One of the longest-tenured association leaders, Donald Fisher, died March 26 from cancer. Fisher, 71, had been president and CEO at AMGA, formerly known as the American Medical Group Association, since 1980.

The 450 medical group members of AMGA represent 175,000 physicians. In October 1980, when Fisher became CEO, the organization represented 8,000 physicians.

"Don leaves a professional and personal legacy that is not bound by time or physical space," said Donn Sorensen, chair of the AMGA Board of Directors, in a news release. "His dedication to advancing the best possible patient care, to leading with integrity, and to building a great place to work, not forgetting to have a little fun while accomplishing much, have made a permanent mark on the hearts of all who knew him. We will miss him greatly."

Fisher led AMGA to be an early advocate for aligning payment incentives with improving health, the release said. In 2000, he founded the subsidiary now known as AMGA Analytics.

Fisher also was the first executive director of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, from 1973-1980. He earned a Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Mississippi in 1973.

Funeral details are pending. Anyone who wishes to send a condolence note to Fisher's family may send it to AMGA headquarters: 1 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Attention: Randi Bolden.

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