Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center has named Dr. James Lau as the new medical director for the area, which extends into the East San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley. Lau joined the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in 1990 and was chief of urology from 1997 to 2009. In 2010, he became assistant area medical director, and served in that position until his promotion to area medical director earlier this month. “I find great personal and professional satisfaction working in an organization with a social mission that envisions health and wellness accessible to everyone,” Lau said in a statement. As area medical director, Lau will lead just under 500 physicians, who serve around 250,000 patients. He will also continue to offer his services at his Kaiser Permanente practice.