| February 2013 | G. Alan Yeasted, MD, FACP, Governor |
- Greetings from Your Governor
- Have You Heard?
- Capitol Update by John Nikoloff
- Western Region Poster Competition
- UPMC – Mercy Wins 2012 Western Region Medical Jeopardy Tournament
- Einstein’s Team Wins Pennsylvania State Medical Jeopardy Championship, Again!
- Western Region’s Photo Gallery 2012 Poster Competition
- Pennsylvania Chapter Proudly Introduces the 2012 Awards Recipients
- Congratulations New Fellows!
- Pennsylvania Chapter Annual Awards Dinner
- Welcome Aboard New Members!
- PA Chapter Calendar of Events
- Internal Medicine Meetings and Conferences
Greetings from Your Governor
Dear ACP Colleagues,
Recently, I was exchanging observations with a young physician about my early days of practicing Internal Medicine in the mid-seventies and early eighties. After a few reminiscences, he commented to me, “At least you practiced in the ‘golden days’ of medicine”. To which I replied, “No, no one practiced in the ‘golden days.” Just as Woody Allen’s main character in the movie, “Midnight in Paris”, Gil Pender, finally recognized, we often think that the past was more interesting or would have been better for us than our contemporary experience. We all have the inclination to express concern over what we are facing in medicine today, increasing government and insurance company interference; decreasing reimbursement; and increasing demands on our time from patients and hospitals.
But, a more introspective view of our present situation actually leads us to a much different conclusion, and examples are abundant. The technology and diagnostic armamentarium available to us today are far superior to anything physicians had available in the past. The ability to care for patients in an intensive care setting and the surgical skills of our colleagues enable us to return patients to active and healthier lives after serious, and in the past often fatal, medical illnesses. The newer pharmaceuticals provide us with many more tools to complement our treatment decisions.
However, probably the most hopeful sign that we have much to be thankful for in the present day is the enthusiasm we see in our younger colleagues. In November, the ACP-PA Western held the resident / medical student poster and medical jeopardy competition directed by Dr. Andy Adams (West Penn Allegheny) and Dr. Jennifer McComb (UPMC Shadyside) respectively. We had a record number of abstracts submitted, more jeopardy teams than ever before, and we had participation from more teaching programs than ever. All of the judges concurred that the quality of the posters surpassed anything we had seen in previous competitions. Dr. Adams, Dr. McComb, and all the judges who volunteered their time made the competition something of which all of us in the ACP can be proud.
The ACP- PA Western Region is alive and well! We have a record number of new fellows this year and are well on our way to welcoming a record number of new members to the ACP. However, we cannot be complacent. We are members of the largest specialty organization in the country and the ACP is adding chapters in South America, Asia, and the Middle East. This organization represents you well in medical schools, teaching programs, Harrisburg, and Washington DC. Together, we can make a difference!
In addition, together, we can convince our younger colleagues that practicing medicine today is an exciting challenge, a privilege and an honor. Someday, their future young colleagues will probably comment that they practiced in the “golden age”.
G. Alan Yeasted, MD, FACP
Governor, Western Region
Have You Heard?
Five National ACP Awards and Two Masterships Awarded in PA ACP
Please join us in congratulating the following individuals who will receive national ACP awards and masterships at IM 2013:
| Geno J. Merli, MD, FACP | Masters |
| Howard H. Weitz, MD, FACP | Masters |
| Richard J. Baron, MD, MACP | Joseph F. Boyle Award for Public Service |
| William H. Lipshutz, MD, FACP | Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Teacher Award |
| Bennett Lorber, MD, MACP | Jane F. Desforges Distinguished Teacher Award |
| Lawrence D. Ward, MD, FACP | Walter J. McDonald Award for Young Physicians |
| Douglas Wallace, PhD | ACP Science Award |
Follow this link to learn about the awards they will receive.
Health and Public Policy Update
The PA-ACP and the Temple University School of Medicine will be co-sponsoring the Second Annual Health Policy Forum. Panelists will review The Affordable Care Act: Issues and Answers, Saturday March 9, 2013.
