Montana Chapter Governor-elect Election Candidates
Voting Information
Voting for the next Governor-elect begins September 25, 2026, and concludes on November 6, 2026.
Eligible voting members (MACPs, FACPs, Members, Fellows-in-Training, and 2-year Resident Members with an elect date of 9/1/2024 or earlier) will receive an election email containing their unique and personal voting credentials to vote online.
- Ballot materials are not sent from ACP directly. ACP has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to conduct the election.
- Please add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender so that your ballot arrives safely in your inbox. The subject of the ballot email is “Vote Now! ACP 2026 Governor-elect Election Voting Information”.
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Please review the Governor-elect candidate bios and statements below. When you are ready to vote, return to your election email and follow instructions to cast your ballot!
James E. Loeffelholz, MD, CPE, CHCQM-PHYADV, FACP
To learn more about Dr. Loeffelholz, read their biosketch below.
Charlotte R. Nelson, MD, FACP
To learn more about Dr. Nelson, read their biosketch below.
Candidate Bios
Candidate Statement: With a rich background in physician leadership and medical group management, through my service the Montana Chapter could become a greater resource for Montana internists seeking help wherever they lie between independent and integrated practice and ensure they have the greatest voice possible within their organizations. I look forward to tapping into the greater voice of ACP and the Board of Governors to help influence the development of value-based reimbursement and ensure the needs of internists and rural healthcare are included by payers and policy makers. This is crucial to me, as I believe fee-for-service reimbursement is a rot at the core of American healthcare and contrary to the core of primary care internal medicine and our Hippocratic oaths.
Medical School Education: University of Iowa
Post-Doctoral Training: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Abbott Northwestern
Board Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine; American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians
Present Employment Position: Director of Clinical Value, Bozeman Health System
ACP Chapter and Leadership Activities: Vice-President, Governor's Council since 2018; Author, Resolution 4-F20, Advocating for Coverage of Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist Services under Medicare (Subsequently adopted by ACP Board of Governors)
ACP National Activities: Fellowship 2010; Discussion Leader, Fundamentals of Physician Leadership: Influence (Course within the ACP/AAPL Certificate in Physician Leadership Program); Capstone Project Evaluator
Other Appointments/Activities: Council of Fellows, American Association for Physician Leadership since 2024; Vice-President, Board of Directors, Montana Mindfulness Project; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), Bozeman Lodge #463; Exalted Ruler, BPOE, Bozeman Lodge #463 2023-2025; Trustee Chair, BPOE, Bozeman Lodge since 2025; Awardee, Elk of the Year 2025
Areas of Professional Interest and Expertise: Value-based reimbursement facilitation and promotion, leading Bozeman Health's work in this area to move away from fee-for-service; Hyperbaric medicine, and serving the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society as an accreditation surveyor; Physician Advisor services specifically regarding utilization review and ambulatory clinical documentation improvement
Candidate Statement: I have been active in the Montana Chapter of ACP since the start of my career as a hospitalist in 2008. I have worked closely with our chapter organizers and leaders and have been involved in efforts to expand membership and improve meeting attendance during my time on the Governor's Council. My ongoing clinical work and medical staff leadership experience will inform my contributions as a member of the Board of Governors. Additionally, my work within a large healthcare organization with many layers of governance has helped me grow my ability to articulate and advocate for the needs of our local caregivers. I excel in clear communication and collaboration.
Medical School Education: Rush Medical College
Post-Doctoral Training: Rush Medical College
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine, Focused Practice in Hospital Medicine
Present Employment Position: Hospitalist; Hospitalist Co Medical Director
ACP Chapter and Leadership Activities: Governor's Council since 2018; Program Chair, Chapter Meeting 2022 & 2025; Well Being Champion
ACP National Activities: Fellowship 2016
Other Appointments/Activities: Chair, Department of Medicine; Member, Peer Review Committee; Member, Hospital Medicine Steering Committee; Co-Chair, Hospital Medicine Steering Committee since 2026; Monthly "Thoughtful Thursday" Talks (Open to all caregivers starting in May 2023, moved to quarterly cadence in 2025.)
Areas of Professional Interest and Expertise: I am a certified life coach and I enjoy teaching and discussing the importance of mindset and self-care. I have extensive experience in medical staff leadership and enjoy the challenges of leadership.
FAQ
Frequently asked voting questions.
Am I eligible to vote?
Honorary Fellows, Student Members, Non-Physician Affiliates, Physician Affiliates, and Traditional Graduate Members are not eligible to vote.
What if I cannot find my ballot?
How do I update or change my ACP membership status or category so I may vote?
To cast your vote, return to your ballot e-mail for your personalized voting link.
For other questions about the election, contact Julie Sinkoff at jsinkoff@acponline.org or 215-351-2699.