Arizona Medical Association Recognizes Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona Chief Medical Officer With "Walk The Talk" Award
June 20, 2007
PHOENIX - The Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) has awarded its Walk the Talk award to Gary D. Smethers, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Dr. Smethers was recognized with the award at a ceremony honoring members of the medical community for their contributions to medicine and health care on June 8 at the Phoenix Country Club.
According to ArMA, the "Walk the Talk" Award recognizes those individuals who have supported the efforts of organized medicine and have stood by their word and helped ArMA achieve its advocacy efforts through their trusted and true actions.
"We are elated that Arizona's largest advocacy group for medical practitioners has recognized Dr. Smethers with this prestigious award," said Richard L. Boals, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. "We are proud of our strong relationship and close ties with the medical community and believe this award is a reflection of our efforts to work in concert with physicians to achieve common goals."
Dr. Smethers and 11 other physicians and Arizona health care leaders were recognized at the event. State Representatives Olivia Cajero-Bedford and Robert Stump also were recognized with the Walk the Talk award.
In his role as senior vice president of Health Services and chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Dr. Smethers oversees the development of corporate medical policies and serves as a corporate liaison to the Arizona clinical community. He has been with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona since 1994. A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Smethers earned his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Integrated Program in Phoenix where he also had the honor of serving as chief resident. Prior to his career in administrative medicine, Dr. Smethers had an internal medicine private practice in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based health insurance company. The not-for-profit company was founded in 1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to more than 1.1 million individuals. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tempe and Tucson, the company employs more than 1,500 Arizonans. For information about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and its community programs such as WalkingWorks, please visit www.azblue.com.
