Governor's Newsletter, Winter 1998
ACP/ASIM MERGER
As you have likely read or heard by now, the merger between ACP and ASIM is underway, having been formally approved by ACP's Board of Governors on September 20 and by ASIM's House of Delegates in late October. A national task force has been established to assess and facilitate state mergers and is chaired by Mahendr S. Kochar, MD, Chair-Elect of ACP's Board of Governors (email: kochar@mcw.edu).
Each state with an active ACP chapter and ASIM component society, including Pennsylvania, is expected to develop a plan for merging the two into a single organization. Bruce Thomas, Governor for Western Pennsylvania and I have established a working dialogue with Robert Sklaroff, MD, President; Thomas Brandecker, MD, President-Elect; Ralph Smeltz, MD, Secretary, and Mr. John Nikoloff, Executive Director, of PSIM. We plan to discuss our plans during the Pennsylvania Coalition for Internal Medicine's Town Meeting on Sunday, May 3, 1998 at Hotel Hershey.
Please send us your thoughts so we can incorporate a wide range of views into our planning process and discussions.
PA COALITION FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE MEETING - May 2-3, 1998
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Internal Medicine meeting scheduled for May 2-3, 1998, is taking shape and promises to be an excellent venue for continuing medical education, discussions of relevant socioeconomic issues, associate presentations, further discussion of the ACP/ASIM merger and its implication in Pennsylvania, resolutions development, and a visit from Governor Ridge or a cabinet member. James Stackhouse, MD, will be representing ASIM and Hal Sox, MD will be representing ACP. Subspecialty societies have been invited to join us at the meeting. I hope you will make every effort to attend and to participate in our discussion. This is an important opportunity to have input into shaping this new organization.
The 1998 Program Planning Committee for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Internal Medicine Meeting includes: John McConville, M.D., Chair; Robert C. Aber, M.D. (exofficio); Thomas G. Brandecker, M.D.; John P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.; Frank J. Kroboth, M.D.; Ralph Schmeltz, M.D.; Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D. (exofficio); Richard J. Simons, M.D.; Alfred E. Stillman, M.D.; Bruce L. Thomas, M.D. (exofficio); Anthony P. Turel, Jr., M.D.; Lisa B. Wallenstein, M.D. (exofficio); and T. Michael White, M.D.
INTERNIST OF TODAY
"I wish there were another term to describe this field" by William Osler, 1897 and referring to the field of Internal Medicine.
ACP and ABIM have jointly undertaken a campaign to enhance recognition of what an internist is and does. C. Anderson Hedberg, MD, FACP and Janet Arneson, ACP Vice President of Marketing and Communications are heading the campaign. Sandra Adamson Fryhoffer, MD, FACP, ACP Regent, has participated in national video and television promotions.
The campaign logo is "Internal Medicine: Doctors for Adults" and a variety accouterments advertising the logo are available from ACP's customer services, 800-523-1546 ext 2600. Please share any thoughts you have about the campaign or its effectiveness with me at your convenience.
RESOLUTIONS 109-123
As you may recall, resolutions 109-123 were discussed and acted upon at the Fall Board of Governors meeting. The following were adopted either as written or as amended: 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 119, 120, 121, and 122. Two were defeated: 117 and 118; and one was referred to the Membership Committee, 123. The resolutions process is becoming a much more important part of each Board of Governors, meeting so please forward any proposed resolutions to me at any time. The deadline for resolutions for the Spring BOG meeting is February 2, 1998.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
1997 Laureate Award Recipients:
The Pennsylvania Chapter is pleased to confer its 1997 Laureate Award upon: Elias Abrutyn, M.D., FACP; Frederick R. DeRubertis, M.D., FACP; James Joseph Houser, M.D., FACP and Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP.
Associate Program Winners at the 1997 PA Coalition for Internal Medicine Meeting were:
Cardiology - Mohammed F. Islam, M.D., St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh.
