Utah Governor's Newsletter May 2026
In this Issue:
- Message from the Governor: Advocating Coast to Coast for Internal Medicine
- Committee Update: Health and Public Policy
- Utah Chapter Scientific Meeting Highlights
- Utah Physicians Hit Capitol Hill
- Member Spotlight: Scott Woller, new MACP
- Learn How to be a Physician Coach
- Calendar & Announcements
- Keep in Touch on Social Media
- Leadership Roster
Mary D. Tipton, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Message from the Governor: Advocating Coast to Coast for Internal Medicine
I am currently catching my breath after a whirlwind spring spent representing the Internal Medicine physicians of Utah. My calendar over the past three months included three major meetings across three different states, spanning from San Francisco to our home in Utah and on to Washington, DC.
The Annual Internal Medicine meeting is an awe-inspiring event where thousands of Internal Medicine physicians learn from each other. This year it was in San Francisco and there was no shortage of perfect weather which I was able to enjoy for one morning e-bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge after four days of meetings. This is a great event to attend in person or remotely because the meeting app is exceptionally well designed. Next year is in Los Angeles and I invite all those Fellows (FACP) who have not participated in the convocation to come join me. I would love to sit with a large group of Utah Docs in April 2027. Texas is always right behind me taking up two whole rows! Save the date HERE!
I wish even more of you heard Dr. William Fox, the keynote speaker, at our Spring Meeting in March in Murray. He is truly a leader in physician payment reform. He questioned whether the fee for service system is the right way to pay physicians. In fact, he just testified to the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health this month. His review of the history of RVU and his stories about serving on the RUC committee were fascinating. The RUC is a group of doctors in different specialties who sit together every year and petition for a bigger piece of the ever shrinking “pie” of Medicare funds.
In my experience the complex cognitive work performed by Internal Medicine physicians is undervalued and needs to be fixed.
Read on to see what our chapter leaders and members are doing. Come join us. Every little bit of your efforts makes a difference.
Committee Update: Health and Public Policy
Over the past year, the HPPC has actively advanced ACP's advocacy mission by educating members and engaging in state and federal policy efforts. The committee's purpose is to address policy issues affecting the health of the public and the practice of internal medicine, working closely with ACP National to review and respond to policy statements while identifying Utah-specific legislative priorities. Recent accomplishments include organizing and hosting a multi-state policy webinar on Medicaid cuts and rural health care, coordinating chapter participation in ACP Leadership Day in Washington, DC, and working with the Utah Medical Association in shaping and responding to state-level legislation. Ongoing projects focus on continued policy education webinars, strengthening collaboration with other specialty societies and the Utah Medical Association, and expanding trainee and early-career physician engagement in advocacy. Upcoming plans include additional HPPC meetings with external policy experts and preparation for our national Leadership Day in Washington, DC.
Committee Chair: Harris Carmichael: harris.carmichael@imail.org
Utah Chapter Scientific Meeting Highlights
The Utah Chapter of the American College of Physicians successfully hosted its Spring Scientific Meeting on March 12-13, 2026, bringing together Internal Medicine colleagues from all across our great state. The two-day event offered an invaluable opportunity to step away from daily clinical routines, reconnect face-to-face, and network with a diverse community of peers, residents, and medical students. Attendees enjoyed a robust educational lineup including a particularly useful talk by Dr. Darcy Wolsey on precisely when to refer your patients to an eye specialist, as well as a forward-thinking discussion on the role of Artificial Intelligence in medicine led by Dr. Harris Carmichael. The highlight of the evening programming was an engaging keynote address by Dr. William E. Fox, MD, MACP (Immediate Past Chair of the ACP Board of Regents), who tackled the complex and essential topic, “Why Doctors are Paid the Way They Are (and Why You Should Care).”
In addition to top-tier educational sessions, the meeting celebrated the outstanding achievements of our local chapter members during the annual Awards Ceremony. We were incredibly proud to honor Dr. Scott Woller, MD, MACP, who was formally presented with his prestigious ACP Mastership distinction. The chapter also recognized several other exemplary members for their dedication to the field: Dr. Andrew Chang and Dr. Anne Cioletti both received the Distinguished Teacher/Mentor Award, Dr. Nathan Ragle was honored with the Internist Award for exemplary patient care, Dr. Jacy Leon received the Resident/Fellow Award, and Mya Vu was celebrated with the Medical Student Award. If you missed this year's incredible gathering, make sure it doesn't happen again—we issue a strong recommendation to join us next year to earn CME, celebrate your peers, and ensure you don't miss out on the best Internal Medicine community-building event of the year!
Utah Physicians Hit Capitol Hill
ACP advocates for the needs of our patients and Internal Medicine year-round, but every May there is a Leadership Day in Washington DC. This is a signature event I wish each of our members could attend once. It is inspiring to see over 500 physicians gathered to speak out as only a physician can. You are the expert and we need you to speak up locally and nationally about the challenges you face when providing high quality care to your patients.
Our delegation of physicians visited all SIX Utah legislators on May 13th on Capitol Hill. We had three major asks:
- Protect and invest in primary care and the physician workforce by deferring interest on loans for residency
- Co-sponsor the Protecting Free Vaccines Act which would protect public health by guaranteeing that patients will have access to well-established vaccines backed by rigorous scientific standards and fact-based science, without cost-sharing.
- Strengthen and stabilize the Medicare payment system
While Leadership Day is ACP's signature national advocacy event, the ACP Washington Office provides advocacy support and services to ACP members on a multitude of issues throughout the year. Learn more about the programs and resources available to you HERE.
Member Spotlight: Scott Woller, new MACP
The Utah Chapter is thrilled to announce that Scott C. Woller, MD, MACP, was awarded Mastership (MACP) by the national Mastership Committee in 2026. Mastership is a prestigious distinction reserved for Fellows who have demonstrated outstanding integrity, leadership, and a profound impact on medical research, education, and clinical practice. As a masterful researcher with over 120 peer-reviewed publications, a dedicated educator with multiple outstanding teaching awards, and a global leader in thrombosis management, Dr. Woller perfectly embodies the excellence and dedication this honor represents. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Woller on this well-deserved recognition and thanking him for his sustained service to our medical community!
Learn How to be a Physician Coach
Do you want to unlock the power of a “coach-like” mindset to enhance your professional relationships, improve the patient experience, and change your presence as an educator and leader?
Don't miss Kerri Palamara, MD, MACP, a national physicians coach, as she provides strategies to transform daily interactions into growth opportunities through active listening and powerful questions. You will leave with a practical toolkit for immediate integration into your work and potential ways forward for further mastery, including a brief overview of ACP's Physician Peer Coaching Program.
After The Class You Will Know How To:
- Demystify Coaching: Distinguish coaching from mentoring or therapy within a medical context.
- Empower Daily Practice: Provide actionable techniques to embed coaching into standard physician workflows.
- Drive Career Sustainability: Connect coaching skills to long-term professional development and wellness.
- Promote ACP Resources: Familiarize participants with official ACP coaching and training pathways.
- Register HERE
Calendar & Announcements
Utah Medical Association House of Delegates, Sept 18-19, 2026 - Midvale, Utah
UT Chapter Scientific Meeting: Spring 2027, date/location TBD
ACP National Spring Meeting: April 15-17, 2027 - Los Angeles, California
Leadership Day in our nation's Capitol: May 11-12, 2027 - Washington DC
Keep in Touch on Social Media
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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
Harris Carmichael MD
Aaron Crosby MD
Mya Vu OMS2
Scott Igtanloc OMS2
Brianna Chessin MD
Gabrielle Langmann MD