD, JD, a Los Angeles physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, will take the post of treasurer. David Aizuss, MD, will act as president-elect and Howard Krauss, MD, as secretary.

In his new role, Dr. Di Libero will spearhead LACMA's ongoing commitment to recruiting members. "Membership in medical associations is decreasing nationwide, because physicians don't feel they need organized medicine," he says. "But, as physicians, we need to come together to fight our common enemy, increasing government intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship. I believe bringing in early career physicians and ethnic doctors will increase our numbers in LA County."

Robert Bitonte, MD, JD, is looking forward to serving LACMA in his new post. He intends to be a careful fiscal advocate. "I plan to provide accurate financial data to the LACMA board of directors, so they can plan their fiscal future appropriately," he says. "I will invest some of the organization's funds into higher-yielding instruments, such as stocks or bonds. I also want to ensure that money spent has been authorized by the board or officers who have the capacity to make financial decisions."

Dr. Bitonte is a clinical professor and volunteer faculty member for the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UC Irvine School of Medicine and an assistant clinical professor for the department of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. A former president of District 1, he has been a LACMA member since 1988.

As a law expert, Dr. Bitonte works for several attorney groups, including the Law Offices of Richard G. Rienjohn in downtown Los Angeles, specializing in medical malpractice, human damages and reproductive rights.