The 35th Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Conference
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Walter P. Lomax, Jr., M.D.
Chairman, The Lomax Companies
Walter P. Lomax, Jr., MD began his medical career as a solo practitioner in the same South Philadelphia neighborhood where he lived as a child. He practiced at that site for 32 consecutive years.
During this time his practice grew from a private single physician office to a multi-site group practice consisting of over 20 well-trained physicians. Thus was born Lomax Medical Associates, a medical group designed to provide high quality care in traditionally underserved areas.
In 1982, Dr. Lomax established Lomax Health Systems, Inc. (LHS), a management company concentrating exclusively on health care. In 1984, LHS won a medical services contract to recruit physicians and physician assistants to supplement the City of Philadelphia’s staff in the prison system. In 1990, Correctional Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (CHS) was incorporated to specialize in the management and delivery of health services to correctional facilities. CHS emerged as a major participant in this industry, offering quality care while containing costs. When it was sold in October 2000, CHS was providing health care in 60 correctional facilities in 16 states.
In 1989, LHS joined forces with a firm in Virginia to form Healthcare Management Alternatives, Inc. (HMA). HMA successfully won a Pennsylvania Department of Welfare contract (HealthPASS) to provide health care to Medicaid recipients in South and West Philadelphia. After the contract was awarded, Dr. Lomax was required to sell his five-site group practice and in September 1990 he retired from his distinguished career as a practicing physician.
From HMA’s success in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), New York and New Jersey, HMO licenses were issued in each of those states. In 1995 AmeriChoice was formed as a holding company for the three state HMOs. At that time 35% of the company was sold to CNA Insurance Co., General Motors Pension Fund and TA Associates. In 2002 AmeriChoice was sold to United Health Group Company.
In 2003, consistent with the philanthropic spirit that Dr. Lomax and his wife Beverly have demonstrated for the past 25 years, Dr. Lomax formed The Lomax Family Foundation. Each of the family members are trustees of this foundation and Dr. Lomax serves as its Chairman. The mission of LFF is to provide funding for eligible non-profit organizations and programs that promote art, health, education and culture in the African American community.
In an interesting twist of fate, in 1994 Dr. Lomax purchased the plantation where his great grandmother was enslaved in King William, Virginia. The property with its onsite graveyards dates back to 1732. Over the years he has acquired over 700 acres of the original plantation.
Today, Dr. Lomax serves as Chairman of The Lomax Companies, the Lomax family’s investment office, which manages a global portfolio of private equity investments with particular emphasis on venture capital and real estate.
Dr. Lomax is a graduate of LaSalle University and Hahnemann Medical College. He was affiliated with Pennsylvania and Graduate Hospitals and served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Dr. Lomax is a former Trustee of LaSalle University, The Philadelphia Orchestra (Emeritus), AmeriChoice, Inc. of Pennsylvania and a current board member of Universal Companies.
With all of his professional and business success, it is his family legacy that brings him the most joy. Walter and Beverly have been married for over 50 years and are blessed with six children (3 boys and 3 girls) 4 of whom actively work in The Lomax Companies.