Local Lawmaker Nominates Drs. Ilena Blicker, Pamela Wald and Paula Verrette for American Medical Women’s Association Local Legends Exhibition
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has provided the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) with the names of three local women physicians for its “Local Legends” photograph exhibition. As a compliment to the National Library of Medicine’s “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians” exhibition in Bethesda, Maryland, the Local Legends gallery will travel throughout the country beginning in the Spring of 2005 to spotlight successful women in the medical profession.
“These three doctors have been driving forces in Southern California’s medical community and serve as positive role models for today’s youth,” Congressman Schiff said. “I am pleased to nominate each of them for their tireless work for the health of our communities.” They are:
Dr. Ilena Blicker – A Glendale resident, Dr. Blicker has been practicing medicine for over twenty-five years, specializing in neurology. Her philosophy is to provide her patients with the highest quality of medical care for their particular medical problems. She sees the most rewarding part of her job as following patients over many years and helping them improve their quality of life. Dr. Blicker received her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and served her internship, residency and fellowship at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. She has been affiliated with Glendale Memorial since 1974 and served as Chief of Staff for Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center in 1993. She is the Immediate Past President for the Los Angeles County Medical Association and a member of Soroptimist International.
Dr. Pamela Wald – A 1973 graduate of Brown University, she received her MD from SUNY-Downstate in 1977. In 1978, Dr. Wald began her career at Kaiser Permanente as a pediatric resident, becoming Chief of Pediatrics in 1990 at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Baldwin Park. She was named "San Gabriel Valley Physician of the Year" in 1992, and from 1996 to 2004 served as Regional Coordinating Chief of Pediatrics. Her other notable professional achievements include: Leader in the Pediatric End-Stage Renal Disease project, helping to assure quality and consistency of care to pediatric dialysis and transplant patients whose care is contracted to university centers; Co-Chair of the Regional Pediatric Obesity Task Force since 1997; guided the development of a new department of pediatrics in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003, developing a strongly functional and cohesive group of physicians and ancillary personnel.
Dr. Paula Verrette – President-Elect of Huntington Hospital’s medical staff, Dr. Verrette has been a Pasadena pediatrician for over twenty years. She spearheaded the Pasadena Community Asthma Project, a grant program designed to raise awareness and educate the community about asthma. Dr. Verrette is a pediatric consultant for the Pasadena Unified School District and is currently medical director of a multi-hospital program targeting obese children.
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.