How You Can Learn More About Advocacy and Health and Public Policy?
There is much occurring at the national and state levels in the health and public policy domain and we encourage you to make your opinion count by getting involved. We invite any of you who are interested in learning more and/or joining the PA ACP Health and Public Policy Committee, which meets by conference call once a month. Please email John Derrickson if you are interested in “listening in” or participating in our calls.
There is much helpful information on the ACP Medical Home Builder on the website.
The ACP Medical Home Builder (MHB) tool provides affordable, accessible, online guidance to help identify opportunities for practice improvements and, if desired, prepare your practice for recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).
Designed for all practices, ACP’s Medical Home Builder will help:
- Improve office efficiency
- Increase patient satisfaction
- Optimize patient care
- Develop policies and procedures with downloadable forms
- Prepare for PCMH accreditation or recognition
- A Single-Day Maintenance of Certification Learning Session in Internal Medicine is set for Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Hershey Medical Center.
- IM-Office Based 2012 Update
- IM-Hospital Based 2012 Update
If you would like to register, please mail your check, with your name, cell phone number and email address to PA Chapter of the ACP, 1489 Baltimore Pike, Suite 230, Springfield, PA. Registration is 460.00 for early birds, then $85.00 for PA-ACP members. Checks should be made payable to PA Chapter of the ACP.
The sessions are designed to help internists to complete two American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) medical knowledge modules that can be used to earn MOC credit.
ACP Leadership Day 2013 is set for May 21 – 22, 2013.
This event gives us the opportunity to have our voices heard on Capitol Hill. Twenty-two members have volunteered.
The Western Region’s 2013 Abstract Competition is Planned for Nov. 2, 2013
The Pennsylvania Chapter sponsors THREE regional abstract competitions offering residents and medical students an opportunity to compete with and meet his/her peers. In collaboration with program directors, they may write an abstract on research, case study, or quality improvement based on recent experience. The abstracts receive professional critiques and the best are invited to present a poster at the annual competition. Residents and students who want to submit an abstract must be a member of the ACP.
Please join us at UPMC-Shadyside in Pittsburgh on November 2, 2013. Our chairpersons, Dr. Andy Adams and Dr. Jen McComb are planning another great event. Details will be emailed to all resident and med. student members later in the spring.
Preyanka Makadia, a Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine med student, has an excellent article published in ACP’s medical student newsletter and The Capitol Key titled “From the Capitol to the Clinic: Taking Home Lessons from Leadership Day”.
Follow either of the links below to learn about Preyanka’s Leadership Day experience.
Advocacy Update: From the Capitol to the Clinic: Taking Lessons from Leadership Day Back Home
Capitol Update by John Nikoloff
Legislative Session
The 2013-2014 legislative session began on New Year’s Day with the swearing in of members. Under the PA Constitution, the General Assembly actually goes out of business at midnight November 30, and is not formally reconstituted until the first Tuesday in January. As this year’s session has just begun, no major legislation is pending. Committees have just been announced this week, and they are now setting initial agendas.
The Governor will be making his budget announcement on February 5, which is a target date for just about everything legislative, and following that budget speech and public announcement, the House and Senate will begin several weeks of public hearings on an agency by agency basis, to discuss proposed spending levels. This process is slated to run from mid-February until early March, at which time, the General Assembly will begin its real 2013 work.
Much of the legislative activity affecting internal medicine is focused on a few committees: Health, Insurance, Appropriations, and occasionally Judiciary, Human Services, and Aging and Youth. The newly announced members of these committees are available on line for the House here, and for the Senate here. Establishing grass roots relationships with the members of these committees and legislative leadership can be extremely helpful in our efforts to impact legislation.
2013-2014
The Governor’s 2013-2014 budget will include dealing with state pension costs, which are expected to be at least $500 million additional dollars annually. It’s unlikely that there will be that much money available without curtailing funding in some other areas, raising taxes or using bond revenues. Gov. Corbett continues to say he will veto any new tax increases. However, in finding funding for Transportation Infrastructure, ERG has been told wholesale oil/gas taxes and costs for licenses, registration will be increased. We do not expect similar increases to be visited on Pennsylvanians to support ongoing state funding programs.
