“Just as physicians worked to safeguard public health by promoting smoking bans in public places, we should draw on similar motivations and strategies to promote sensible, evidence-based laws to decrease the harms associated with gun violence.
It is our responsibility to do so.”
~ Christine Laine, MD, Editor in Chief and Deputy Editors of Annals of Internal Medicine
Mission Statement
Doctors 4 Gun Safety is committed to the premise that gun violence represents a public health crisis in the United States. As physicians we serve as advocates for the nation’s health. We are in a unique position to both identify and treat those at high risk for, or victimized by, violence.
Our goal is to use education, research and advocacy as methods to achieve safe and responsible gun ownership and use.
We are interested in forming an evidenced-based policy related to gun ownership. We recognize that gun violence is a multifactorial problem and we welcome the knowledge of law enforcement and experienced and responsible gun owners.
The prevention of unnecessary suffering, morbidity and mortality related to inappropriate gun access is a core value of our organization.
We recognize the need for the medical profession to be a part of the dialogue centered on protecting ourselves, our children, our patients and our fellow citizens.
Specific areas of concern and focus include:
Who We Are
We are a grassroots organization of doctors who believe that gun violence in the U.S. is a public health crisis.
We are not affiliated with any political party.
As physicians, we feel obligated not only to participate in the treatment of individuals but to assume a leadership role in the resolution of the gun violence epidemic.
Board of Directors
Ruth Waldbaum M.D.
- President, Doctors 4 Gun Safety
- Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
- Past President, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Society (GLIPS)
- GLIPS Task Force for Gun Violence
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Karyl Cole M.D.
- Secretary, Doctors 4 Gun Safety
- Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Board Member, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Association
- Chairman of Voluntary Physicians Council, Zucker Hillside Hospital
Victor Fornari M.D.
- Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cohen Children’s Medical Center and The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell
- Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
- Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Risa Gold M.D.
- Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Distinguished Life Fellow, APA
- Past President, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Society (GLIPS)
- GLIPS Task Force for Gun Violence
- President, Miracle of Help: A women’s health charity in Sierra Leone
Jeffrey Oestreicher M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/NorthwelI
- Pediatric Trauma Center Physician, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
- Co-Chair of The American Academy of Pediatrics Gun Violence Prevention Initiative in New York State
- Diplomat, American Board of Pediatrics
Deborah Weisbrot M.D.
- Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine Stony Brook University
- Distinguished Fellow (AACAP)
- Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Past Assembly Representative, New York State Psychiatric Association
Donate
A donation to Doctors 4 Gun Safety supports our education and advocacy efforts in support of gun safety and responsible gun ownership. We ask that all Members and Friends of Doctors 4 Gun Safety support our efforts with an Annual Donation of $25 or more to help us offset communication and organization costs.
Doctors 4 Gun Safety is a not-for-profit corporation registered in the State of New York as well as a 501(c)3 public charity approved by the IRS (Tax ID: 83-3595752). Your contribution is tax-deductible as described on your receipt and to the extent allowed by law.
You can donate here with PayPal, Visa or MasterCard…
JOIN AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
We welcome any physician, physician-in-training, or healthcare professional in the U.S. who shares our beliefs and wishes to help us work toward gun safety and responsible gun ownership.
JOIN AS A FRIEND
Not a medical professional? We absolutely welcome your support!
Join us here, and we’ll keep you posted on all our news and updates.