The Reporter

Change is a constant. Over the past two years, there have been many changes in healthcare, and we can expect many more in the years ahead. New mammogram and gynecological screening recommendations, national healthcare initiatives and, locally, the WellSpan/PinnacleHealth collaboration discussion will no doubt result in change.

Change affects everyone. For some, it works out in their best interests, while, at the same time, proving detrimental to others. Governor Rendell will be leaving soon, a change that I think will benefit most Dauphin County Medical Society (DCMS) members and physicians in general. Perhaps the next governor will leave our Mcare money alone!

Over the past few years, I have seen the positive effects of change by getting involved with political leaders. I have become acutely aware that the only way to influence these changes is through our own involvement. Such involvement may include talking with our patients, friends and local politicians about healthcare or perhaps a discussion between the DCMS and other local committees, hospital staffs, or political officers. Finally, giving money may be the easiest of all ways to get involved. The trial lawyers have known this for years and outspend us by at least 20 to 1.

I encourage everyone to get involved in some way and help mold the changes of the future. A review of the following Pennsylvania Medical Society ‘s“Eight Essential Principles of Health System Reform” is a good place to start.

1. Health care coverage should be available and affordable to all American citizens and legal residents.
2. Patient care should be based on either demonstrated evidence of, or expert consensus on safety, efficacy, and effectiveness.
3. Health care business transactions and administrative processes should be transparent and use available technology to facilitate information sharing, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
4. Health care expenditures should be adequate to improve population-based outcomes, sustain research and innovation, and support workforce training needs.
5. Health care delivery markets should be constructed to be competitive, thus increasing efficiency, innovation and quality as well as reinforcing a physician’s ability to compete.
6. Comprehensive medical liability reform is essential.
7. The health care system must ensure the choice of provider and health plan or care system.
8. The health care system must promote the patient/physician relationship with an emphasis on physician-directed primary and specialty care.

In conclusion, I would like to note that change in leadership is another constant. My term as President of the Dauphin County Medical Society is coming to an end, and I would like to thank the many people who have been involved during the past two years. My colleagues on the Executive Committee and Board of Governors have been instrumental in accomplishing the many tasks with which the Society has been faced. Dr. Gwen Poles will become the new president, and I have complete confidence in her ability to guide the Society during her term. I would especially like to thank our DCMS staff, Michele Gaiski, Lauren Ramsey, Tabitha Southwell, and Kristi Spargo. Finally, I would like to thank you, the members of DCMS, for your support.

Medical Society Involvement
Robert Ettlinger, MD, Chair, Networking and Membership Task Force

By the act of reading this newsletter, you are either a member of the Dauphin County Medical Society or have an interest in its agenda and activities. This leads to the question, “How can physicians get involved with their county's medical organization?”

One way to get involved is simply to pay your membership dues, read our newsletters, and pay attention to health care news. For those that do this, we deeply thank you. This may be all that you have the time or inclination for, and it is greatly helpful. If every doctor in the county would give a few minutes each year to enhance the non-clinical aspects of their careers, it would add up to a lot of positive change. Your support gives us strength.

If you are ever interested in greater involvement, there are many ways to do so with varying levels of commitment. First and foremost, identify yourself as a member of DCMS when contacting your legislators and business/community leaders and when speaking with your patients. All members are invited to attend the quarterly Board of Governors meetings, held at Pennsylvania Medical Society headquarters in Harrisburg. In addition to the Board officers, about a dozen Members at Large and Delegates to the PMS have voting rights for business resolutions. Alternate Delegates also attend these meetings as contributors.

You can participate on our committees, either by assisting with a five-minute task each year or by being a committee member with lesser or greater involvement.

The Community Involvement Task Force is charged with actively communicating with community leaders, including legislators and other government figures. They also act as our voice to the media and share our health issue views to the lay public.

The Networking and Membership Task Force is set up to communicate with the medical infrastructure of the county. It attempts to promote physician unity, increase membership rolls by developing outreach programs to non-members, and to field member requests.