Title: Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens (PCD) Following Percutaneous Insertion of an Inferior Vena Caval (IVC) Green field Filter
Critical Care - Lazaros A. Nikolaidis, M.D., Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh,
Title: Allegic Angina and Allergic Myocardial Infarction: An Old Syndrome Revisited
Gastroenterlogy - Kapil Chopra, M.D., Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh
Title: The Use of Endoscopic Balloon Sphincteroplasty to Establish Bile Duct Drainage
Oncology - Chris T. Derk, M.D., Abington Memorial Hospital Abington, Abington
Title: Metastatic Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Endometrium Presenting as Trousseau's Syndrome
Infectious Diseases - Guneeth Purewal, M.D., Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh
Title: Muskuloskeletal Tuberculosis: A Presentation
Hematology - Ewa Susfal, M.D., Easton Hospital, Easton
Title: Rectus Abdominus Muscle Sheath Hematoma - A Case Series
Nephrology/Endocrinology - Steven Stein, M.D., Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
Title: Ethnic Differences in Prediction Long Term Renal Allograft Function
Neurology: H.S. Gulati, M.D., St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh
Title: Acute Axonal Guillian-Barre Syndrome
Health Care Delivery - Sotirios Tsiodras, M.D., Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
Title: Comparison of Various Comfort Scales in the Adult Population of a Tertiary Care Hospital ICU
Rheumatology/Other - Steven Stein, M.D., Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
Title: Sarcoid: An Unusual Hepatic Manifestation
New Fellows - Please join me in welcoming our new Fellows elected since July, 1996:Ziauddin Ahmed
Samuel L. Alfano
Raymond B Attolino
Jay M. Aynardi
Michel Badra
Ajay K. Bali
Riaz Baqir
Linda D. Barrasse
Andrew J. Behnke
Larien G. Bieber
Wieslaw J. Bochenek
David J. Brailer
Carmen A. Brutico
Maria C. Bucco
G. Chris Christensen
Andrew V. Cichelli
Catherine F. Clarke
Paula B. Cononi
John M. Costello
Michael J. Czarnecki
Srdjan Denic
Mary T. Denshaw-Burke
Diane L. Dietzen
Peter S. Fail
Andrew T. Fanelli
Thomas Fekete
Martin I. Freed
Alexandra L. Gibas
Joel D. Glickman
Daniel J. Glunk
David R. Goldmann
Generosa Grana
Jeff M. Greenblatt
Howard L. Haber
Drew S. Harrison
Scott E.Hessen
Lester L. Himmelreich
Daniel K. Holleran
David L. Horn
Paula A. Jacobus
Caroline C. Johnson
Raymond E. Joseph
Krishan G. Kalra
David S. Kaminstein
Gregory C. Kane
Harry A. Kiesel
Robert A. Kimelheim
Michael L. Kochman
John D. Koethe
Chad D. Kollas
Ronald L. Kotler
Sally D. Lane
Philip S. Leung
Hans H. Liu
A. Rashid Makhdomi
Peter F. Malet
Yolanda Mapp
William H. Matthai
John F. McGeehan
Thomas L. Minora
Mark H. Mishkin
Joel P. Miller
Sushella Nagaraj
Willard F. Nagle
David R. Neiblum
Kwabena A. Ntoso
Starr P. Pearson
David N. Pfohl
Anthony J. Piraino
David P. Reed
P. Preston Reynolds
Seth J. Rials
Joseph A. Rigotti
Robert M. Rotche
Charles S. Sawyer
Karen S. Scoles
Richard Schreiber
Stephen A. Shore
John M. Spandorfer
Jeff Stanley
William J. Tester
Dennis Torretti
Mark A. Turco
Stephen J. Voyce
Edward G. Wyshock
Henry C. Yeager
New Masters in 1997
John R. Ball
Harry R. Kimball
Sankey V. Williams
Tadataka Yamada
1997 Medical Knowledge Challenge Winner
Congratulations to Albert Einstein for their victory in the Medical Knowledge Challenge Tournament last May. They have won a trip to the Annual ACP Meeting in San Diego in April of 1998 where they will compete for the National Championship again.
ADVANCEMENT TO FELLOW
ACP and I encourage all members to consider advancement to Fellow at the earliest possible time. Eastern Pennsylvania currently has 1,016 Fellows and 19 Masters in a total membership of 4,425. I'd like to increase this by at least 10% during 1998!
