Colorado Chapter News

Member Feedback is Requested on Spring 2023 Resolutions

(March 2023) Fourteen (14) resolutions will be considered at the Spring 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. Please review each resolution and then indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by the deadline your ACP Chapter Governor has requested or by March 22, whichever comes first.

Your comments will be forwarded to the Chapter Governor to be used as part of their testimony on behalf of the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Giampietro, BOG Administrator, at chapter@acpmembership.org. Thank you for your input.

(NOTE: Proposed resolutions should be considered confidential information and are intended to be viewed by ACP members only. Under no circumstances should proposed resolutions be shared with the news media or social networking media, nor should they be shared with other individuals and organizations. Proposed resolutions do not represent ACP policy.)


Call for Fall 2023 Resolutions

(February 2023) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The just released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is now available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval to move resolutions forward to ACP national is required. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting is March 30, 2023.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.


Board of Regents Action on Fall 2022 BOG Resolutions

(November 2022) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Fall 2022 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you'd like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit your ACP chapter website for more information on how to contact your Governor or chapter staff about proposing a resolution.


Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship

(November 2022) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the American College of Physicians. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.

Christy Welles, MD FACP

Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!


Congratulations Michael T. McDermott, MD, MACP on Mastership

(October 2022) We are excited to share that the Mastership/Awards Committee and the Board of Regents have approved Michael T. McDermott, MD, MACP to receive an award recognition during the 2023 Internal Medicine Meeting in San Diego, California.

ACP Bylaws state that Masters shall be Fellows who have been selected because of “integrity, positions of honor, impact in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” Masters must be highly accomplished persons demonstrating impact in practice, leadership, or in medical research. Evidence of their achievements can come from many types of endeavors, such as renown within their field and/or ACP chapter, research, education, health care initiatives, volunteerism, administrative positions, care of patients, and service to their community.

One of the goals of the American College of Physicians is to “recognize excellence and distinguished contributions to internal medicine.” As a way of achieving this goal, the College offers 21 awards and a number of Masterships each year. Annually, awardees and Masters are honored at the Convocation ceremony held during the Internal Medicine meeting.


Chapter Excellence Award – Gold Winner

(September 2022) I am pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Gold Level of the 2022 Chapter Excellence Award! The award recognizes truly extraordinary chapters that surpass excellence in chapter management. We are in the company of 47 other outstanding chapters. In order to achieve the Gold Level of the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet twenty Bronze criteria, seventeen Silver criteria and multiple Gold level activities. Criteria include such activities as having a legislative action plan or agenda, holding a volunteerism/community service activity, holding multiple stand-alone meetings, having revenue sources outside of dues and meeting registration fees, implementing a strategic plan, implementing a formal recruitment and retention plan and measuring outcomes, conducting various activities for Medical Students, Residents and Early Career Physicians. I would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.


Award Nominations Now Being Accepted

(October 2022) The ACP Colorado Chapter is now accepting nominations for the Joel S. Levine, MD, MACP Distinguished Healthcare Advocate Award, the Robert B. Gibbons, MD, MACP Distinguished Medical Educator Award, the Colorado Early Career Physicians Award, the Laureate Award and the Volunteer Award.

These awards will be presented at the 2023 ACP Colorado Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting in February 2023. The awardees should be accepting the recognition in person unless excused by the Governor. The awardees are to be nominated by a process that may originate from the Awards Committee or from any member of the Colorado Chapter. The Award Committee is strongly interested in improving the diversity of nominees and is relying on Chapter membership from throughout the state of Colorado to submit these nominees.

Applications for each award should include:

1. The nominee’s curriculum vitae

2. A nomination letter. Up to two additional supporting letters for the candidate may be written by colleagues or patients.

Please email all nominations and materials to Christine Westbrook at: cochapteracp@msn.com.

The deadline for applications is October 31, 2022.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Erik Wallace, MD, FACP at: erik.wallace@cuanschutz.edu or call him at 918-407-8162.