The Education Task Force is involved with outreach to medical students and residents in order to improve the quality of their health care community experience. Additionally, they are charged with sponsoring and promoting educational opportunities for members, and are involved with the development of our newsletter and website, www.dauphincms.org.

Other committees, whose efforts are fairly self-explanatory, include Bylaws, Grievance, Nominating, Doc Talk and Scholarship task forces.

Contact me, or DCMS at 558-7849, if you can help us for a few minutes or a few hours!

DCMS Presents Gunder Scholarship Award

Irina Filatova was the recipient of the 2009 Scott M. Gunder, MD, DCMS Presidential Scholarship, which is presented annually to a 2nd-year Penn State College of Medicine student. Irina was recognized by the DCMS Board of Governors at its meeting on September 2, 2009.

Pictured from left to right: Virginia Henning (Executive Director of The Foundation of the PA Medical Society), Dr. John Goldman (DCMS Vice President), Dr. Andrew Richards (DCMS President), Dr. Kenneth Conner (Scholarship Committee Chair), Irina Filatova, Dr. Robert Ettlinger (DCMS Secretary-Treasurer) and Dr. Lawrence Altaker (Scholarship Committee member).

In 2000, DCMS established the Gunder scholarship in conjunction with The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to honor the memory of DCMS President Scott A. Gunder, MD. Dr. Gunder was a Harrisburg gastroenterologist and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey.

The Foundation, which administers the Gunder scholarship, provides philanthropic opportunities for physicians and others to support programs that benefit the commonwealth’s medical community. For more information about the annual Gunder scholarship, including how to apply,visit http://www.foundationpamedsoc.org/SFS/Scholarships/Gunder.aspx. Donations to the Gunder scholarship can be made online by going to The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society website and designate your gift to the Gunder Scholarship Fund. Or you can mail your check payable to The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Attention Student Financial Services, 777 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Please write “DCMS/Gunder” on the memo line of the check so that it is credited properly.

Following is Irina's award-winning essay:
As a college sophomore, I was participating in the “Primary Care Scholars Program” when I interviewed a middle-aged, slightly overweight woman presenting with an acute rash. I found her slumped over the edge of the exam table in her loose patient gown, head in her hands, with tears streaming down her cheeks. She kept apologizing for her crying but could not stop and my questions only exacerbated her weeping. After a few minutes with her, I was lost. My emotions soared. Suddenly losing confidence, I felt nervous and dismayed, but at the same time I felt a desperate yearning to help her in any way I could. I found myself spontaneously walking towards her and gently hugging her. Then something amazing happened. I could feel her melting in my arms as she described to me the death of her mother and sister in a recent accident. When she was done telling me her story, she showed me her rash and answered all of my questions. I felt her agony and wished I could offer her a remedy for her itchy, burning rash and her breaking heart. Sitting there with her, all I wanted to do was to go to medical school to learn the information that could help this woman and people like her.

Much time had passed since this initial encounter, and now, after two years of medical education, I have learned patterns of disease recognition, treatment strategies and with more and more clinical experience, I begin to gain confidence in doctor-patient interactions. Yet, I still believe that the art of medicine is not only learned but also discovered within us. I discovered it while in the “Primary Care Scholars Program,” and I hope to lead others by helping them to discover that passion within themselves.

Today, I encourage students interested in the medical field to seek out experiences that might show medicine inside clinics or on hospital floors, medicine that goes way beyond that shown in television and literary drama. When in two years I join the ranks of physicians, I will help to establish programs for students or support existing programs like the “Primary Care Scholars Program” that help students to not only learn how to begin the long process of medical education but also allow them to feel what it is like to be one-on-one with a patient, to walk through that process of self-discovery. Perhaps, some day soon, I will participate in these programs myself; this time not as a student but as a physician excited about passing on some of the same passion for medicine that I have experienced.

