Doctor spreads good deeds by getting others involved

California family physician raises awareness of domestic violence.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. June 17, 2002.

Community Spirit
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Ronald Bangasser, MD, was moved during a leadership meeting when the AMA showed a play to educate doctors about domestic violence. "Rule of Thumb" is a series of scenes dealing with domestic violence and follows two women who meet while seeking restraining orders for abusive husbands.

In 1998, Dr. Bangasser, an AMA delegate, wanted to bring the play and its stirring message to colleagues in California. He believed it could help create domestic violence awareness among physicians, enabling them to identify and treat abuse victims.

Dr. Bangasser worked with the San Bernardino County Medical Society to stage it. The Riverside County Medical Assn. and the San Bernardino County Bar Assn. helped serve as sponsors. The event raised $8,000, which was donated to local domestic violence shelters.

For spearheading the effort, Dr. Bangasser in March was recognized by the AMA with a 2002 Pride in the Profession award. He said hospitals in San Bernardino have been offering continuing medical education programs on domestic violence.

"We're trying to get physicians to understand that [domestic violence] is a lot more common than people think," said Dr. Bangasser, 52, a family physician in Redlands, Calif. "It runs through the entire population. It doesn't matter if you're rich or you're poor."

Jay E. Shankar, MD, a nephrologist who nominated Dr. Bangasser for the AMA award, describes Dr. Bangasser as easygoing and friendly. Those qualities should come in handy for doctors looking for his guidance as the president-elect of the California Medical Assn., a position Dr. Bangasser was elected to in February. [...]