2026 Outgoing President's Speech January 22, 2026 RCMA/CMA 0 The following is the speech presented by Anoop Maheshwari, M.D., Outgoing President, at the 133rd Installation of Officers and Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Victoria Club in Riverside. Good evening. As I stand before you tonight, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude, humility, and pride. Serving as President of the Riverside County Medical Association in 2025 has been a great honor. I have practiced medicine in Riverside County for more than 30 years. This is home, not just where I work, but where I have built relationships, raised my family, and shared in the challenges and triumphs that define our profession. To be entrusted with the leadership of this Association by physicians I respect and admire is something I will always carry with me. This past year, RCMA strengthened organized medicine in meaningful and measurable ways. In 2025, our membership grew to more than 3,500 physicians, residents, and medical students. This growth allowed RCMA to expand its reach and visibility across the county, bringing more physicians into connection with advocacy, practice support, and one another. Advocacy remained central to our mission, especially at a time when physicians across the country were facing unprecedented challenges to the sustainability of medical practice. This year, physicians statewide mobilized in response to HR1, the so called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which included significant cuts to Medicare. Across the healthcare community, physicians rallied to bring attention to the very real harm these cuts would cause to physicians, to patient access, and to the long-term stability of our healthcare system. Riverside County physicians and RCMA did not sit on the sidelines. Together, with IEHP and our County partners, we met with federal legislators and their offices to share the real-world impact these cuts would have on our practices and our patients. We launched coordinated social media campaigns urging constituents to speak up and make their voices heard. And through targeted outreach, RCMA sent more than one million text messages educating community members about the risks of HR-1 and hosted a Townhall on HR-1 attended by over 650 physicians. While our collective efforts ultimately did not stop the passage of the bill, they demonstrated something critically important: when physicians come together we have a powerful and unified voice. With the passage of the bill, changes are coming. But Riverside County physicians are resilient, and RCMA remains committed to helping physicians and practices navigate what lies ahead—through education, practice support, and continued advocacy at every level. Beyond advocacy, RCMA remained focused on supporting physicians where it matters most: inside their practices. This year, we supported more than 230 physician practices through one-on-one guidance in payor navigation, workforce challenges, and operational needs. We educated more than 1,400 physicians and staff through webinars, seminars, and interactive sessions designed to help practices remain strong in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. We also recognized that physician well-being is not optional, it is essential. Through our Physicians’ Well-Being Conference, regional socials, and confidential peer support, we created more than 400 touchpoints for connection and support. These moments matter. They remind us that none of us practice medicine alone. At the same time, we kept our focus on the future. Through our scholarship programs, we raised more than $70,000 to support medical students and early-career physicians committed to practicing here in Riverside County. These investments strengthen our local physician workforce and help ensure access to care for generations to come. I want to sincerely thank our Board of Councilors, committee chairs, and volunteers for your leadership, your time, and your unwavering commitment to this Association. To our RCMA staff: your professionalism, dedication, and heart make everything we do possible. I am deeply grateful for your partnership throughout this year. To my fellow physicians: thank you for showing up. For your patients, for your colleagues, and for this profession. In a time of rapid change and increasing pressure, you continue to lead with integrity, compassion, and resilience. As my term comes to a close, I do so with great confidence in RCMA’s future. Thank you for the honor of serving as your President. It has truly been my pleasure. Anoop Maheshwari, M.D. Comments are closed.
