Oklahoma State Medical Association

05/05/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Oklahoma State Medical Association Board Awards, including the Prevention in Practice Award, which highlights exemplary physicians who demonstrate proactive leadership with patients and colleagues to promote healthier lifestyle choices and improve the health of Oklahomans.

Samid Farooqui, M.D. is a pulmonary and critical care physician who has worked to increase Oklahoma’s lung cancer screening rates and improve lung cancer care. He serves on the Oklahoma Lung Cancer Roundtable and has authored newspaper articles highlighting the importance of prevention through screenings.

Congratulations, Dr. Farooqui!

05/05/2026

OSMA Immediate Past President Sumit Nanda, M.D., was quoted in a KGOU - Your NPR Source article regarding potential changes to Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma. Access the full story:

Nearly six years ago, Oklahoma voters approved a state question to expand eligibility for Medicaid, also known as SoonerCare, to low-income adults. Now, state lawmakers want them to reconsider.

05/04/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Oklahoma State Medical Association Board Awards, including the Medical Student of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding Oklahoma medical students for exemplary leadership, advocacy, service and professional excellence.

Reagan Amason is a fourth-year medical student, currently enrolled in the University of Oklahoma’s Urology program. He served as Vice President for the OU College of Medicine Class of 2026 and has been involved with the Oklahoma State Medical Association Medical Student Section leadership since 2022.

Lily Robistow is a third-year medical student at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine. She is engaged in physician advocacy, working to amplify trainees' voices in health policy. Lily plans to pursue internal medicine with a focus on patient advocacy and health equity.

Congratulations, Reagan and Lily!

05/04/2026

The latest issue of the OSMA Journal is out now. Read OSMA President Julie Strebel, M.D.’s first President's Page column and more: https://bit.ly/4deGQSS

05/04/2026

Physicians entered medicine to treat, heal, and stand beside patients through their most vulnerable moments – and to use their years of medical training to help patients make the best health care decisions. That’s why 95% of patients agree that doctors should be central to treatment decisions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41XjqLt

Compare the education and training of physicians and nonphysicians to see why physicians are the most qualified to lead health care teams.

05/02/2026

Congratulations to Karen Gunderson, who is serving as OSMA Alliance president through 2027!

She previously served as Oklahoma County Medical Society Alliance president from 2021 to 2023, and remains deeply engaged in physician advocacy and community service. We are grateful for her leadership and look forward to her service in the year ahead.

Congratulations, Karen!

05/01/2026

🎳 Physicians in Blanchard, Moore, Newcastle, Norman, Purcell and South Oklahoma City: you're invited for a family-friendly night of food, fun and friendship as the Cleveland McClain County Medical Society hosts First Friday at 5:30 PM on May 8 at Main Event in Norman.

The event is FREE to CMCMS members and their guests. Be sure to bring a colleague so they can learn more about membership! Learn more and RSVP 👉 https://bit.ly/4ucCnG2

You're invited to Cleveland/McClain Medical Society First Friday - Click here to RSVP

04/30/2026

Statement from the Oklahoma State Medical Association regarding Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s call for an audit on the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s Medicaid Managed Care program:

“There is no doubt that the voters’ 2020 decision to expand Medicaid has helped improve the health and lives of Oklahomans who previously could not afford care. However, this program has been saddled from the beginning with additional costs, bureaucracy and unnecessary delays due to Gov. Stitt’s decision to implement a managed care system,” said Oklahoma State Medical Association President Julie Strebel, M.D. “Before we adopted insurance managed care, Oklahoma had one of the lowest Medicaid administrative costs in the nation – just 4%, and until recently, physicians were paid quickly and without frequent denials. Today, the insurance companies are taking up to 15% of taxpayer dollars to pay for less care, deny more claims and delay physician payments for months.”

“We are heartened by Attorney General Drummond’s call for an audit, and hope it will bring about much-needed improvements, as addressing the waste from insurance managed care WILL save Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, the funding it so desperately needs to keep our children and families healthy.”

04/30/2026

Last chance to register for OSMA's upcoming Proper Prescribing CME on Friday, May 8 at 12 p.m. CT. This one-hour live virtual webinar explores pain management guidelines and Oklahoma laws related to prescribing. It’s FREE for OSMA members and $75 for non-members.

Act fast: Registration closes on May 7 at noon. Reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/42aqzb7

04/29/2026

We want to thank Sumit Nanda, M.D., for his outstanding service as OSMA president this past year. We were proud to recognize him as he stepped into the role of immediate past president at our 2026 Inaugural Gala in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Nanda’s leadership and commitment to advancing healthcare have made a meaningful impact on physicians and patients across Oklahoma. We are grateful for his vision and the steady guidance he provided during his tenure.

Thank you, Dr. Nanda, for your service to OSMA!

04/29/2026

OU medical students Reagan Amason and Lily Robistow have each been honored with the Oklahoma State Medical Association’s inaugural Medical Student of the Year Award for the State of Oklahoma.

Amason is a fourth-year College of Medicine student and Robistow is a third-year student at the college’s School of Community Medicine in Tulsa.

https://link.ou.edu/48LKtxd | ☝️

(Photo provided by Oklahoma State Medical Association)

04/28/2026

Congratulations to Julie Strebel, M.D., OSMA’s new president!

A dedicated physician and community leader, Dr. Strebel brings decades of experience in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as extensive involvement with the Oklahoma County Medical Society, the OSMA House of Delegates, the Oklahoma delegation to the American Medical Association and more. We look forward to working together to advocate for physicians and the patients they serve.

Congratulations, Dr. Strebel!