The Alberta Medical Association Announces the Retirement of Ronald A. Kustra

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Oct. 10, 2013) - The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is announcing the retirement of Ronald A. Kustra, Assistant Executive Director (Public Affairs), effective immediately. Mr. Kustra joined the AMA more than 32 years ago on May 1, 1981, and was its longest serving employee.

Mr. Kustra was respected for his leadership and expertise in advocacy, reputation management, issues management, government relations, communication and engagement, speech writing and media profile. Known for his political acumen, he served 33 AMA presidents.

Among his many successes, he is perhaps best known for the AMA's successful 1995 campaign, "Tell Us Where It Hurts," that immediately halted the Alberta government's cuts in health care spending; the establishment of a coalition of non-profit organizations through the Alberta Partnership for Health; and the registration of Patients First® as a proprietary trademark of the AMA. His accomplishments brought Mr. Kustra professional recognition from his peers including more than two dozen international, national and local awards. He is an accredited business communicator (ABC) with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). He is a past chair of IABC's Gold Quill international awards program and served numerous times on the program's elite Blue Ribbon Panel. IABC Canada has recognized him as a Master Communicator (MC).This year he earned his advanced standing in reputation management from the Reputation Institute.

"My career at the Alberta Medical Association has been an extraordinary opportunity," Mr. Kustra said. "To see how physicians, through their professional association, put their patients first has been a special privilege. I know, from more than 32 years of first-hand experience, how much the best interests of their patients is what motivates Alberta physicians."

The AMA extends best wishes to Ron for the future.