North Dakota Governor's Newsletter October 2025
In this Issue:
- Annual Meeting Recap & Awardees
- Congratulations to winners in our poster competition!
- New I.M. Career Path Quiz for Medical Students and I.M. Residents
- New Long COVID Resource Hub Features Evidence-Based Tools and Education
Joshua C. Ranum, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Annual Meeting Recap & Awardees
Thanks to everyone who attended our annual meeting in conjunction with the Society of Hospital Medicine (ND Chapter) and the North Dakota Medical Association. It was a busy day, but I left feeling invigorated after two days of great interactions with colleagues from across the state.
We had a stellar series of lectures from our speakers, including ACP members Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, Dr. Dinesh Bande, Dr. Kirsten Juhl, Dr. Ron Ottenbacher, Dr. David Newman, Dr. John Tinjum, Dr. Chris Pribula, and Dr. Mackenzie Wild. Thanks to all! Also, thanks to Dr. Tracie Newman and Dr. Donald Jurivich for their excellent lectures as well.
Congratulations are in order for several of our members.
Dr. Raj Potluri was awarded the Hospitalist of the Year award by the ND Society of Hospital Medicine. He's so excited he's glowing in the photo. As Dr. Bande learned when faced with an unknown diagnosis - call 1-800-Potluri.
Dr. Fadel Nammour was awarded the chapter's Laureate Award for outstanding service to the chapter. The Laureate Award is presented to long-standing and loyal supporters of the College who have rendered distinguished service to their chapters and community and have upheld the high ideals and professional standards for which the American College of Physicians is known.
Dr Nammour was governor of the North Dakota ACP chapter during a very difficult time from 2019 to 2023. His leadership kept the chapter intact while recognizing that its members were physically engaged in the fight against Covid.
Dr. Nammour was also chosen by the ACP to receive its highest professional designation, Master of the American College of Physicians. Congratulations, Fadel!
Dr. Julie Blehm (also a Master) was awarded the COPIC Humanitarian award for her work with the Special Olympics as well as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
I'm also pleased to announce that the North Dakota Chapter was awarded the Gold Chapter Excellence Award at the recent Board of Governors meeting. This was a team effort - Fadel and Carla had gotten us to Silver Status during his term. Our ACP council approved policies and supported the efforts to achieve Gold. I'd like to especially thank Carolyn Eckert, our chapter liaison at ACP National, for her diligence and encouragement - she let us know Gold Status was attainable. Thanks, Carolyn!
It wasn't just awards and learning. We also tackled policy issues including one drafted by Dr. Erik Heitkamp recommending changes to North Dakota's current policy of one-party consent in a healthcare setting. Currently, a physician can be recorded by anyone without their knowledge or consent which is rife with potential problems. Dr. Heitkamp rightly wants to protect healthcare workers and patients who may be recorded in conversations with patients. The ND ACP looks forward to working with Dr. Heitkamp as this issue advances legislatively.
Again, thanks to all of our attendees and congratulations to all of the awardees!
My personal thanks extend deeply to Carla Beach, ACP chapter staff, who makes things happen. Donna Thronson, Leann Benson, and Courtney Koebele at the NDMA were also instrumental in planning the meeting. Dr. Chris Pribula with SHM is a great partner and I look forward to ongoing work with these two organizations.
Please remember to vote for your next governor. The election closes in early November - just do it now and get it done. We will have a governor elect announcement in late November or early December.
As always, if you have any ideas for the chapter don't hesitate to reach out to Carla or myself. I'll be sharing results of the election when available as well as plans for my final lap as your governor in a future newsletter.
Until then, may your patients graciously accept the flu shot you offer them.
Josh
Congratulations to winners in our poster competition!
Our annual poster competition and Doctor's Dilemma were held in conjunction with the annual meeting.
The winners in each category are:
ACP Research
- First Place – #1 - Real-World Comparison of Long- vs Short-acting Hemophilia Prophylaxis in a Rural Treatment Center – Elena Linster, MS3
- Second Place - #2 - Comparison of adverse events of acute care patients who receive indwelling or intermittent catheterization for acute urinary retention. – Abbigail Olson, IM PGY3 and Cole Amundson, IM PGY3
ACP Clinical Vignette – Medical Students
- First Place – #4 - A case of extensive multisystem complications secondary to Streptococcus mitis endocarditis – Brian Olson, MS3 and Kaitlyn Berwald, MS3
- Second Place – #3 - Lemmel Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Obstructive Jaundice Caused by Periampullary Diverticula – Charles Garrity, MS3
ACP Clinical Vignette – Residents
- First Place – #2 Recurrent Hypoglycemia in Post Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Patient: A Case of Insulinoma – Leesha Heitkamp, MD – PGY3
- Second Place - #1 Carotid Approach Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in a Patient with Chronic Type A and B Aortic Dissection – Cooper Love, MD – PGY3
*ACP First Place Winners will be eligible to participate in the national abstract competition in April 2025 in San Francisco, CA.
The Doctor's Dilemma winning team is:
- Mackenzie Wild
- Rita Ahmad
- Hussam Almasri
*Three players from the winning team will be eligible to compete at the national ACP Doctor's Dilemma competition in San Francisco, CA.
Congratulations to everyone! Thank you to all for participating!
Thank you to Dr. Mitch Keena for hosting the Doctor's Dilemma competition!
Special thanks to our judges for volunteering their time and expertise:
- Dr. Siddharth Singhal
- Dr. Anu Gaba
- Dr. Tze Shien Lo
- Dr. Dinesh Bande
- Dr. Mubashir Badar
- Dr. Rajendra Potluri
- Dr. Sharleen Yuan
- Dr. Manisha Balhara
New I.M. Career Path Quiz for Medical Students and I.M. Residents
The Public Relations and Web Communications Department has developed a new I.M. Career Path Quiz. This 5-question, member-only quiz asks about professional strengths, interests, and preferences to determine possible internal medicine career choices. The goal is to increase awareness about the variety of internal medicine careers available and encourage medical students to choose internal medicine as their specialty. It can also be used by I.M. residents to explore possible career path trajectories.
Users can back-track and change their answers mid-quiz. They can also retake the quiz, print their results, or share the quiz link with other ACP members. Please consider sharing this with the trainees in your network and with your chapter's medical student and resident/fellow councils.
New Long COVID Resource Hub Features Evidence-Based Tools and Education
ACP, in collaboration with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), has launched a new Long COVID Resource Hub to help clinicians navigate evolving evidence and care for patients experiencing post-COVID conditions. The hub, free to ACP members, offers easy access to curated tools, educational materials, resources from DynaMedex®, and clinical guidance in one place.
Access up-to-date research, symptom management strategies, and practical resources to enhance patient care.
Visit the Long COVID Resource Hub