About Us
Our History and Board
Dr. Robert Gold
OMIC Chair
OMIC is the largest insurer of ophthalmologists in the United States. Formed in 1987 by a group of visionary eye doctors, our specialty-specific program is unique in our industry. Our mission is to serve the needs of members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology by providing high quality medical liability insurance products and services. OMIC strives to be a leader in the medical liability community and to promote quality ophthalmic care and patient safety.
Before OMIC, ophthalmologists were often forced to subsidize higher risk medical specialties and sometimes were unable to obtain coverage as disloyal commercial and multispecialty carriers entered and exited the market at different times during insurance market cycles. We exist to eliminate the instability, which can be a direct threat to our practice of ophthalmology.
Over our 35 years in business, OMIC has achieved many firsts in ophthalmic malpractice prevention and defense. We have created a timeline of major milestones on our Facebook page. Those not currently insured by OMIC may want to consider the OMIC Advantage and all of the products and services we offer for ophthalmologists.
Board of Directors
OMIC’s current Chair of our Board of Directors is Dr. Robert Gold of Florida.
2024 Board of Directors
Robert S. Gold, MD
Daniel M. Berinstein, MD
Jeremiah Brown, Jr., MS, MD
Robert G. Fante, MD
Laura C. Fine, MD
Andrew G. Iwach, MD
Pauline T. Merrill, MD
Christie L. Morse, MD
Ronald W. Pelton, MD, PhD
Christopher J. Rapuano, MD
Steven I. Rosenfeld, MD
Gaurav K. Shah, MD
Gregory L. Skuta, MD
Michael C. Tigani, MD
Russell A. Young, Esq.
2024 Committee Members
Chris V. Albanis, MD
Jinali R. Diora, MD
Aaron Holtebeck, MD
Stephen D. McLeod, MD
Mark A. Rolain, MD
Arvind Saini, MD, MBA
R. Michael Siatkowski, MD
Stephanie L. Vanderveldt, MD
Aaron P. Weingeist, MD
Brian Welcome, MD
Periodically and in our annual report, OMIC’s Chair writes a message to policyholders.
Messages from our Chair – Robert Gold, MD
A new era and the search for a CEO
Past Messages from our Chair – Daniel Briceland, MD
The future ain’t what it used to be
Past Messages from our Chair – George Williams, MD
100 Years: A Continuing Legacy
Past Messages from our Chair – Tamara Fountain, MD:
I am the Daughter of an Aviator
Extra! Extra! Read all About it!
I Spent Mother’s Day With Granny
It’s Just Words on a Piece of Paper!
The Bean. Magnificent Mile. …And Deep Dish Pizza
We Value Your Security: A Letter from my Bank
2015-2016 Members Report.
Past OMIC Board Chairs
From Left: Dr John Flaxel, Dr. Bruce Spivey, Dr Mike Allen, Dr Reginald Stambaugh
Reginald Stambaugh MD of Florida
(Served from 1987 to 1994)
John Flaxel MD of Oregon
(Served from 1994 to 1997)
Arthur (Mike) Allen MD of California
(Served from 1997 to 2005)
Joe McFarlane Jr MD of Texas
(Served from 2005 to 2009)
Richard Abbott MD of California
(Served from 2009 to 2011)
John Shore MD of Texas
(Served from 2011 to 2014)
Tamara Fountain MD of Illinois
(Served from 2014 to 2016)
George Williams MD of Michigan
(Served from 2016 to 2019)
Daniel Briceland MD of Arizona
(Served from 2019 to 2023)
Executive Staff
President and CEO is Bill Fleming
VP and CIO is Ricci Rascoe
VP Finance and CFO is Les Scaccalosi
VP Risk Management is Linda Harrison
VP Product Management is Betsy Kelley
VP Underwriting is Neil Simons
VP Large Accounts is Ray Fontenot
VP Marketing and Sales is Robert Widi
VP Claims is Ryan Bucsi
VP General Counsel is Kim Wynkoop
