Meet the new president of the Connecticut Medical Society. He has a lot to tell you

Hartford Courant – Monday, December 2, 2024
By Maureen Murphy

Dr. Khuram Ghumman never thought 20 years ago when he came to the United States that he would be elected president of the Connecticut Medical Society.

But his selection to that post was no surprise to those who know him.

“If you know Dr. Ghumman, you know he is a passionate advocate for both physicians and patients,” said Layne Gakos, executive director of the society. “With his strong leadership, integrity, and dedication to improving the practice environment, Dr. Ghumman embodies the qualities of a true physician leader.”

According to Gakos, Ghumman has been an advocate for recruiting and retaining doctors in the state, has a primary care clinical practice at East Granby Family Practice, LLC, as a partner who has practiced since 2016, nd is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.

“His collaborative approach, working with various stakeholders across the medical field, will be instrumental as we strive for a healthier Connecticut,” Galos said. “Dr. Ghumman’s vision and commitment will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the medical community. We are fortunate at CSMS to have him at the helm of our organization.”

“The Connecticut State Medical Society is thrilled to have Dr. Khuram Ghumman as its 186th president,” she said.

Nicole Rall, spokesperson for the Connecticut Hospital Association, agreed,

“We look forward to continuing our collaborative work with CSMS under the leadership of Dr. Ghumman advocating for our shared goals of ensuring patients have access to high-quality care across our state, addressing the underfunding of Medicaid which inhibits patient access to care, and supporting the growth and retention of Connecticut’s healthcare workforce,” Rall said.

Ghumman had been serving as the president-elect of the society for the past year and was actively engaged in the process of creating policy to “benefit his patients.” He succeeds Dr. Stacy Taylor, who recently finished her one-year term as society president.

He said one of his goals is to continue the society’s push for legislative action to “train, attract and retain physicians”, as well as to provide “the best care to all patients in Connecticut.”

About who doctors “work for,” Ghumman said he believes the correct response to be: ”My patients. If that is not the response given. then something is wrong.”

“My patients rely on my expertise. If my advice is anything but having their best interests at heart,” then, he believes, he is not doing the job he pledged to do, Ghumman said.

Ghumman said he does have concerns about the impact on health care due to payment models and private equity corporations buying health care institutions.

“I am worried that data is emerging…(which indicates) that health care driven by private equity,” is not meeting needs of patients, the medical community, and medical students, he said.

Ghumman said that he believes that due to some health care business practices, “legislators need to put guard rails,” in place to protect the quality and availability of health care. “I believe in Capitalism, not corporatism,” he said and his goal is to create “policy, not politics.”

He said he does not want to see patients “paying way more without evidence of improved quality,” noting a recent study that indicates that of the 10 countries spending the most on health care worldwide, the United States is spending more and achieving less favorable outcomes compared to the other nations. Increasing insurance costs contribute to the challenging situation, he notes

Ghumman shared a hypothetical example that he uses to educate his medical students to describe the situation.

“Let’s say you are 16 or 17 years old and have just bought your first car. You take a job at a fast food restaurant to pay for expenses. You need car insurance to operate the vehicle, but you have to ask permission from the insurance company to drive it,” he said. “‘May I drive it to the ice cream place you ask’? They respond that you need to wait until next week when the weather improves, because it is supposed to rain. You wait until next week only to have them say, ‘yes you can drive it now, but you can only buy chocolate ice cream, not vanilla.’”

He said the example illustrates the administrative web of confusion and expense that can occur in health care.

”The court will not excuse a doctor who denies care based on insurance complications,” he said. “I am meeting with the legislature all the time,” as well as working with insurance companies.

“In rural communities it is worse,” he said. “This is a complex problem. Private equity corporations know there is a profit to be made, and sometimes close a medical unit,” even though there are no services available in close proximity.

About the challenge as new president of Connecticut Medical Society, he said that while he must juggle seeing patients in his family practice, developing policy statements, and still spending time with his family, he believes that he has “hopefully gained regard and respect based on the hard work” he has done and is recognized by the medical community as the right person for the role.

A native of Pakistan, Ghumman also said he believes that the United States is possibly the “best place in the world to receive training to be a doctor.” He laughs and says that as an immigrant to the United States he is “generation zero,” meaning his family is the first generation to live in the United States.

He also says that, “capitalism is…(part of the reason) I came here. Capitalism is what makes America, along with family (values) that are deep rooted. “

Ghumman said he believes the system of capitalism here is unlike anything else throughout the world and notes that it is the “fastest path out of poverty.” He traveled to visit the Grand Canyon and was impressed with the “beautiful National Parks. The United States has accomplished…(a lot), to save, nurture and protect its resources,” which he cites as an example for the rest of the world.

He also credits the United States with the “Americans with Disabilities Act, (ADA) which introduced a different concept to the entire world.”

On his dedication to overcoming obstacles in the health care system, Ghumman said, “My wife says I am crazy, but I believe it is a calling. The life of a physician is the most rewarding profession.”

Change in health care will only come through “sustained effort and incremental” effort, and he said plans to accomplish as much as possible and eventually hand it over to “somebody else.”

“I am an optimist,” he states.

He has worked in Family Medicine at East Granby Family Practice since 2016, and appreciates the relative freedom that a smaller independent practice allows, Ghumman said.

“We know the community we serve,” he said. “We leave time slots open at 3:30 p.m. in our scheduling for mothers who need to bring their children in to be seen after school.”

Ghumman said said that if Connecticut residents have “things bothering you, related to health care,” they can write to their provider and send a copy to the Connecticut State Medical Society. The Connecticut Medical Society will do what they can to assist in resolving the issues, whether for a patient, medical student or physician, he said.

“”I am just a human who is trying to help.” he said, adding on a personal note that he particularly loves the autumn season, as he was married in the fall and his daughter was born in the autumn as well.

Gakos said Ghumman earned his medical degree from Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Pakistan. He completed residency training at St. Francis Hospital Delaware, and was elected as a chief resident. After completing his residency training, he joined the faculty of the Family Medicine Residency Program – St Francis Hospital, Wilmington, and served as an assistant program director and was also an assistant clinical professor at Temple University School of Medicine. He earned his master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts, is a Harvard Macy Scholar and an alum of Stanford Faculty Development Center for Medical Teachers, Stanford University, Gakos said.

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