California Medical Association (CMA) President Donaldo Hernandez, M.D., FACP, issued the following statement in response to the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

"The physicians of the California Medical Association and the entire medical community offer our deepest condolences to the family of United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, as well as our gratitude for her decades of service to the state of California and all Americans. 

"Senator Feinstein’s remarkable legacy of breaking new ground and shattering glass ceilings paved the way for others to follow and will be felt for generations to come. As a champion for women’s rights, she fought for women to be able to make their own reproductive health care decisions in consultation with their physicians. 

"Her support of the Affordable Care Act expanded health care coverage to millions of Californians who would otherwise be uninsured. In her unwavering commitment to protect Americans from firearm-related trauma, injury and death, she enacted a landmark national assault weapons ban. 

"Fighting for the underserved, she moved bipartisan legislation to improve patient access to health care through her support of Medicare and Medicaid, physician training programs, and California physician loan forgiveness. For that work and much more, the physicians of California have profound appreciation and respect for her life of service."