Nurse Practitioners
As noted previously, the Nurse Practitioners plan to seek legislation that would give them independent practice and eliminate the need for a collaborative agreement with a physician. PA-ACP has opposed this expansion in APNs’ scope of practice in the past, but was told in December that the national ACP organization is in discussions with the national APN association to seek some common ground. The PA Academy of Family Physicians intends to fight any expansion as its priority issue in 2013, and has asked PA-ACP to join with them. Any political/policy decision on the part of ACP might best be made AFTER the legislation is introduced and when we can analyze the impact of that legislation
State Policy Insight
ERG is continuing a series of meetings with the Governor’s Policy and Legislative Offices, Insurance, Health, DPW and Aging Departments to ensure you are kept abreast of state plans relative to the ACA and other state programs. At the same time, we have begun a round of meetings with the chairs and staff of key committees looking toward maintaining the good relationships we have with those individuals and committees.
Tort Reform
PAMed has asked the PA-ACP to again sign on to support proactive legislation for tort reform in Pennsylvania. The Chapter has long supported changes to current law regarding venue shopping, medical professional liability, apology legislation, and caps on non-economic damages among other tort reform issues. These issues will be in legislation that will be introduced this session and PA-ACP will work with other organizations to support passage in the House and Senate. Governor Corbett has strongly supported these measures, and is expected to sign any which can get approval by the General Assembly.
Medicaid Expansion
The New Year has brought more pieces of the Affordable Care Act into law, and to date, the Governor has not announced a decision on whether the Commonwealth will expand Medicaid access to include those up to 133% of the FPL.
At the same time, the state has moved forward with plans to pay primary care physicians no less than 100 percent of Medicare payment rates for primary care services.
Governor Corbett says he's seeking more information from the federal Department of Health & Human Services before taking the plunge on Medicaid expansion. Matt O’Donnell, formerly director of policy for the Insurance Department, who was the lead staff person on Health Insurance Exchanges and ACA implementation, has taken a new job as Deputy Policy Secretary in the Governor’s Office. ERG met with Matt, and with the Governor’s other Policy Office staff in the last week, and was advised that the issue is almost strictly a matter of cost.
A report by Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured in late November estimated that moving to 133% of poverty as an entry point would cost Pennsylvania taxpayers an additional $2 billion dollars in the coming years – and estimates done for the Commonwealth by independent consultants have estimated that figure as high as $4 billion.
"What I don't know is how much it's going to cost, and when I start seeing that we're talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars, for us to get to hundreds of millions of dollars would require some new revenue source that we don't have right now," Corbett said.
The federal government will fully fund the Medicaid expansion for three years, and drop to 90 percent thereafter.
John Derrickson has sought additional information from the ACP Washington office to support our efforts to convince the state that it should expand Medicaid. We had previously argued that the savings in improved health and lower levels of ER utilization would help pay for the expansion, but the Kaiser report suggests otherwise.
According to the ACP, the latest comprehensive study shows that net state spending with uncompensated care costs considered is 1.5% higher with expansion from 2013-2022, for a 52% reduction in the number of uninsured in PA. The issue as always remains the cost.
States also get an enhanced reimbursement to improve outreach and enrollment systems regardless whether or not they choose to expand Medicaid coverage. The federal government will pay a 90% matching rate for eligibility system design and development until 2016 and then 75% rate thereafter. The intent is to help alleviate the administrative burden related to Medicaid expansion, interaction w/ health insurance exchange, etc.
Affordable Care Act Implementation
In December, the Governor announced that Pennsylvania would not establish a state-based Health Insurance Exchange, but rather allow the federal government to operate a federally-facilitated exchange for Pennsylvania. Insurance Commissioner Consedine had said that the cost to the state would have been between $30-50 million, depending on the requirements established by HHS. As the deadline approached for states to opt-in or out, HHS had not responded to Pennsylvania’s August inquiries about programs and costs for the Exchange if state-run.
