New York-Based Leonard Gelman, MD, CMD, Physician is AMDA’s 2014-2015 President

Leonard Gelman, MD, CMD, became the 2014-2015 President of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine during the organization’s annual conference in Nashville, TN, last week. 

Dr. Gelman is medical director of Maplewood Manor, the Saratoga County Infirmary, a 237-bed nursing home in Ballston Spa, NY. He also serves as medical director of Indian River Nursing Home in Granville, NY. He has been medical director and attending physician at a number of nursing homes in the New York State Capital Region over the past three decades. He also maintains a private family practice in Saratoga County, where he has practiced for nearly 30 years. 

“No one has done more to ensure that every medical director has access to every tool they need and [the support of colleagues] to be effective leaders in their communities,” said 2013-2014 AMDA President Jonathan Evans, MD, CMD, MPH, of Dr. Gelman, who he called “a friend and mentor.” 

During remarks at a general session on Saturday, February 28, Dr. Gelman urged his colleagues to make the most of their knowledge and expertise to promote quality, compassionate post-acute and long-term care. He said, “There is a lot of experience in long-term care but few experts. We are the experts.” Dr. Gelman encouraged them to work with AMDA to extend their expertise into areas such as value-based purchasing, accountable care organizations, service bundling, health information technology (including but not limited to electronic health records) and developing and implementing quality measures. “I am 100 percent certain that what AMDA is ‘selling’ is better than all options,” said Dr. Gelman. He concluded his remarks by noting, “I am honored to be your President.” 

Dr. Gelman has been an active AMDA member and leader for many years. Among his numerous accomplishments, he is Immediate Past-Chair of the AMDA Education Committee and a Past-Chair of the American Medical Directors Certification Program Board, as well as having been Treasurer of AMDA. He currently serves on the AMDA Competencies Workgroup, the Finance Committee, Public Policy Committee, and the State Chapters Presidents Council. Additionally, he has been President of the New York Medical Directors Association. 

Teaching is a great passion of Dr. Gelman’s, and he has taught numerous live and online programs on a variety of topics, including billing and coding. He is a long-time faculty member for AMDA’s Core Curriculum on Medical Direction, the cornerstone of the Certified Medical Director education program. He also has authored numerous articles in JAMDA, AMDA’s peer-reviewed journal. 

Dr. Gelman received his Medical Degree from the University of Brussels in Belgium. He completed his residency at St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, NY. He is board certified in family practice, geriatric medicine, and hospice care and palliative medicine.