It has been said that these are “unprecedented times.” Since such times require exceptional leadership, the Harris County Medical Society (HCMS) is proud to nominate Lisa L. Ehrlich, MD, for a position on the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees as an at-large member in 2021.
Dr. Ehrlich has significant experience leading in organized medicine. You will find those positions listed in her profile below. Dr. Ehrlich can run a board meeting efficiently while engaging her board members, and as a meeting participant, she is a rare combination of disruptor and consensus builder. If you know her, you know she likes to get things done through democracy and participation, playing on the strengths and differences of stakeholders. Importantly, Dr. Ehrlich has the breadth of passion and depth of experience to be an asset to the board in these unprecedented times.
Lisa is a mother, wife, business owner, and loyal friend. She loves dinner conversation, listening to live music, reading, and snow skiing. She brings her experiences to the care of her patients as well as to leadership. But it is her love for the profession of medicine and her deep care for her patients that drives her strong passion for leadership in medicine. She recognizes that, while she has striven to deliver excellent care as an accomplished private internal medicine physician, over those decades the system has become ever more averse to physicians as well as their patients. Dr. Ehrlich has identified this as a crisis for which she has dedicated her time in organized medicine to address.
Dr. Ehrlich is no stranger to crisis. After nine years in leadership positions serving her county medical society, she was proud to lead 12,000 Harris County physicians as president during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. At the request of Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, she drew on her experience as a business owner, physician, collaborator, and leader to organize multiple stakeholders to run the medical operations at the NRG shelter, where an average of 4,000 displaced residents per day were housed. Not only did she help organize the day-to-day medical care for the residents (essentially in-house urgent care and emergency center), but she was able to coordinate Baker-Ripley, Harris Health, HCMS, federal support troops (Army Reserves and DMAT), Harris County Public Health, pharmacies, and volunteer health care personnel to provide immediate care and community follow-up. Besides emergency and chronic care, Dr. Ehrlich helped to organize 24-hour mental health identification and support, public health, pharmacy, dentistry, eye care, and even AA meetings.
With the ongoing pandemic, 2021 calls for experienced, proven, and dedicated leaders. Dr. Lisa Ehrlich is ready to go.
Personal Statement: “Put simply, 2021 needs leadership by physicians who have immersive experience with patient care and organized medicine, an understanding of the problems facing health care derived from years of everyday experience, and a logical approach to the issues based on what improves patient care. Therefore, I respectfully request your support for my election to the TMA Board of Trustees.”
Profile
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Medical School and Post Graduate Education: The University of Texas Medical Branch, 1989-93
Residency Program: University of Michigan Medical Center, 1993-96
Board Certification(s): American Board of Internal Medicine, 1996-2026
Primary Residence (City, State): Houston, Texas
What is your current practice status? Direct Patient Care: solo, small group, or shared overhead, 100%
Primary Employer and Employment Location (city, state): L. Ehrlich and Associates Medical Clinic, PLLC, Houston, Texas
Do you expect to maintain your current employment status and location through your term in office? Yes
Does your current employment situation(s) require you to work outside of Texas? If yes, what is the nature of that work and how many days each month do you work outside of Texas. No
Including the past five years, list all other organizations from which you have received payment, reimbursement, or financial consideration for consulting, advisory, or leadership responsibilities exceeding $1,000 per year in excess of actual expenses. TMF Health Quality Institute
Have you been convicted of a felony or is your medical license restricted? Please explain. No
What TMA positions have you held?
- Board member, TMF Health Quality Institute, 2019-present
- TMA Council on Socioeconomics, 2018-present
- TEXPAC Board of Directors, 2004-present
- TMA Council on Healthcare Quality, 2011-18 (chair, 2013-15; vice-chair, 2011-13)
- TMA Council on Patient and Physician Advocacy, 2007-11 (chair, 2010-11)
- AMA Delegate for TMA Young Physicians section, 2003-06
Disclosures
- L. Ehrlich and Associates Medical Clinic, PLLC, managing partner
- Texas Immunization Partnership, advocacy
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