At least 29 states have now opted to let the feds run the exchanges in 2014-2015. The option for a state run Exchange remains open for 2016 forward. Because of the large number of states opting to let the Exchange be federally administered, HHS has said there may be delays in implementation, which by law should be October 1.
With the decision on the Exchange, the Essential Health Benefits package required by law will essentially be dictated by the Department of Health and Human Services, although the state may still be able to expand on those EHBs. The House Insurance Committee is looking into that possibility and ERG is working with staff to ensure compliance with the ACA.
Western Region Poster Competition
The chapter congratulates everyone who presented a poster at the Western Region’s poster competition. Not only did more people participate than in prior years, but also the judges said the quality of the work was the best ever.
Listed below are the West’s 2012 Prize Winners. Those with an asterisk by their name received an invitation from the Chapter to present their poster in San Francisco during ACP-IM in San Francisco.
1st place Research
Hrishikesh Kulkarni*, Presbyterian Hospital, “Airway Wall Thickness on Computerized Tomography Correlates with Increased Mast Cell Markers in Severe Asthma”
1st Place Case
Saveri Bhattacharya*, Shadyside Hospital “Bleeding Coagulopathy in the Setting of Superwarfin Poisoning”
1st Place Research/Med Student
Stephanie Dreifuss, University of Pittsburgh “A Cellular Micronized Extracellular Matrix and Occlusive Dressing for Open Fingertip Injuries”
1st Place Case/Med Student
Stephanie Dreifuss, University of Pittsburgh “Massive Scrotal Edema: An Unusual Manifestation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome”
2nd Place Case/Med Student
Paul Renz, LECOM “Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa: An Extreme Manifestation of Chronic Edema”
UPMC – Mercy Wins 2012 Western Region Medical Jeopardy Tournament
Congratulations, to the UPMC-Mercy Medical Jeopardy team and their advisor, Ibrahim Ghobrial, MD, FACP, for their outstanding performance at the Western Region’s annual competition. Standing (L to R) are team members Abhishek Biswas, Milad Abusag and Marappa Nalle.
Einstein’s Team Wins Pennsylvania State Medical Jeopardy Championship, Again!
Congratulations to the Einstein Medical Jeopardy Team, (L to R) Chitra Punjabi, MD, Apostolos, Perelas, MD (Alternate), Praveen Ramakrishnan, MD, Guillermo Garrido, MD (coach) and Jedrzej Wykretowicz, MD, for winning the 2012 Southeast competition and the Pennsylvania State Championship. They will defend their National Title at IM 2013. This may be another national win for Einstein!
We also congratulate the Medical Jeopardy teams from the Western Region who competed in the West’s competition: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, West Penn/AGH, UPMC-McKeesport, and UPMC-Mercy. They were all champions and we look forward to seeing them in 2013 at our regional competitions.
Western Region’s Photo Gallery 2012 Poster Competition
Khaleeq Siddiqui (L) from UPMC-Mercy is presented an award by Dr. Andy Adams, Abstract Chair, for the Case Study he entered into the Western Regions annual competition
Dr. Haipeng (Mark) Zhang (L) from Allegheny Hospital and Dr. Andy Adams (R) during the awards presentation. Dr. Zhang received an award for his Quality Improvement Poster.
Dr. Andy Adams, Abstract Competition Chair, congratulates med student prize winner, Stephanie Dreifuss from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School on her 1st place win in both research and case study categories. She will next present three posters and one podium at ACP-IM in April.
Saveri Bhattacharya (L) who won 1st place in the CV category accepts her award from Dr. Andy Adams. Dr. Bhattacharya, UPMC Shadyside, will present two posters at the national competition in San Francisco.
Dr. Hrishikesh Kulkarni (L) from UPMC Presbyterian accepts his award from Dr. Andy Adams (R) for his 1st place win in the Research category. Dr. Kulkarni was invited to present his poster at ACP-IM in San Francisco.
Dr. Sharuq Sarela, Allegheny Hospital, (L) was presented an award by Dr. Andy Adam, Abstract Chair (R) for his entry in the Quality Improvement category.