Thank you,

ACP Colorado Chapter Awards Committee

Please see below for the award descriptions and requirements. The link to view a list of past winners is: Past Award Winners

Joel S. Levine, MD, MACP Distinguished Healthcare Advocate:

The nominee must be a Member, Fellow, or Master of the American College of Physicians Colorado Chapter who has demonstrated a steady and strong commitment to promote equitable access to safe, high quality healthcare for all members of the public along with a devotion to build a better future for medicine.

Robert B. Gibbons, MD, MACP Distinguished Medical Educator:

The nominee must be a Member, Fellow, or Master of the American College of Physicians Colorado Chapter who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and mentorship to students, residents, fellows, or colleagues as evidenced by a sustained commitment to professionalism and excellence in the practice of medicine.

Colorado Early Career Physician:

The award will be given to an outstanding young physician in internal medicine. The physician must be highly respected by his or her colleagues for outstanding clinical skills and for being a role model in the community. This individual should have distinguished himself or herself in service to patients, the physician community and the community at large. This physician should be an educator to his/her patients or the community. A young physician is someone who is within 16 years of graduating medical school. Ideally the physician would be an ACP member at the time of nomination; if not, the physician must become a member once selected in order to receive the award. Repeat nominations of previous non-recipients are welcome.

Laureate Award:

The Laureate Award honors Fellows and Masters of the College who have demonstrated by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, or research and service to their community, their chapter, and the American College of Physicians. The recipient of this award shall bear the title of Laureate of the Colorado Chapter.

Volunteer Award:

The criteria for the Volunteerism/Community Service Award Call for Nominations is:

  1. Nominees must be Masters, Fellows, Members, or Resident/Fellow Members of ACP and must have provided volunteer service post-training. Self-nominations are not permitted.
  2. The services must have been performed on a voluntary basis and not required for the completion of teaching, training, or position requirements.

Volunteer work must have been done as a physician and be medically related.


We Request Your Feedback on the Proposed Fall 2022 Board of Governors Resolutions

(August 2022) We would like to request your feedback regarding resolutions that will be considered at the Fall 2022 Board of Governors Meeting. The resolutions have been posted on ACP Online for your review and cover an array of topics such as supporting paid sick leave for U.S. workers, covering insulin pumps under CMS Part B for insulin dependent diabetics, and integrating a health equity framework into methods for developing ACP clinical guidelines.

After considering the intent of each resolution and how it fits with the College’s Mission and Goals, please provide your feedback on each resolution and indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by August 31. Your input will be used as part of testimony on behalf of the chapter.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to provide comments regarding these resolutions. By providing your feedback on the Board of Governors resolutions, you have helped to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine. Please visit the chapter’s Web site after the Fall 2022 Board of Governors meeting for updates.

Sincerely,

[Name]


Applications Now Open to Apply for the Million Hearts® 2022 Hypertension Control Challenge

(August 2022) The Million Hearts® 2022 initiative is now accepting applications for the Hypertension Control Challenge and encourages ACP members to apply. ACP is a partner in the Million Hearts Campaign, a national initiative that aims to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes by reducing hypertension and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve cardiovascular health. 

The Hypertension Control Challenge identifies and spotlights health care professionals, practices, both solo and group, and health care systems that have achieved nationally laudable hypertension control rates. Applicants that have achieved hypertension control rates of at least 80% over a 12 month period are eligible to enter for possible recognition as a Champion. To learn more about the rules and eligibility requirements to become a 2022 Million Hearts ® Hypertension Control Challenge Champion, please visit https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/partners-progress/champions/rules.html. All prospective Champions are required to complete the application form https://hypertension.millionhearts.hhs.gov/.

The submission deadline is September 7, 2022.


New Advocacy Resources Available to ACP Members and Chapters

(August 2022) We would like to make you aware of two new advocacy resources available to ACP members and chapters.

Understanding Advocacy and Why We Do It - A Comprehensive Toolkit for Chapters

ACP has created an advocacy best practices toolkit to support engagement in and the efficacy of chapter-level advocacy at the state and federal level. This comprehensive toolkit breaks down the different methods and mediums for advocacy engagement and highlights all the programs and resources offered by ACP to make the most of chapters’ advocacy efforts. This toolkit is only accessible to ACP members. 

