Honor Lambert’s Retirement Service

Senate Resolution No. 949 BY: Senator RIVERA COMMENDING Linda A. Lambert upon the occasion of her retirement after 22 years of distinguished service to the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality of life in the communities across this great State of New York is enriched by the diligence and compassionate commitment of those individuals whose singular purpose is the care and welfare of others; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Linda A. Lambert upon the occasion of her retirement after 22 years of distinguished service to the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians; and WHEREAS, Linda A. Lambert earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Economics with a major in Health Policy and Management from the State University of New York, Empire State College; she also attended the University of Delaware's Institutes for Organization Management and the Harvard School of Public Health/John F. Kennedy School of Government's program "Understanding the New World of Healthcare"; and WHEREAS, In 1994, Linda A. Lambert received her CAE from the American Society of Association Executives, and has recertified every three years since; she enjoys helping more than 20 other association professionals to achieve their CAE designation; and WHEREAS, Linda A. Lambert began her distinguished career in public health as the Executive Director of the Orange and Ulster County Medical Societies; in this capacity, she successfully merged the administrative services of these two autonomous associations and created a for-profit subsidiary, the Orange Medical Bureau; and WHEREAS, From 1988-1992, Linda A. Lambert served as Associate Director of the Division of Governmental Affairs for the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY); she then held the title of Director of the Committee for Physicians Health, a MSSNY program devoted to assisting physicians suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse from 1992-1997; and WHEREAS, Since 1997, Linda A. Lambert has served as the Executive Director of the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians (NYACP), the position from which she will officially retire in 2019; and WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Linda A. Lambert has overseen the merger of the organizations and restructuring to allow tremendous growth and expansion of programs and services, including multiple lines of grant activity; in addition, she is responsible for all management functions of the Chapter and serves as President of its for-profit subsidiary, IM Research and Service Corporation; and WHEREAS, Linda A. Lambert served as both a member of the Board of Directors and President of the American Association of Medical Society Executives, and was a participant on the Boards of Directors of several other national professional organizations including the Federation of State Physician Health Programs; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her profession and community, Linda A. Lambert was named the 1988 Executive of the Year by the New York Medical Executives and MSSNY, and in November of 1997, she was presented with a Proclamation of Merit for Service with Exceptional Distinction by the New York State Department of Health, Board of Professional Medical Conduct; she was also cited in a Health Department report "as a model for successful state government/private sector partnerships"; and WHEREAS, Moreover, Linda A. Lambert was the recipient of the 2012 George Burton Memorial Award by the Empire State Society of Association Executives, the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Medical Association (AMA), and the 2018 New York eHealth Collaborative Honoree Award for her dedication and accomplishments for the advancement of healthcare technology in New York State; and WHEREAS, This remarkable woman also received a Citation from the Executive Chamber under Governor George Pataki for Outstanding Contributions to Organized Medicine and New York State Government; she was the first Chapter staff person to serve as an official member of an ACP Committee by serving on the Chapters sub-committee for two years, and assisted in the development of new Chapter Excellence criteria that will improve the services delivered by Chapters across the country; and WHEREAS, Linda A. Lambert's tireless efforts and notable achievements have significantly contributed to bettering the quality of life in her profession and community; and WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Linda A. Lambert has continuously displayed initiative and an unrelenting commitment when pursuing the highest of goals, and she has served as a role model of leadership to be emulated by all; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Linda A. Lambert upon the occasion of her retirement after 22 years of distinguished service to the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians, and to wish her continued success in all her future endeavors; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Linda A. Lambert.