Richard S. Frankenstein, MD, FACP
President
California Medical Association
Internist, Solo Practitioner

Richard S. Frankenstein MD, an Internist specializing in lung diseases in adults, is the President of the 35,000 member California Medical Association (CMA), the largest state medical society in the nation.  He previously was Speaker of its 501 member policy making body, the House of Delegates.

Dr Frankenstein’s Medical Degree was awarded by Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, after he completed undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College, where he received the A.B. Degree, cum laude, majoring in Chemistry.  His internship and residency were served at Montefiore Medical Center, New York City.

He has served on numerous subsidiaries, components and affiliates of CMA, including The Institute for Medical Quality, Audio-Digest Foundation and as President of Orange County Medical Association from 1995-1996.  Chief of Staff at Garden Grove Hospital for 2 terms, the Orange County. Board of Supervisors appointed him to the original Board of Directors of CalOptima, a public agency which administered the Medicaid program locally.  Service as Governor of the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Physicians was from 1999-2000.

The American Medical Association has appointed Dr Frankenstein to the Board of Commissioners of The Joint Commission, for multiple terms from 1997 through 2006.  He was Treasurer of the Board of Directors of TJC’s subsidiary, Joint Commission Resources, Inc. and at the American Medical Association; Dr Frankenstein is Vice-Chair of the California Delegation to the House of Delegates.

In his spare time, he enjoys travel, music, reading and theatre.  Recent trips have been to Thailand, Ireland and Singapore.  Currently a self-taught pianist, he looks forward to taking formal lesions when his schedule is less hectic.  His non-medical reading interests include history, geography and public affairs.