by Annette Pinder
Aimana ElBahtity is a Buffalo native who earned her law degree at University at Buffalo School of Law. She credits her parents for the values they instilled in her, and whose stories resemble that of many of our own parents and grandparents. “My parents were immigrants who sought a better life for their family, persevered, and became successful. My dad was a clinical pharmacist — the person who actually made the drugs. My mother was a wonderful wife and mom who always showed up for whatever we needed.” Aimana is also proud of her brother, a neurologist, her older sister, an attorney, and eldest sister, a teacher.
Aimana worked as an attorney in New York City and later in Chicago, focusing on insurance fraud, advocating for consumers, particularly in health. “Living in Chicago was wonderful. I worked in the same building as Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters, rode in the elevator with David Axelrod, Obama’s Campaign Manager, and was at Grant Park to witness the first African American become President of the United States.” Next, she moved to DC to work as Attorney-Advocate at the U.S. Department of Justice’s 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Fund on behalf of FDNY and NYPD officers who suffered adverse health outcomes from exposure to contaminants during the fallen World Trade Centers’ rescue/recovery efforts. Aimana’s last position in the DC area was serving as Risk Director/Patient Safety Officer for Maryland’s largest health system.
One of the most challenging times in Aimana’s life was when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. “For any family member, that type of diagnosis translates into mourning the loss of your loved one, even while they are still alive. With a medical background, my father knew his fate, and declined quickly.” As he slowly faded away, Aimana visited Buffalo often. “I knew I had to say my goodbyes before it was too late, and found myself saying goodbye over and over again before he passed in October 2019.”
Aimana moved back to Buffalo in July 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and says it was one of the best decisions she ever made. “My children love Buffalo, and are thriving. My 12-year-old loves technology, and my 10-year-old is very creative. There are so many resources here.” Reflecting on experiences and places she has lived over the years, she says, “Each move brought me closer to what I needed at different times in my life.”
Aimana is now Executive Director of the Medical Society of the County of Erie (Society), where she is at the forefront in helping enact legislation that impacts patient care and outcomes. When the Society began in 1821, all physicians living in the state were required to belong to a medical society. Its leaders have positively impacted the development of our region’s hospitals ever since. A physician-membership organization, the Society’s mission is to enhance patient outcomes and health care in our region. And it is certainly succeeding. A recent example is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation eliminating the need for prior authorization for certain patient tests and procedures, which would curb delays in care caused by unduly issued prior authorization denials.
The Society is now raising awareness of the Patient Grievance bill, which sounds like something that benefits patients. Unfortunately, it does the opposite, by raising physicians’ annual insurance premiums by 40%, translating into as much as $79,000 more to practice in New York. If the bill passes, physicians may well choose to practice elsewhere. With patients already waiting up to 20 hours in emergency departments due to a shortage of physicians to care for them, this is a problem. Additionally, the pandemic caused many physicians to retire as many as 10 years earlier. Aimana says, “The pandemic taught us how much we have to lean on one another. Knowing the importance of retaining talent, the Society offers free membership to medical students, and created a mentorship program that aligns seasoned physicians with students who can network and learn from them before they retire.”
At 1,600 members, the Society celebrated its 200th anniversary with a book co-written by Aimana and Stacy Watt, MD, UB Anesthesiology Program Director, illustrating its history. She is proud to work with all of the Society’s members, including Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein, MD, and its new incoming Society president, John Fudyma, MD. Emphasizing the many benefits of being a part of the Society, Aimana asks local physicians, “Why wouldn’t you join?” She also asks patients to better understand how the Society is enhancing the quality of their own access to better health in our region.
Learn more about the Society and how it is helping physicians and patients benefit one another at www.wnydocs.org.