Pennsylvania Chapter Proudly Introduces the 2012 Awards Recipients
Another exceptional group of Pennsylvania physicians received Chapter awards for their commitment, dedication and excellence in leadership and service during our annual Awards Dinner held at The Hershey Country Club in early December.
Dr. Mary Harris, (East)
Dr. Ralph Schmeltz, (West)
Mary Harris, MD, FACP of Danville and Ralph Schmeltz, MD, FACP, FACE of Mt. Lebanon received the 2012 Chapter Laureates. The Laureate is the highest honor offered by the ACP and is presented to Fellows and Masters of the College who demonstrate by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research, service to their community, their chapter and the ACP.
Dr. Schmeltz is a prominent endocrinologist and physician activist. He served four years as governor for the Western Pennsylvania Region of the American College of Physicians and recently served as president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
Dr. Harris has served as a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter Council for eight years and is the Internal Medicine Residency Director at Geisinger Health Center in Danville, PA.
Gwendolyn Poles, DO, FACP
Dr. Gwendolyn Poles, a Harrisburg internist, received the Robert S. Pressman Award for Distinguished Service to Internal Medicine. She was recognized for her on-going leadership and grass-roots involvement in advocacy activities on behalf of patients and physicians in Pennsylvania.
John S. Kintzer, MD, FACP
Dr. John Kintzer of Bethlehem, who has practiced Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in the Lehigh Valley for over 34 years, was presented the 2012 Herbert S. Waxman Award for Distinguished Service to Internal Medicine. The Waxman recognizes an internist in Pennsylvania who has distinguished himself or herself as a member of the voluntary faculty at a teaching hospital or medical school in Pennsylvania and spends a significant amount of time teaching medical students.
Janice Kubo Hillman, MD, FACP
Dr. Janice Hillman, a Radnor physician associated with PennCare Adolescent and Young Adult Associates, was presented with a Clinical Practice Award The Clinical Practice Award honors Fellows and Masters of the American College of Physicians who demonstrate by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research and service to their community, their chapter, and the American College of Physicians.
Susan Manzi, MD, MPH, FACP
Pittsburgh internist, Dr. Susan Manzi (Western Region) was the recipient of a Clinical Practice Award for Exceptional Service to Internal Medicine. She currently serves as System Chair, Department of Medicine for West Penn-Allegheny Health System and is Director of the Lupus Center of Excellence.
Mary G. van den Berg-Wolf, MD, FACP, a well-known Internist and Professor of Medicine at Temple University, was also presented a Clinical Practice Award. She serves as American Academy of HIV Medicine, Pennsylvania Chapter Chair and as an elected member of the Pennsylvania AAHIM Board of Directors.
Fabio L. Dorville, MD, FACP (Eastern Region) of Bethlehem was the Eastern Region’s recipient of the prestigious Clinical Practice Award for his exceptional service.
Dr. Danielle Krol
Dr. Florence Momplaisir
The Pennsylvania Chapter presented Danielle Krol, MD (top photo) and Florence Momplaisir, MD (bottom photo) with a Special Recognition Award. They were recognized for their successful role in holding a series of dialogues and focus groups with medical students and residents in the Philadelphia area to determine their knowledge of and interest in medical organizations such as the American College of Physicians. This project was an extension of the PA Chapter Strategic Planning Initiative. Conclusions were incorporated in the membership and marketing efforts.
Dr. Momplaisir is a Fellow at Temple University Hospital and Dr. Krol is a resident in Internal Medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital.
Congratulations New Fellows!
| Anthony J. Pinevich, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| Beth Piraino, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| Debra K. Weiner, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| James S. Withers MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| Kevin J. Lorentsen MD, FACP | Chambersburg |
| Michael W. Finikiotis, MD, FACP | Gibsonia |
| Nalina Prabhu, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| Narendra S. Bhagwandien, MD, FACP | Erie |
| Shanta Zimmer, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
| Virginia C. Calega, MD, FACP | Pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania Chapter Annual Awards Dinner
December 1, 2012
Dr. Charles Cutler (L) past SE Governor and Dr. Alan Yeasted (R) , Governor, Western Region, congratulating Dr. Ralph Schmeltz following the Laureate presentation.
