It is an honor to officially introduce myself as the 131st Board President of the Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS) for 2026. My name is Rahul Rishi, DO, and I am proud to serve in this role. Many of you may know me through my work in allergy and immunology or from the numerous MCMS events I have attended. To those I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting, hello! I’m excited to connect with you and to share a bit about my background and my vision for the year ahead.

I have proudly served on the MCMS Board of Directors for the past four years, most recently as Treasurer. I am a board-certified allergist and immunologist and the founder of Valley Allergy, as well as the co-owner of Phoenix Rising, a professional soccer team here in the Valley. My medical journey began at Midwestern University, where I completed both my undergraduate and medical education, followed by service as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine and Chief Fellow in Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to contribute to research, publish in national journals, and care for patients of all ages with allergic and immunologic conditions. Today, I continue to serve our community as a clinician, researcher, and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care.

As MCMS Board President, my priorities are shaped by what I hear directly from you, our physicians and healthcare stakeholders, and by what I experience daily in clinical practice.

In 2026, I am committed to:

• Strengthening our physician community by creating more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and support one another.

• Focusing on increasing physician membership rooted in meaningful value, providing resources that include networking opportunities, advertising and visibility through Arizona Physician Magazine, access to high-quality CME sessions, and patient referral connections that support professional growth and practice sustainability.

• Continuing to fortify strong relationships with our existing business partners, healthcare organizations, and healthcare leaders to advance shared goals and collaborative solutions.

• Listening closely to the issues that matter most to you and ensuring MCMS advocates effectively on your behalf.

• Supporting policies that reinforce and strengthen our physician and healthcare community, enabling us to continue delivering exceptional patient care.

• Improving access to healthcare for all patients by reducing unnecessary barriers to timely and effective care.

• Supporting physicians pursuing private practice, as well as those currently in practice, by offering resources, guidance, and advocacy for this vital and growing practice model.