Board Member Profile
Merita R.C. Tan, MD

Obstetrician and gynecologist Merita Tan, MD, is a partner in The Women’s Practice, Chicago, where women treat women. Despite the demands of running a thriving practice
and her 110 percent commitment to her patients, Dr. Tan generously allocates time to the causes of organized medicine.

In addition to maintaining her busy practice, Dr. Tan’s front-line perspective, experience and education include:

• Committed member of the OB/GYN Crisis Coalition.
• Clinical Instructor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Residency completed at Cook County Hospital; MD received from the University of Health Sciences,
  Chicago Medical School.

Here, Dr. Tan comments on her involvement as an ISMIE board member and what she hopes to achieve for her patients and Illinois medicine.

How did you first get involved?

I was elected to the ISMIE Mutual board in 2005 – before our current tort reforms became law and when the medical liability crisis was at its peak. The oppressive litigation environment inspired me to do what I could to assure health care access for Illinois families – and to promote a tolerable environment in which doctors could practice.

How do your ISMIE board duties and your background complement each other?

As a full-time private practice OB/GYN, I am acutely aware of the concerns of the majority of
our policyholders who are in active clinical practice. I understand the challenges that we face
in surviving in today’s world where we constantly see our costs rising, reimbursements declining, and the ever-present threat of litigation.

I see first-hand the need for both a strong and dedicated insurance carrier whose primary obligation is to its policyholders, who fights vigorously for our benefit and who is there in good times and bad. As a clinical instructor at a major teaching institution, I also see how difficult it is to recruit top students into medicine in general and high risk specialties in particular. The
future of health care in this country depends on us working together toward a better and more
sustainable environment in which to practice medicine.

I felt that I could no longer just complain about these concerns, and feel that we all need to take
a more active role in improving and defending the practice of medicine. Knowing that ISMIE
has long served as a leader in physician and patient advocacy, I have committed time to board
service and wish to bring the perspective of a “front line” clinician.

What’s in store for the future?

Now that medical litigation reform appears to be having positive effects, I’m hopeful that more
doctors will maintain practices in Illinois. ISMIE has demonstrated its dedication to its policyholders by instituting the new dividend program, helping physicians manage their practice risk through new Risk Rewards programs, and by providing medical liability coverage at competitive prices.

As a policyholder and board member, it’s just great to partner with ISMIE and to know that I’m making a difference for my patients.