Utah Governor's Newsletter March 2026
In this Issue:
- Message from the Governor
- Committee Update: Membership and Outreach
- Medical Student & Resident Activities
- Utah Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting - March 12 and 13th
- Doctor's Day on the Hill & Policy Updates
- Use AI tool to identify Alcohol Use Disorder
- Spotlight on Dr. Aaron Crosby
- Announcing a New On-Demand Well-being Champion Curriculum
- Utah Chapter Calendar
- Keep in Touch on Social Media
- Leadership Roster
Mary D. Tipton, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Message from the Governor
What an exciting year to be in Internal Medicine. As internists we are the experts in complexity and the current healthcare landscape needs leaders like us. Our patients and our colleagues depend on Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians to provide reliable information about vaccinations, nutrition, medications and guidelines and that's just the medical part. The business and politics of medicine are in constant flux as well.
As Internal Medicine physicians we are the most qualified to lead a healthcare team and practice evidence-based medicine, but this role is questioned and undermined frequently. Patients are told on social media every day that with a click of a button they can be connected to an “expert” in hormones or supplements. These “experts” are rarely physicians. Just this month in Utah a senate bill was proposed and nearly passed allowing acupuncturists to inject medications like peptides and hormones and physical therapists to order labs. After resistance from physician groups the bill was modified but still allows other non medically trained practitioners to expand their scope into the practice of medicine.
On March 12, 2026, Dr. William Fox from ACP Board of Regents is coming to speak to us about Why Doctors are Paid the Way They Are (and Why You Should Care). He is our keynote speaker for the event, and I cannot wait to hear what he has to say. Payment is a form of value and the value placed on what we bring to the table as Internists is a piece of healthcare reform that I believe needs work. Cognitive and preventative specialties are historically undervalued and thus become underrepresented. Is this something you agree or disagree with? Are there ways to fix this?
Please join us at the scientific meeting, even if you can only come to the dinner and awards presentation Thursday night March 12th. I would love to see you there. Register HERE.
Committee Update: Membership and Outreach
The Membership and Outreach committee encourages annual membership and advancement to fellowship. Annually, we try to bring at least one speaker to the ACP Chapter meeting who can speak on caring for a marginalized patient population. This year we are excited to host Dr. Stacy Johnson who will discuss best practices in care for the incarcerated patient.
We recently reached out to lapsed UT members via email and encouraged subscription renewal. We had advancement to fellowship of at least two members!
We don't have any ongoing projects for now and we are excited to brainstorm for 2026! We are always looking for more committee members and ideas. Please reach out!
Committee Chair: Jennifer Scott
Committee Co-Chair: Amy Cowan
Medical Student & Resident Activities
Many members of the Noorda College of Medicine attended UMA Doctor's Day on the Hill on Feb 2. We are so grateful for the involvement of our medical students and future physicians.
Utah Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting - March 12 and 13th
Utah Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting - March 12 and 13th
Like the organizers of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or Santa Claus, the scientific committee works all year towards one event, the Utah ACP Chapter's annual meeting. It's a bit like planning a wedding - except you can get CME credit… And there's no dancing - at least not yet. Each year we review feedback from prior years to make adjustments to the next year's content and setting. I encourage everyone from students to retired internists to attend. It's a great way to meet new people, see friendly faces, learn something interesting, or just get excited about Internal Medicine again. Registration for this year's meeting is still open! Register HERE.
Meeting Highlights
- Keynote: Why Doctors are Paid the Way They Are (and Why You Should Care)
- Gout POCUS
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Obesity Hypoventilation
- Updates: Electrolyte Management, Primary Care & Hospitalist
- Care of Incarcerated Patient
- Ophthalmology for the Internist
Doctor's Day on the Hill & Policy Updates
Trip to the Capitol for Utah Doctors' Day with Utah Medical Association
The Advocacy Committee, led by Dr. Harris Carmichael, took a hike up to the Utah Capitol and talked to legislators about some of our state's bills that affect our patients.
