Orlando Guild Finds New Leadership to Continue Its Legacy
August 21, 2024
By Nadia Smith
When beloved Orlando Catholic Physicians Guild President Dr. Lance Maki suddenly passed away two years ago, the Guild became inactive in his absence. Florida CMA President Dr. Diane Gowski, moved to help restore the Guild to honor her late friend, who had worked hard to build the Orlando Guild. Thanks to those efforts and the ‘yes’ of key physicians, the Guild, under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Mercy, has been re-established.
Dr. Christopher Schaeffer, originally from the Finger Lakes Guild in Rochester, NY who moved to the area just before the pandemic, has agreed to serve as the new president.
“COVID hit and when I came out the other side, I began to search for the Orlando Guild,” he explained. “I found that the Guild had suffered a huge loss with the death of their president Dr. Lance Maki in December of 2022. This was not only a huge loss to the Guild, but to the entire medical community of Florida.”
A mutual physician friend recommended Dr. Schaeffer to Dr. Gowski, who encouraged him, along with a couple of former CMA members, to resurrect the Orlando Guild. During a meeting with other physicians about Amendment 4, which threatens to enshrine abortion into the Florida constitution, the Orlando Catholic physicians present committed to re-establishing the Guild.
Dr. Rebecca Peck agreed to serve as the guild vice president, Dr. Tim Brown agreed to serve as the secretary and Dr. Christina Chan as the treasurer. Dr. Vriti Advani, Dr. Pearl Huang-Ramirez and Dr. John Littell all agreed to serve as board directors. Father Richard Trout, the founding chaplain, agreed to continue in his role as guild chaplain.
“I volunteered to be the president because with Amendment 4 on the ballot this fall, Catholic physicians need to organize,” said Dr. Schaeffer. “This seemed like a logical place to start in central Florida. We have established an awesome leadership team. This has come together very quickly –– a testament to the strength of the Guild in the past.”
The Board intends to grow membership and bring back the traditions of the Guild. Their hope is to once again become a strong, vibrant and engaged CMA Guild.
“We will provide that safe place to come to with like-minded people in medicine attempting to provide world class medical care under God,” Dr. Schaeffer added. “We will need each other to survive and persevere during these trying times.”
