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In this Issue:
- Governor's Message
- ACP IN Governor's Advisory Council: Call for Nominations
- I Raise the Rates! December Edition
- ACP's 2021 End of Year Advocacy Highlights: Advocating to Support Internists and Their Patients
- 2022 International Conference on Physician Health™ Accepting Abstract Submissions Now Through February 25
Bradley M. Sutter, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Governor's Message
Dear ACP Indiana Friends and Colleagues:
As I prepare this update in late December of 2021, we are currently enduring our 5th –and most challenging-- COVID surge, with overfilled hospitals, exhausted physicians, nurses, and staff--and flu season just beginning. It is difficult to find much positive news related to the pandemic these days; yet, it is vital to continue to emphasize to our patients that ongoing vaccination efforts, booster shots for those previously vaccinated, and employing the demonstrably effective techniques of masking, social distancing, and handwashing continue to be our best defensive and offensive weapons against this relentless pandemic. ACP has recently released YouTube videos designed to assist us in providing accurate vaccine information to our patients, and to simultaneously combat the widespread vaccine mis- and disinformation currently circulating on social media.
I want to congratulate Dr. Matt Neal, MACP, our former Chapter Governor, for conducting yet another very successful and stimulating Poster Session for our medical student, resident, fellow, and early-career physician members on November 18th. Please join me in also saluting this year's winners.
Likewise, I want to thank Matt for hosting another challenging and exciting Doctor's Dilemma competition for our 4 Indiana Internal Medicine Residency Programs on December 9th. After a see-saw battle among all 4 programs demonstrating their impressive medical knowledge, the still-uncertain outcome was finally settled by the “Final Jeopardy” question, resulting in the IU-Indianapolis Campus Program winning this year's competition in a down-to-the-wire contest. We look forward to this team representing our chapter at the upcoming National Doctor's Dilemma competition to be held in Chicago during the IMM 2022 meeting in late April 2022. I want to thank all 4 programs—IU SouthWest, Ascension St. Vincent, IU Ball Memorial, and IU Indianapolis-- for their participation in this effort.
More good news: our chapter is pleased to announce Joni Miller, MD, FACP, Associate Program Director for the IU Ball IM Residency Program, as our next Indiana ACP Chapter Wellbeing Champion. We look forward to working with and supporting Dr. Miller in her new role—please join me in welcoming and congratulating her!
I also want to optimistically announce that we have set the dates for our 2022 ACP Indiana Chapter Meeting, and we are planning for an IN-PERSON event to be held October 27-28th at the Renaissance Indianapolis Hotel in Carmel. Please save the dates and stay tuned for additional details throughout 2022. Our Chapter Council and Education/Program Committees will be meeting soon to begin the process of planning another outstanding educational opportunity for our members and professional colleagues.
I want to remind everyone again of the upcoming, planned-to-be-in-person ACP Internal Medicine Meeting 2022, to be held April 28th-April 30th in nearby Chicago, at The McCormick Place Convention Center. Please save the dates for this important meeting and register now to ensure your place at this landmark, content-laden CME event. We will also have an Indiana Chapter reception for our members on Friday evening (the 29th of April) at The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, in the Palmer Parlor. This will be a wonderful time to reconnect with our statewide professional colleagues, and to enjoy a relaxing evening of food and fellowship. You may find the registration here!
As I close this newsletter, let me once again express my admiration and heartfelt thanks to all of you for your ongoing efforts to provide outstanding, compassionate care to both COVID and non-COVID patients in your communities despite your understandable weariness and frustration at the dire circumstances. Like all of you, I find the relentless COVID19 patient surges to be disappointing, and I sometimes experience great sadness, anger, and hopelessness over the never-ending pandemic. Let me personally recommend the ACP YouTube Website, which is chock-full of helpful COVID19 and vaccine (including influenza) information, as well as extremely relevant wellbeing videos narrated by ACP's own Kerri Palamara, Director of the Center for Physician Well-being at Massachusetts General Hospital. I have personally found these short videos from ACP's I.M. Emotional Support Video Series to be of great value in helping me deal with the inevitable stress, anger, and grief I have experienced during the past 2 years. I highly recommend them to each of you.
I hope you have safe, less stressful, and relaxing time with friends and family during the upcoming holidays, and I wish each one of you a Happy New Year!
Dr. Bradley Sutter, MD FACP
ACP IN Governor's Advisory Council: Call for Nominations
In accordance with our bylaws, the Indiana chapter will conduct an election to fill three (3) Governor's Advisory Council seats in April 2022.
The Call for Nominations for the Governor's Advisory Council is now open. If you are interested in running, please email your Name/Title, Short Bio (less than 200 words), and CV to Colleen Keeku no later than Friday, January 28th′.
If you would like to nominate a colleague, please email that person's name and contact information to Colleen no later than Friday, January 28th′.
The Governor's Council consists of physician volunteer leaders entrusted to represent and actively engage the membership of the Chapter. The Council sets policy and provides leadership, including planning strategically for the Chapter's growth; determining the mission, goals, and priorities; and allocating resources in line with those priorities. The Council meets online 4 times annually.
Questions can be directed to Colleen Keeku, Executive Director.
I Raise the Rates! December Edition
In this edition of I Raise the Rates (IRtR), You will find a variety of new resources from several public health partners, educational opportunities, and a selection of media articles related to immunization.
ACP's 2021 End of Year Advocacy Highlights: Advocating to Support Internists and Their Patients
Check out ACP's 2021 Highlights flyer to see all that ACP has advocated for this year. From advancing the value of internal medicine and primary care, to supporting internists' needs during the COVID-19 crisis, ACP has been active working for our members and our patients. Also highlighted are ACP's work to address racial disparities and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, improve Board certification policies and procedures and details about positive change in the CMS 2022 Physician Fee Schedule and new federal programs that reflect ACP recommendations.
Visit ACP's Advocacy section to view the flyer and keep up with all of ACP Advocacy's efforts.
2022 International Conference on Physician Health™ Accepting Abstract Submissions Now Through February 25
ACP members and all physicians are invited to submit abstracts for consideration, showcasing their research and system-level initiatives to mitigate physician burnout and promote professional well-being at the International Conference on Physician Health™ (ICPH). The conference is taking place October 13-15, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL, and hosted by The American Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, and British Medical Association.
Abstract submissions may be from one of two categories:
- Research: submitted as either a poster or oral presentation
- Best Practice Workshop: Submitted as an interactive session (non-research abstracts will be considered)
The conference website provides more information about the ICPH, abstract requirements, and directions for submitting abstracts . The deadline for all ICPH abstract submissions is February 25, 2022 by 11:59 pm Central time.
Those with more questions or seeking additional information regarding the abstracts may contact physicianhealth@ama-assn.org.