California Medical Association

The California Medical Association (CMA) filed an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 15 in a case brought by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association against the Healthy San Francisco program. CMA supports the state and local government using a wide array of options to offer universal health care.

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MSMS Mourns Loss of Kevin A. Kelly

Leaders of the Michigan State Medical Society today honored the memory of Kevin A. Kelly, immediate past MSMS executive director.

"Medicine in this state is fortunate to have had a man of such integrity, respect for family, and commitment to his community," said MSMS president Michael A. Sandler, MD. "Caring and considerate, Kevin Kelly was a visionary in health care. Michigan citizens will continue to benefit from his lifetime of leadership and dedication."

Mr. Kelly served the 16,000-member MSMS his entire career, beginning shortly after graduating from Michigan State University in 1978 in economics. He started as a legislative coordinator in 1979. In 1987, Mr. Kelly became managing director and in 2005 was named executive director, succeeding William E. Madigan.

"Kevin has been a mentor and an inspiration to many people, and his passion for life permeated everything that he did," said MSMS acting executive director Julie L. Novak. "The good fortune of knowing someone like him makes us all better people, and his influence will have a ripple effect for generations. We will miss him, but we will carry a little of him with us forever."

“The world is run by those who show up” is an adage Mr. Kelly adopted as his personal motto. He dedicated his life and inspired other to "show up" and work for improving health care for all Michigan citizens.

"Kevin Kelly truly was a force of nature the likes of which I've seldom seen," said Gregory J. Forzley, MD, chair of the MSMS board of directors. "Kevin had the ability to engender passion among leaders to focus on issues that matter. He was one of the most positive people I've ever known. With him, suddenly the impossible becomes possible. He will be missed by many people in many ways."

Successes during his career at MSMS include the MSMS Future of Medicine initiative, a Michigan Patients’ Bill of Rights, nation-leading medical liability reform, increased AIDS education, stabilized funding of the Medicaid program, domestic violence education, and improved end-of-life care. He also was dedicated to banning smoking in workplaces, improving childhood immunization rates, and patient safety education, among many other health care issues.

Mr. Kelly’s seemingly limitless energy was shared with a variety of organizations outside of MSMS including Ele’s Place, the Children’s Trust Fund, Michigan’s Children, Capitol National Bank board of directors, Michigan Hospice Organization, Michigan Health Council, Michigan Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance, Michigan Transplant Policy Center, Michigan Public Health Association, American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, Michigan Festival, Michigan Political History Society, People's Church, MSU's Wharton Center, the Sparrow Hospital Foundation, and various advisory councils for the city of East Lansing, Lansing Community College, and Sparrow Hospital.

In 2004, Mr. Kelly received one of his alma mater’s highest honors, the MSU Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1999, together with Mr. Madigan, Mr. Kelly received one of the American Medical Association's highest awards, the Medical Executive Achievement Award. Other awards included the Strategic Association Leader Award from the Michigan Society of Association Executives and the Vernice Davis Anthony Ele’s Place Award recognizing his leadership of that agency’s efforts to counsel grieving children.

Most recently, on Dec. 9, the advocacy group Michigan's Children, named him the first recipient of the annual Kevin A. Kelly Children's Advocate Award.

A corollary to Mr. Kelly's motto of "showing up" is "Hard on issues, soft on people." This respectful attitude toward others in public policy development garnered respect from every quarter, ally and opponent, alike.

"We all owe Kevin Kelly a debt of gratitude for his time, energy and commitment to improving health care in Michigan," Doctor Sandler said. "We owe it to him to continue to fight for access to quality health care. Kevin Kelly was a wonderful person who gave of himself to everyone."

Cards may be sent to the Kelly family in care of MSMS, 120 W. Saginaw St., East Lansing, MI, 48823