Reproductive Health Toolkit Now Updated

ACP's toolkit for chapters to utilize in navigating issues surrounding abortion rights and related policies in their states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade has been updated. The toolkit now includes sample letters that chapters can use to advocate with state officials and information on recent federal activity. 

For questions regarding these toolkits, please submit all requests through this questionnaire to ensure we can track inquiries and respond in the most timely and efficient manner." 

Are you a member of the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn)? Learn more here


Congratulations New Colorado Chapter Fellows

  • David Johansen, MD FACP
  • Jaime Moo-Young, FACP MD

(July 2022) Congratulations to the Colorado Chapter's newest Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.


BOR Action on Spring '22 BOG Resolutions

(June 2022) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Spring 2022 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you'd like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to our chapter.


Let's Celebrate our Local National Abstract Competition Winners

(May 2022) The South Carolina Chapter would like to congratulate the following chapter members on their accomplishments at the 2022 Internal Medicine Meeting National Abstract Competition.

Resident/Fellow - Clinical Vignette, Poster Winner
Complicated case of recurrent intracerebral abscess secondary to disseminated multi-drug resistant Nocardia wallacei in an immunocompetent patient
Cameron Barber, DO

Medical Student - Research, Poster Winner
The effects of ephrinB2 signaling on proliferation and invasion in glioblastoma multiforme
Sanjana Bukkapatnam

View the complete list of podium presenters and poster winners at Internal Medicine Meeting 2022.


Congratulations New Colorado Chapter Fellows

  • John Matthew Cunningham, MD FACP
  • Rita S Lee, MD FACP

(March 2022) Congratulations to the Colorado Chapter's newest Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.

Potential ACP Governor-elect Candidates 

Nominations Due by April 14, 2022

(March 2022) As you know, the ACP national office is conducting a Governor-elect election for our chapter this year. The Local Nominations Committees will be responsible for identifying up to two candidates who are willing and able to serve a four-year term (April 2024 - April 2028), in addition to a year of training as Governor-elect (April 2023 - April 2024).

We are looking for a dynamic leader who exhibits integrity, shows commitment to the College and demonstrates dedication to the Chapter and the medical community. The successful candidate will work with Chapter members and with leaders in internal medicine at the national level. A Governor typically spends several hours per week on College Business with the support of executive administrative staff. Serving as an ACP Governor can be an extremely rewarding and life changing experience. 

Click here to view the Governor Job Responsibilities.

Only ACP MACPs and FACPs are eligible for consideration. If you would like to submit the name of a colleague or self-nominate, contact Chapter Staff. 

All potential candidate information must be submitted by Wednesday April 14, 2022. 


Support our Local Speakers at Internal Medicine 2022

Join ACP and your colleagues as we reconvene to meet our personal and professional goals. World-renowned faculty will present important topics and the latest evidenced-based clinical and practice information that invite you to discover new ways to improve your own techniques and patient care. Internal Medicine Meeting 2022 will also introduce a refreshed schedule and two plenary gatherings featuring must-see speakers.

We wanted to take a moment to shine a spotlight on this year’s Colorado Chapter Members who are serving as faculty:

  • Matthew DeCamp Ethical Case Challenges: Physician Suicide Prevention - Saturday, April 30, 2022
  • Mary Greenlee Principles for Effective Care Coordination of the Referral Process and Beyond - Saturday, April 30, 2022
  • Danielle Loeb Evidence-Based Treatment of Depression for Non-Psychiatrists - Thursday, April 28, 2022
  • Ted Parks Practical Office Orthopedics: The Knee and the Shoulder (two presentations each topic) - Thursday, April 28, 2022 and Friday, April 29th
  • Kathleen Rehms Motivational Interviewing for the Busy Clinician - Thursday, April 28, 2022 and Friday, April 29, 2022
  • Sheila Tsai Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Recognition and Effective Management - Friday, April 29, 2022

Congratulations New Colorado Chapter Fellows

Alan J Hathcock, MD FACP

(February 2022) Congratulations to the Colorado Chapter's newest Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.