(L to R) Dr. Charles Cutler, Dr. Gwendolyn Poles and Dr. Ben Lloyd. Dr. Poles received the Pressman Award for Distinguished Service to Internal Medicine from the Pennsylvania Chapter.
Welcome Aboard New Members!
The Western Region is happy to welcome all new members who joined our Chapter since July 2012. We are looking forward to meeting you and hope you will join us at our various activities.
Abir Abla Senz, DO
Andrew Fisher, MD
Anthony Ryan Kehr, MD
Anuradha Munshi, MD
Aparna Kalyan, MD
Archan Sodagam, MBBS
Asghar A. Fakhri, MD
Asheesh Bothra, MD
Baher Nabil Wahba, MD
Balaji Yegneswaran, MBBS
Barbara Sewerin, DO
Bharat Bhushan, MD
Carlos A. Estrada Velez, MD
Conor J. Mulcahy, DO
Courtney Borruso, DO
Craig D. Seaman, MD
Delia Cucoranu, MD
Denise Alcantara, MD
Elizabeth J. Lechner, MD
Fatima Iqbal, MD
Jason A. Galicia, MD
Kahoko Taki, MD
Kavita Goyal, MBBS
Maaz Syed Ahmed, MBBS
Manju Alex, MD
Marc Gauthier, MD
Maria Eileen Yruma, MD
Mariola R. Jozwiak, MD
Meghana Amit, MD
Michael Joseph Burkitt, MD
Milind Kumar Sinha, MD
Mohamed Y. Abou Khashan, MD
Namratha Vemulapalli, MD
Nara K. Um, MD
Nicholas A. Mahoney, MD
Nichole B. Harrison, MD
Olanrewaju A. Olaoye, MBChB
Oveimar A. De La Cruz Benitez, MD
Peter V. Moulder, IV MD
Rick Schnatz III, DO
Ridhima Dabas, MD
Riyaj Kasekar, MD
Rohan D. Naik, MBBS
Samer Alnabhan, MD
Sammy G. Nakhla, MD
Sandeep Sahota, MD
Sarah Anne Tilstra, MD
Shakhawan Faiq Rashid, MD
Sumankrishna Kotla, MBBS
Thin T. Maw, MBBS
PA Chapter Calendar of Events
| Date | Event | Location |
| March 9 | Temple Health & Public Policy Forum | Philadelphia |
| February 18 | WCGME IMIG | Scranton |
| January 22 | Penn State–Hershey IMIG | Hershey |
| January 15 | PENN IMIG West | Philadelphia |
| January 8 | CCYP Planning Dinner | Philadelphia |
| March 13 | CCYP Dinner | Philadelphia |
| March 16 | Council Meeting | Harrisburg |
| March 23 | SEP/MOC | Hershey |
| April 11 - 13 | ACP – IM | San Francisco |
| April 12 | Pennsylvania Reception | Lulu’s, San Francisco |
| May 21 – 22 | Leadership Day | Washington, DC |
Internal Medicine Meetings and Conferences
Spotlight
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What's New
- Southeastern Region Governor's Newsletter - June 2013
- Western Region Governor's Newsletter - June 2013
- Pennsylvania Eastern Region 2013 Abstract Competition
- Pennsylvania Southeastern Region 2013 Abstract Competition Information
- Eastern Region Governor's Newsletter - June 2013
- Learn about PAS Governor-elect Gregory C. Kane, MD, FACP
- Member Feedback - Share Your Thoughts
- Member Accomplishments
- Internist Weekly
Contact Information
Eastern Region
Daniel B Kimball, Jr, MD, FACP, Governor
Southeastern Region
Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, FACP, Governor
Western Region
G. Alan Yeasted, MD, FACP
John Derrickson
Executive Director
Phone: 610-543-6880 or Toll-free: 800-846-7746
Fax: 610-543-6806
E-mail: jd@pa-acp.org
General chapter information/questions:
John Derrickson
jd@pa-acp.org
Chapter Office:
Jackie Franco
jf@pa-acp.org
VoterVoice:
votervoice@pa-acp.org
Chapter Events:
events@pa-acp.org