Bills we SUPPORT
- Restrictions on Kratom and its derivatives. Kratom is a highly addictive opioid often referred to as “gas station heroin” because it's sold without any restrictions at gas stations in many states. SB0048
- Outlawing non-compete and non-solicit clauses for physicians and other health professionals. These restrictive contracts lock physicians in jobs or worse push them to leave the state in order to escape a job and work elsewhere. HB0270S02
- Insurance coverage for the MammoBus which serves rural Utah women” HB0468S02
Bills we OPPOSED
- HB 193 prohibits public funds from covering certain transgender related care. This bill passed the house, but in the senate, it failed in committee. Some of the problems with this bill included the requirement that insurance companies cover de-transitioning and also the fact that it would, in effect, cause the current transgender healthcare service centers to close their doors, endangering our patients from getting care. HB0193S03
Use AI tool to identify Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Conversations Tool ACP Member Exclusive
Developed in collaboration with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, this AI-powered simulation tool enables clinicians to practice motivational interviewing techniques in brief conversations with virtual patients presenting with risky alcohol behaviors in a safe, non-judgmental environment followed by immediate, individualized feedback. Learn More.
Spotlight on Dr. Aaron Crosby
GAC spotlight: Aaron Crosby MD
What do you think is unique to practicing internal medicine in Utah? The breadth of lifestyles our patients lead is astounding. On any given day, I could be caring for a well-off amateur athlete from the suburbs, a person who slept under a bridge downtown last night, and a minimalist that lives without running water in the high Uintas. You get the full spectrum of urban to rural and affluent to impoverished care. It makes discharge planning challenging but really interesting. Even after the diagnosis is established, the puzzle isn't fully solved until you've figured out the discharge and follow up plan!
What is your favorite EMR shortcut/hack? Not so much EMR specific, as they are all different, but my advice to students and residents is to define your patients' problems as precisely as possible. Having precisely named problems refines your medical thinking and decreases the amount of bloat you need in your notes, which will in turn lead to less documentation time and more time for patients, reading literature, or getting home to spend time with your family.
Announcing a New On-Demand Well-being Champion Curriculum
We are pleased to introduce the Well-being Champion curriculum, a free, member-exclusive program designed to equip physicians with the skills and tools needed to advance well-being within their practices, institutions, and communities.
Utah Chapter Calendar
Spring Poster Competition March 12, 2026 - Intermountain Medical Center, Doty Education Center
UT ACP Chapter Scientific Meeting: March 12-13, 2026 - Intermountain Medical Center, Doty Education Center
ACP National Spring Meeting: April 16-18, 2026 - San Francisco, California
Leadership Day in our nation's Capitol: May 12-13, 2026 - Washington DC
Keep in Touch on Social Media
We encourage you to click right now on these links, like and share the content with your colleagues.
Our Instagram link is: https://www.instagram.com/utahacp/
Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/UtahACP/
Leadership Roster
Mary Tipton, MD – Governor
Eric Moore, MBBS – Treasurer
Membership & Outreach Committee
Jennifer Scott MD - Chair
Amy Cowan, MD - Vice Chair
Early Career Physician Committee
Landon Dickson MD – Chair
Health & Public Policy Committee
Harris Carmichael MD - Chair
Resident & Fellow Committee
David Chen, MD – Chair
Adeline H Browne, MD- Vice Chair
Medical Student Affairs Committee
Lara Hayes, MD – Co-Chair
Alekses Clifton, MD – Co-Chair
Scientific Program Committee
Aaron Crosby, MD – Chair
Well Being Committee
Brianna Chessin MD - Co-Chair
Gabrielle Langmann MD - Co-Chair
Social Media Communications Coordinator
Thien Do MSII - Noorda COM
Governor's Advisory Council
Emily A Signor, MD FACP
Amy N Cowan, MD
Landon Dickson MD FACP
Cari E Low, MD FACP
Eric C Moore, MBBS
David Chen MD
Laura Hayes MD
Alexes Clifton MD
Maddy Foley MD
Erick Maclean MD
Brett Wallin MD
Harris Carmichael MD
Aaron Crosby MD
Mya Vu OMS
Scott Igtanloc MS2
Brianna Chessin MD
Gabrielle Langmann MD
Contact: contact@utahacp.com