admin| Date: October 27, 2012 | Media Contact: | Chuck Moran |
| Pennsylvania Medical Society | ||
| For Immediate Release | (717) 558-7820 |
(Hershey, PA) Denise E. Zimmerman, retiring executive vice president at the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), was named the 2012 recipient of the organization’s Distinguished Service Award, marking only the second time in the award’s 56-year history that the honor was presented to a non-physician.
The PAMED Distinguished Service Award is given by the state medical society to members for lifetime achievements in medicine. Its first recipient in 1956 was Jonas E. Salk, MD for his achievements in developing the anti-polio vaccine. Since it was first awarded, PAMED has honored 24 Pennsylvania physicians and one non-physician—John F. Rineman—in 1988. Rineman was also an executive vice president at PAMED.
Zimmerman began her career at PAMED in 1978 as a staff assistant in the communications division. Her first appointment as a director came in 1985 when she was promoted to oversee the medical practice department. Five years later, she was promoted to the position of vice president, professional relations, and then in 1998 she was named vice president, corporate affairs and executive office.
In 2004, Zimmerman was promoted to the rank of senior vice president until she became executive vice president (EVP) in 2008. As EVP, Zimmerman is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the association, overseeing a staff of nearly 100 professionals specializing in government affairs, regulatory affairs, practice economics and payer relations, legal affairs, corporate communications, membership development, and several other areas. She also serves on the board of trustees at PMSCO, and the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. PMSCO is a health care consulting company serving physician practices, hospital medical staffs, ambulatory surgical facilities, and other health care-related entities. The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society supports medical education, physician health, and excellence in practice.
Earlier in 2012, Zimmerman announced her retirement, effective May 31, 2013.
The award was presented to Zimmerman on October 27 during PAMED’s annual House of Delegates meeting. More than 300 physicians, staff, family, and guests were in attendance.
Zimmerman is a graduate of Shippensburg University. Currently, she and her husband Paul reside in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society was founded in 1848, and today, the physician members continue to focus on better health for all Pennsylvanians. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit the web site at www.pamedsoc.org.
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