Criteria for advancement include:
1) ABIM certification
2) Membership in good standing for 2 years
3) Practice medicine for at least two years
4) Active medical license
5) Practice internal medicine or one of its subspecialties
6) Demonstrated continuing scholarship and professional accomplishments
7) Documented continuing professional activities in one or more of the following "pathways": a) Skill in written communications
b) Significant and continuing certification activities or teaching
c) Participation in ACP for at least 10 years (outstanding candidates who have been members less than 10 years may qualify by combining pathways)
d) Distinguished teaching, patient care, or professional service over many years
8) Be proposed and seconded, with supporting letters, by two Fellows or Masters of ACP
9) Be endorsed by the Governor of your region.
I've written many letters recommending advancement during the past two years, and I look forward to a record-breaking number over 4 years. Appropriate forms and instructions can be obtained from ACP Headquarters in Philadelphia (1-800-523-1546 ext. 2705) or from my office in Hershey (717-531-3876). I especially encourage our women, international medical graduates, and minority members to apply for advancement.
NOMINATIONS FOR:
Laureate Award
The Laureate Award is designed to honor those Fellows and Masters of the American College of Physicians who have demonstrated by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in the medical care, education, research and service to their community, their chapter, and the ACP. Nominations should include a curriculum vitae as well as a documentation of the nominee's personal accomplishments and how he/she has met the basic requirement of the award. Please forward your nominations to: Alfred E. Stillman, MD, FACP, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Division of Geriatric Medicine, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141 or to me. The Laureate Award(s) will be presented during the 3rd PA Coalition for Internal Medicine meeting on May 2, 1998.
Master Candidates
Masters comprise a small group of highly distinguished physicians, selected from Fellows of the College, who have achieved recognition in medicine by exhibiting preeminence in practice or medical research, holding positions of high honor, or making significant contributions to medical science or the art of medicine. They are recommended by the Awards Committee for election to Mastership by the Board of Regents. Masters are authorized to use the letters MACP (Master of the American College of Physicians) in connection with their professional activities for as long as their membership remains current. Masters enjoy the same privileges as Fellows. Please forward your nominations to: Robert C. Aber, M.D., Governor, ACP PA Eastern Chapter, Hershey Medical Center, PO Box 850 - H176, Hershey, PA 17033.
CALL FOR CHAPTER VOLUNTEERS
There are openings on the following Chapter Committees: Laureate Committee, Program Committee, Associates and Medical Students Committee, and Medical Informatics Liaison/Web Master. If you are interested in serving on these or any chapter committees, please contact me.
DATE SAVER
Pennsylvania Coalition for Internal Medicine is May 1-3, 1998, at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA.
ACP Annual Session will be held April 2-5, 1998, in San Diego, CA.
ACP WEBSITE: http://www.acponline.org
PA EASTERN GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL MEMBERS
Robert C. Aber, M.D., Governor; Richard T. Bell, M.D.; Thomas G. Brandecker, M.D.; Malcolm Cox, M.D.; John P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.; Paula A. Jacobus, M.D.; Yolanda Mapp, M.D.; John H. McConville, M.D.; Thomas Nasca, M.D.; Frederick Rose, III, M.D.; Jaan E. Sidorov, M.D.; Richard J. Simons, M.D.; Alfred E. Stillman, M.D.; Allan R. Tunkel, M.D., Ph.D.; Byravan Viswanathan, M.D.; Lisa B. Wallenstein, M.D.; and ex-officio Bruce L. Thomas, M.D. Governor, PA Western Region
PHONE: 717-531-3876
FAX: 717-531-3925 E-MAIL: robert.aber@hmc.psu.edu
Sincerely yours,
Robert C. Aber, M.D., FACP
Governor, PA Eastern Chapter
What's New
Contact Information
Eastern Region
Richard J. Simons, MD, FACP, Governor
Southeastern Region
Charles Cutler, MD, FACP, Governor
Western Region
Alejandro R. Gonzalez, MD, FACP
John Derrickson
Executive Director
Phone: 610-543-6880 or Toll-free: 800-846-7746
Fax: 610-543-6806
E-mail: pcim.hq@verizon.net