2009 Governors-elect Candidates' Bios and Vision Statements

The ballots for the current Governors-elect election have been mailed. Members can vote via telephone at 1 800 218 4026 (US only), online or mail. You will need your mailed ballot for your ACP Number and PIN in order to make a vote.

Below are the bios and vision statements of the candidates that are running in this election. The deadline for submitting ballots is November 26, 2009 at 12 midnight CT. Please be sure to vote!

Steven C. Fincher

DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: 11/05/51, Waldo, AR; EDUCATION: High School, Waldo, AR, Valedictorian, BA Economics and Business/Hendrix College, Conway, AR. 1969-1973-Alpha Chi, Medical School UAMS, Little Rock, AR, 1973-1977- AOA; Internal Medicine Residency, UAMS, Little Rock, AR. 1977-1980; CERTIFICATION: Board Certified, ABIM, September 9, 1980; PRESENT POSITION: Chairman and Medical Director, Searcy Medical Center; Practicing General Internist, traditional practice both inpatient and outpatient; ACP ACTIVITIES: Fellowship attained on July 1, 1994, Active in local chapter meetings and Governor's council for many years, Participant in advocacy activities with several trips to Leadership Day in Washington, Attendance at national meeting, Presented lectures on two occasions at local chapter meeting, Attended and presented clinical program at annual Chapter Reading Retreat in the past; HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Twice Chief of Staff- White County Medical Center and eight years on the executive committee, Currently active staff member, serving on the Peer Review Committee and Medicine Committee, Twice chaired the Medicine Committee, Medical Director of ACLS program for twenty plus years, Medical Director of local EMS service for over ten years, Currently Board Member, Arkansas State Board of Health (Appointed by the Governor, January, 2009), Formerly served on the local United Way Board, the White County Community Foundation Board, the board of K-Life—a youth ministry program- the local CARTI board, the Searcy Chamber of Commerce Board. Volunteer at free medical clinic (Christian Health Ministries) in Searcy; Friends of the White County Library Board; AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST/EXPERTISE: I have interest and expertise in general internal medicine and medical leadership at my multi-specialty clinic

Vision Statement
I am honored to be considered for the position of Governor of the Arkansas Chapter of the ACP. Internal Medicine has never faced more challenging times and I feel that the emphasis of our chapter over the next few years should be meeting and adjusting to the many changes that are inevitable. These include changes in regulations, payment sources and amounts, electronic records, and the documentation of quality and value. Wisdom and experience will be required to make the right choices. I hope that my twenty-nine years of experience as a general internist in traditional practice can be of value in being a part of these important decisions which have the potential to restore pride to our members and recognition of the value of internists to our system of health care. I therefore have agreed to serve, if so honored by my colleagues.

Curtis L. Hedberg

DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: Kansas City, MO 5/11/1962; EDUCATION: Saint Louis University, BS Biology 1984, University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine 1989; POST DOCTORAL TRAINING: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Internal Medicine 1989-92, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Allergy and Immunology, 2001-2003; CERTIFICATION: ABIM (completed recertification this year 2009) American Board of Allergy and Immunology 2003; PRESENT POSITION: Physician/Allergist, Hedberg Allergy and Asthma Center, Rogers, AR; ACP ACTIVTIES: Fellow status 2006, Program Chairman for the 2008 Arkansas Chapter Scientific Meeting in Rogers, AR, Gave presentations during the 2004 scientific meeting in Little Rock and 2008 scientific meeting in Rogers, AR, I have attended most all of the state scientific meetings as a member (1992-present) with the exception of the two years that I was in Louisiana for fellowship training. I attended the 2007 annual scientific meeting in San Diego, CA; HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE: I have volunteered the last 3 years as camp physician for Camp War Eagle, a non-profit faith-based summer camp for children. I serve/volunteer as the medical director for the Bentonville Public Schools. From 1998-05, I served as the volunteer relief medical director for Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. During 1995-98, I was Chairman of the Medicine Department at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale and Vice Chief of Staff at Northwest Medical Center in 1998. I have served as the volunteer medical director of our local food allergy support group from 2003-present; OTHER APPOINTMENTS: I serve on the Anaphylasis and Stinging Insect committees for both the American College of Allergy and Immunology and the American Academy of allergy and Immunology. This year, I was appointed to the program committee for the annual meeting of the American College Allergy and Immunology where I will co-moderate a plenary session on Asthma and Obesity. I have served as President of the Benton County Medical Society since 2006, and previously as the Secretary/Treasurer from 2003-2006. I just completed a term on the Nominating Committee for the Arkansas Medical Society and have been an active Member of AMS since 1992; AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST/EXPERTISE: Asthma, Asthma and Obesity, Chronic Sinusitis, Insect Sting allergy and Atopic Dermatitis. In basic science, I have expertise in the research of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and how they affect phenotypic expression in allergy and cystic fibrosis with published articles and abstracts in these areas. I have a published article on infantile skin rashes that is based off of a case report of a child with Netherton’s Symdrome (congenital icthyosiform erythroderma)

Vision Statement
The American medical system is being threatened daily by the increasing involvement of our government. As healthcare reforms, the role of the internist will continue to be crucial. It is now even more important that we stand strong as these changes occur by educating our government leaders about the importance of the internist’s current and future role in medicine. My experience as a physician who has practiced both in primary care and as a specialist makes me well-suited to represent the internists of Arkansas. As your Governor I will be your advocate and communicate your specific needs to our leaders. To strengthen our chapter, I plan to conduct a membership drive by contacting all Arkansas non-member internists and outline the importance of membership. I look forward to representing you as an advocate to meaningful and constructive change in medicine and the growth of our Arkansas-ACP Chapter.