FirstCare Health Plans Names New Regional Medical Director

AUSTIN, Texas, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstCare Health Plans has named Dr. Atheer Baldawi as a new regional medical director for its Amarillo, Lubbock and Waco service areas.

"We took great care in selecting our new regional medical director to assure our customers that we have the right person in place to support our medical management and quality improvement activities," said FirstCare President and CEO Darnell Dent. "Dr. Baldawi's track record proves he is focused on improving the health of the communities he has served, which aligns with our belief that our communities should be healthy."

Dr. Baldawi brings more than 17 years of combined experience in the health care industry and medical profession, complemented by a diversified medical training background, including extensive training in emergency medicine and internal medicine. His public health experience was defined, in part, by working with United States Army Civil Affairs, helping to rebuild the Iraqi Ministry of Health after the 2003 Gulf War. Prior to joining FirstCare, he served as a medical director for Killeen Metroplex Hospital in Killeen, Texas, and as an emergency medicine physician in several Central Texas hospitals. Dr. Baldawi was also involved with numerous research efforts and publications including working as researcher in several clinical trials in Austin, Texas. He is currently on the faculty of Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine and a lecturer at the Emergency Medicine Residency at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Baldawi joins FirstCare's medical management team at the company's corporate headquarters in Austin. "With extensive experience in the medical, public health, and health care sectors, as well as clinical leadership, Dr. Baldawi demonstrates his commitment to helping people live healthy lives," said FirstCare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adolfo Valadez. "And, at FirstCare, that's what we do—we empower Texans to live healthier lives by providing access to affordable, high-quality health care."

Dr. Baldawi received his medical training from Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, and his master of public health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. He is board certified in emergency medicine and a Fulbright scholar.

About FirstCare Health Plans
Our mission is to provide access to high quality, affordable health care through strong partnerships in the communities we serve. Since 1985, we've been serving the health care needs of members across North, West, and Central Texas. Today, our service area includes 143 counties, with local offices in Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, and corporate offices in Austin, Texas. We offer a wide range of HMO, PPO, HSA, and ASO products through a variety of programs, including small and large employer plans; state, federal and teacher plans; government programs; and the Health Insurance Marketplace. With the support of our owners, Covenant Health in Lubbock and Hendrick Health System in Abilene, we serve over 180,000 members. For more information, please visit www.FirstCare.com.

SOURCE FirstCare Health Plans

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