Governor's Newsletter, Winter 1999

This is my farewell newsletter and an opportunity to reflect back over the past four years as Governor of the Georgia Chapter. When I was nominated to run for governor in 1993, my initial reaction was to decline, for I felt that, as a cardiologist, I was not the appropriate person to head this fine organization. Furthermore, the giant footsteps of our previous governors were hard for me to fill and the five year responsibility seemed prohibitively long. Five years later, and much wiser, I can say with certainty that I made the right decision for the many satisfactions have been among the most rewarding of my professional life. I feel very fortunate to have had this fulfilling opportunity. As I review with great pleasure the accomplishments of our Chapter, I am especially proud of the increase in membership (see Chapter Profile in this newsletter), the number of members who have advanced to become F.A.C.P. and M.A.C.P., the establishment of active internal medicine clubs at our four medical schools, the excellent Chapter meetings (although the attendance at the meetings has been my major disappointment), the spirited Associates' competition, the several Evergreen Awards we have won for innovative programs, four Chapter Management Awards, the mentoring program that brings over 20 eager post-freshman students together with internist-mentors each summer, the state funding for our summer program, the yearly Leadership Day in Washington D.C. advocating ACP-ASIM programs on behalf of our patients, the involvement of the four Georgia medical schools and their Chiefs of Medicine in our Chapter activities, and the association with the members of the Chapter and the Governor's Advisory Board. As Governor, I also gained great respect for my fellow Governors, Regents, Officers, and staff at all levels of the ACP-ASIM---a professional organization in which we all take great pride for its standards, ethics, programs, and advocacy for patients.

My appreciation goes especially to the many Chapter members who have served on our Governor's Advisory Council, chaired or worked on committees or programs, taught students, lectured at our scientific session, judged competitions, attended our meetings, promoted the Chapter, and offered help and advice.

Before I accepted the nomination as Governor, I made certain that Linda Mason, my trusted secretary, could be counted on to stay with me for the duration of my term for I knew that no Governor can succeed without able staff assistance. The Chapter and I indeed owe a special debt of gratitude to Linda for her talent and devotion in making sure that the Chapter ran smoothly. This required enormous effort, considerable personal time, and devotion to the Chapter members. Thanks, Linda, for sticking around. In turn, Linda received enormous support from Alice Coyle-Hughes, our liaison at the College.

Finally, and gratefully, I welcome Joseph Stubbs, our incoming Governor, whose long involvement in Chapter activities, broad experience as an internist in Albany and as a leader in his community and elsewhere, and commitment to the ACP-ASIM make him an ideal leader for the next four years.

In accepting the responsibility to be governor, perhaps I was leaning on William Osler, as I often do when I am looking for guidance. Osler said, "You cannot afford to stand aloof from your professional colleagues in any place. Join their associations, mingle in their meetings, give the best of your talents, gathering here, scattering there; but everywhere showing that you are at all times faithful students, as willing to teach as to be taught."

Thanks, Osler.

Mark E. Silverman, MD, FACP
Governor, Georgia Chapter, ACP-ASIM

Chapter Election

The following members have been placed on the ballot by the nominating committee in accordance with the new bylaws:

Vice President - Glenn Carter, MD, Hinesville
Secretary - Ruth-Marie E. Fincher, MD, Augusta
Treasurer - Jeff Bell, MD, Albany

Governor's Council Representatives:

Jacqueline Fincher, MD, Thomson
William Grow, MD, Valdosta
Janice Herbert-Carter, MD, Atlanta
Louis Riley, MD, Atlanta
Joel Todino, MD, Rome

These will be voted upon at the Chapter Meeting on Saturday, March 13, 1999. Other nominees may be placed from the floor at that time.

Thanks to the 1998 Summer Mentors: We greatly appreciate the time and effort that you put into the program. The experience was invaluable for the students.

April Barbour, MD
Phillip Brachman, MD
Rob Collier, Jr, MD
David Dennison, MD
Jacqueline Fincher, MD
Joel Fine, MD
Mary Forsyth, MD		 Ken Griffin, MD
Azmi Kabbani, MD
Richard Kaufman, MD
Robert Kaufmann, MD
Coleman King, MD
Kinga Kovacs, MD
S. Vasantha Kumar, MD		 Robert Lathan, MD
Steven Lenhard, MD
Margaret Mermin, MD
Lamar Peacock, MD
Wyman Sloan, MD
Fred Young, MD

Thanks to the Freshman Students Who Participated in Our 1998 Summer Mentoring Program:

Linda Ahn
Garrett Bennett
Scott Biggerstaff
Andre Cohen
James Criner
Jeremy Cuzzourt
Amber Hendrick		 Jeffrey Hohn
H. Jin Kim
Philip Kalarickal
Sami Kahn
Daniel Kountz
Sung Lee
Marcia Little		 Danh Ngo
Nicole Pappas
John Polhill
Obie Powell
Patricia Rabine-Grant
Brian Taylor
David Vickery

1999 ACP-ASIM Georgia Chapter/Associates Meeting

The place to be March 12-14, 1999 will be Atlanta where our annual chapter meeting and our associates competition will take place. In addition to the outstanding educational program, we will hear from Bob Copeland, our College Representative and Chair-Elect of the Board of Regents. There will be a Governor's Reception on Friday night and the Awards Banquet and dancing with the exciting dance band "Flavor" on Saturday evening. If you would like to make your hotel reservations early, please call The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter at 770/395-3900. Be sure to mention you are with the ACP to get our special room rate of $89/night, single or double. Look for the Meeting Registration Form in this Newsletter or in the mail.

1999 Annual Session

The 80th Annual Session will be held in New Orleans, April 22-55, 1999. The Georgia Chapter reception will be Friday night, April 23, 1999, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Le Meridian Hotel in the Ile de France Ballroom 1. Please plan to come. Future meetings are in Philadelphia (2000) and Atlanta (2001). If you are a candidate for FACP, the Atlanta meeting will provide a nice opportunity to attend the convocation.

The Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, State of Georgia in conjunction with the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, Georgia Chapter

Internal Medicine Student Preceptorship Program

The Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, State of Georgia, has received state funds to expand the General Internal Medicine Preceptorship Program. The goal of the program is to expose students to general internal medicine early in their medical school experience. The objectives for the program are to: 1) highlight the importance of internal medicine; 2) allow students the opportunity to work closely with a general internist; 3) provide the general internist the opportunity to teach and understand today's medical student; and 4) encourage students to select careers in general internal medicine.

Students are assigned to pre-approved physicians with every effort made to match the student with a preceptor of his/her choice. Upon completion of the one-month experience, students are provided a stipend of $1000.

The Preceptorship Program is open to students attending medical school in Georgia, and to residents of Georgia who are attending accredited U.S. medical schools out-of state. Students are eligible to participate once they have complete their first year of medical school.

The Georgia Board for Physician Workforce staff will schedule preceptorships for interested students. Students should contact the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce or the ACP-ASIM Georgia Chapter to apply. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions about the Preceptorship Program, please contact Dr. Mark Silverman, ACP-ASIM Georgia Chapter Governor at 404-605-3368 or the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce at 404-352-6476.

Infectious Disease Preceptorship Opportunity

An opportunity is available for one student (any level student) for the summer of 1999. Please call Linda Mason at the Governor's office for an application at (404) 605-3368.

What's New

Contact Information

Vincent Nicolais, MD, FACP,
Governor, Georgia Chapter

Karen Townsend
Executive Director
Ph: 770-693-9973
Georgia Chapter

Michelle Dietz
Administrative Assistant
Ph: 770-920-6995