Alberto Gedissman
Dr. Gedissman received his medical degree in Buenos Aires, where he was born. He completed his training in Chicago where under the direction of Robert A. Miller, M.D. he assisted in a study of 10,000 school children that led to the development of a program to notify parents of high risk children about lifestyle changes to prevent lipid disorders and hypertension. He moved with his family to practice in Southern California. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Board Certified in Pediatrics and holds a University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, Master in Medical Management degree. He is a Certified Physician Executive and member of the American College of Physician Executives. Dr. Gedissman is fluent in both English and Spanish languages.
Currently he is the Medical Director of Pediatric and Adolescents Obesity Program at AltaMed Health Services Clinics the largest network of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States with clinics in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. The Wellness Center that he developed in Santa Ana, California, provides an innovative weight management program dedicated to serve the needs of overweight and obese children and their families. Collaborating with faculty and students of California State University at Fullerton School of Health Sciences and Chapman University he is providing scientific evidence to the benefits of long term programs that influence lifestyle changes. These evidence based program has been features in scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals and presented in national and international conferences.
Dr. Gedissman was the Executive Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Comprehensive Care Medical Group (PACC) and Medical Director of Outreach Clinics at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) from 1999 until 2004. He served as the Administrative Director of the California 4/American Academy of Pediatrics Injury Prevention Program, funded by the Orange County Children and Families Commission until May 2005. He is member of the Council on Communications and Media and the Provisional Section on Obesity of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
He was the President of the local Chapter IV, District IX of the American Academy of Pediatrics from 1993 to 1995 and chaired the Chapter’s Youth Violence Prevention Committee. He was an Editorial Consultant to the AAP News. He was awarded the “Ambassador of Peace Award” of the Orange County Violence Prevention Coalition in 1997 and the “Apple Pie Award” of the Million Moms March in 2000. In 2001 he was honored with the American Academy of Pediatrics District II and IX Special Achievement Award for his work in violence prevention and he is the recipient of the Champion of Health, 2001 Award from the Healthcare Foundation for Orange County and the 2004 Martin Gershman Advocacy Award of the California American Academy of Pediatrics.
In 2007 and 2008 he is given the “Physician of Excellence” award of the Orange Coast Magazine and the Orange County Medical Association (OCMA). He has received the CalOptima “Circle of Care Award” in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 for his dedication to the community. “Para Todos” Magazine awarded him the Excellence in Healthcare and Education Award in 2010.
He hosted “Comunidad”, Century Cable Communications Spanish cable television program and a he was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Media Resource Team and the National Committee on Public Education as well a Co Editor for “Healthy Kids en Español” the Spanish Language American Academy of Pediatrics magazine. His columns have been published regularly in “Para Todos” Southern California Spanish language magazine and Healthy Kids en Español. He is an Editorial Consultant for Baby Center a website sponsored by Johnson and Johnson.
He has been involved in multiple community projects and has been a national and local radio and television guest both in his capacity of recognized physician and community activist in the areas of violence prevention, gun injury prevention in children and adolescents and the prevention of substance abuse in the young. He participated in a number of Pediatric Obesity task forces and developed a screening program for the CHOC Clinics. He served as a Commissioner in the first Orange County Children and Families Commission funded with Proposition 10 tobacco tax monies and also as the Chair of the Commission’s Special Subcommittee for Marketing and Community Outreach. Dr Gedissman completed his second term as Chair of the CalOptima Professional Advisory Committee and is actively involved in community affairs. As a Member of the Board of non profits like Orange County “America OnTrack” and “Casa de la Familia” he collaborated in community work dedicated to improve the lives of Orange County vulnerable residents.
He frequently speaks in schools and other forums to parents, teachers and healthcare personnel about the subject of pediatric obesity and its consequences.
In 2018 Dr. Gedissman joined the Medical Advisory Board of Collidion, Inc. a consortium of firms dedicated to research and development for the healthcare industry.
Dr. Gedissman is featured in video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B1HzOcle8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8veINknA2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya5gF4jT0wI