About Noah Marco, MD

CALTCM: What is the background of your training, practice setting, and how many years have you been in practice?

Dr. Marco: I have been in practice for 34 years. Internal Medicine Residency completed in 1988. Then six years in private practice, and teaching faculty at USC School of Medicine while in private practice. Then 12 years working for Kaiser Permanente where I held several different administrative positions, including president of the medical staff, co-chair of Quality Committee Bioethics Committee, and End Of Life Committee. That was followed by 9 years as the VPMA of Northridge Hospital. In the last 8 years I have been the CMO of Los Angeles Jewish Health.

CALTCM: What are you passionate about in long term care?  How are you pursuing your passion? 

Dr. Marco: Improving the quality of care that is provided to older adults that receive long-term care. I pursue this passion by being a resource for the staff in my facility, taking an active role in improving our quality committees, creating standardized processes and tools for our clinicians, mentoring Internal Medicine Residents, and working with other CALTCM leaders in providing information to political leaders and the public. 

Improving access to care that is more patient-centered by being the lead facility of a state-wide program on Telehealth that will provide data to the CA state legislature that is expected to lead to legislation that will provide better access and funding so that residents can have clinician visits more timely and in the settings that they prefer. 

Identifying best practices and attempting to spread those best practices to not just those that my organization serves but to a wider community of older adults. I pursue that passion as the executive director of our research institute, by mentoring pharmacy residents that present their studies at industry meetings, by presenting at industry meetings (in-person and on-line), serving on the CALTCM board, and providing verbal and written communication to the media.

CALTCM: What advice would you give to a new graduate contemplating a career in long term care?

Dr. Marco: Be proud that you chose a field that cares for the underserved and is not one that is encouraged by the teaching institutions. To pursue a career that is diverse in its day to day activities. To be a voice not just of those you serve but those who work with you and have less power. To actively participate in quality improvement and pick an area that you are particularly passionate about. To formally pursue leadership skills and use those skills in your environment. To look for creative opportunities that take advantage of your talents whether that is public speaking, writing, art, or music.

CALTCM: What additional training do you wish you had that may help with your current practice?    

Dr. Marco: I wanted to pursue a Master of Medical Management for Physicians (MMM). That would give me more knowledge of the business aspect of my field and allow me to be less passive in discussions related to finance, and future strategic planning. 

CALTCM: How has CALTCM impacted your practice?

Dr. Marco: It has provided me with information that I have brought back to my facility and improved the care of our residents and the lives of our staff. It has provided me a vehicle to share my thoughts, practices and experience. It provides me additional opportunities to serve my field. It has connected me to amazing leaders in our field that I am so shocked and humbled that they know who I am and listen to what I have to say.