For Physicians, By Physicians
Get to know the Physicians who lead the Practicing Physicians of America.
PPA’s board is led, pro-bono, by actively practicing physicians
We are a group of servant leaders. Our work is dedicated in honor and memory of those physicians or physician-trainees lost striving to care for others. Your support represents a community of care-givers standing in unity for one another.
Sincerely,
Dr. Thompson | Dr. Mass | Dr. Fisher | Dr. Al-Agba | Dr. Dixon
Board Members
Dr. Judith Thompson, M.D.
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Thompson is a solo, independent general and breast surgeon. She has practiced for 20 years and is recognized for outstanding philanthropic activities.
Dr. Marion Mass, M.D.
Co-Chair
Dr. Mass is a pediatrician in the Philadelphia area. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and serves as leadership for Physicians Against Drug Shortages.
Dr. Westby G. Fisher, M.D.
Treasurer
Dr. Fisher is a cardiac electrophysiologist based in Chicago, IL. He authors the Dr. Wes Blog, a nationally syndicated personal blog with over 3 million page views.
Dr. Niran S. Al-Agba
Secretary
Dr. Al-Agba is a board-certified pediatrician and owner of Silverdale Pediatrics, LLP. She is published on KevinMD, RebelMD and is on the editorial staff at The Health Care Blog.
Dr. Brian J. Dixon, M.D.
Board Member
Dr. Dixon has a thriving pediatric psychiatry private practice in Fort Worth, TX. He is the Founder and CEO of Together Forward, a 501(c)4 non-profit Think Tank.
PPA’s National Network of Partners
We’re networked nationally with a physician-led group of advisory board members.
National Publications
We magnify the voice of the practicing physician.
Fortune Magazine
How These Useless Doctors’ Exams Are Raising Health Care Costs
Wall Street Journal
The Washington Times
The Inquirer Daily News
Rebel.MD
Dr. Wes Blog
Chairman of the Board
Judith L. Thompson, M.D.
Breast Cancer Specialist – General Surgeon
Dr. Judith Thompson is a solo, independent general and breast surgeon. She is the proud mother of two excellent and dearly loved sons, and she is an equestrian. Dr. Thompson is a delegate to the Texas Medical Association, a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. While working as a radiologic technician, Dr. Thompson obtained her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Texas A&M University, then her M.D. At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, during which time she was two-year class president and received the Outstanding Young Women in America award for philanthropic activities. Her sons have moved, and she is now returning to a life of service for her country. Dr. Thompson completed her surgery residency at East-Tennessee State University under the chairmanship of Dr. William Browder to whom she now tips her hat.
Co-Chair
Marion Mass, M.D.
Pediatrician – Board Member: Physicians Working Together
Marion Mass is a pediatrician in the Philadelphia area where she has practiced in hospital, Emergency Room, delivery room, outpatient, and urgent care settings. She graduated from Duke University Medical School and trained in Pediatrics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She has been writing about life inside medicine, published in the WSJ, Washington Times, and the Philly Inquirer. She has guested on radio shows and BBC broadcasts and advises multiple lawmakers as well as candidates at the state and national level. She serves on the editorial board of her local newspaper, on the wellness board of her local school district, is a board member of the Bucks County Community Health Initiative, and a delegate of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. She guest-blogs on various sites regarding teaching organic gardening to children.
Treasurer
Westby G. Fisher, M.D.
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Dr. Fisher is a cardiac electrophysiologist based in Chicago, IL. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology and served 26 years in the US Naval Reserves and private practice settings before joining his current employer. Aside from his busy clinical practice schedule, Dr. Fisher has been an outspoken critic of the American Board of Medical Specialties’ Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. He authors the Dr. Wes Blog, a syndicated personal blog with over 3 million page views, and is on Twitter. Dr. Fisher earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in 1984, Internal Medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD and performed his cardiac electrophysiogy fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco From 1993-1994.
Secretary
Niran S. Al-Agba, M.D.
Pediatrician – Mother and Wife
Niran S. Al-Agba, MD is a board certified pediatrician and owner of Silverdale Pediatrics, LLP , located in her hometown. She graduated from The University of Washington School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric internship and residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine/The Children’s Hospital Denver. She has served on the UW School of Medicine Admissions Committee for the past 15 years. Niran is a member of the Regional Faculty for the American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support training courses and teaches at The Children’s Hospital Seattle training center. She authors MommyDoc, a personal blog about medicine from the perspective of both mother and independent physician practicing in an un-derserved community, and can be found on Twitter. She is published on KevinMD, RebelMD and is on the editorial staff at The Health Care Blog. In her spare time, she chases after her four young children who are often seen in her clinic visiting with patients and families or helping their mother.
Board Member
Brian J. Dixon, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Brian J. Dixon, MD is an impact entrepreneur, psychiatrist, and owner of Progressive Psychiatry in Fort Worth, TX. He has been named Top Doc in multiple publications and is one of Fort Worth Business Press’s Forty Under Forty for 2017. As the the Founder and CEO of Together Forward, a 501(c)4 non-profit Think Tank, he confronts disparities in health, wealth and culture while encouraging others to live with mindfulness and intention. His unique perspective was born from completing the Triple Board program at the University of Kentucky and he launched as a model for aspiring physician CEO’s to own and build their professional brand.
PPA Advisory Board
Practicing Physicians of America is committed to building relationships with physicians across the nation, and is partnered with Physicians who are major influencers in their communities.
Charles Cutler, MD
Norristown, PA
Guy Kezirian, MD
Scottsdale, AZ
Leah Houston, MD
New York, NY
Kenneth A. Fisher, MD
Kalamazoo, MI
Kimberly Jackson, MD
Columbus, GA
Linda Girgis, MD
South River, NJ
Marni Jameson, MA
Winter Park, FL
Meg Edison, MD
Wyoming, MI
Pam Wible, MD
Eugene, OR
Paul Kempen, MD, PhD
Weirton, WV
Ron Benbassat, MD
Beverly Hills, CA
Suja S. Mathew, MPA
Richmond, VA
Venu Julapalli, MD
Houston, TX