Delegates Debate Tough Resolutions

The Pennsylvania Medical Society's House of Delegates, the body that sets annual legislative and policy direction of the State Society, met October 24-25 in Hershey. Thank you to our DCMS Delegates for their participation:

Lawrence Altaker, MD
Michael Bosak, MD
Kenneth Conner, MD
Robert Ettlinger, MD
Daniel Fischman, MD
John Goldman, MD
Virginia Hall, MD
Mukul Parikh, MD
Gwendolyn Poles, DO
Jaan Sidorov, MD
Domingo Alvear, MD, International Medical Graduate (IMG) Delegate
Bryan Anderson, MD, Young Physicians Section (YPS) Representative

Voting delegates deliberated resolutions to set policy and elected trustees and officers during the two-day meeting. Delegates consist of representatives from the county medical societies, specialty societies, and the Pennsylvania Medical Society's special membership sections.

The House of Delegates considered resolutions on issues including post-payment of audits of physicians; PennDot reporting and other regulatory issues; prescribing and pharmacy benefits; public health issues like cell phone use while driving; and of course, health system and medical liability reform.

Resolutions and reports can be referred to the Board either for action or further study.

The Skinny on Diets
DCMS Educational Seminar
DCMS will be hosting our Spring Education Seminar on Saturday, March 13, at the Wildwood Conference Center at HACC in Harrisburg. Topics will include trendy diet plans, adult eating disorders, weight loss surgery, exercise, pharmacologic weight management, and pregnancy in the obese patient. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to handle this pervasive issue in your daily practice.

Save the date for hockey!

DCMS and its Alliance are hosting the opportunity to relax and socialize with colleagues at a Hershey Bears hockey game on Saturday, February 27. Mark your calendar now and be on the lookout for registration information!

Budget Recap
What Happened on the Floor
Carol A. Seidlich, South Central PA Field Representative

On October 16, 2009, the General Assembly finally passed the 2009-2010 state budget. The entire Health Care Provider Retention Account (HCPRA) balance and $100 million from the Mcare Fund was taken to balance the budget. On the same day, Representative Curt Schroder formally challenged the constitutionality of the $100 million Mcare Fund transfer on the House floor. House members engaged in a passionate debate. In the end, the challenge fell just short, with the House voting by a 99-98 margin that the Mcare transfer was in fact constitutional.

Student Chapter Update
Jaimon Stucki, Penn State Student AMA President

The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Chapter of the American Medical Association (AMA) has lately been actively engaged in several events. We’d like to report on some of them and send our sincere thanks to all who provided mentoring, support, and money to help them happen.

In June, we had nine students attend the annual AMA-MSS meeting in Chicago. We received chapter officer training, attended forums on health care reform, engaged in MSS policy making and enjoyed a beautiful city. One of our students served as chair of the Reference Committee. Another student served on the Parliamentary Procedure Committee, taught a class on parliamentary procedure, and served as a Region 6 Alternate Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates.

On October 9, TR Eckler, the AMA Government Relations Advocacy Fellow, spoke to students at a lunch lecture about health care reform. He taught us about the AMA’s goals and how we could become actively engaged in the debate. Students found this lecture very informational and enjoyable.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society Annual Business Meeting, held October 22-25, was an exciting opportunity for students to participate in policies that are locally applicable. The event, being held right across the street from our school, was very convenient for those who participated.

We also hosted a Specialty Speed Dating Event on October 26. Our sincerest thanks go out to the physicians and residents that made that event possible. It is wonderful to get a taste of various specialties so early in our medical education.

The AMA Interim Meeting in Houston from November 5-7 was well attended by Penn State students. In all, we had four students attend, serving in positions from the AMA Council on Long Range Planning and Development, to Parliamentary Procedure Committee Chair, to Alternate Delegate for Region 6, and Alternate Delegate-Elect for the Pennsylvania Medical Society. One student presented a poster at the research symposium. Student involvement at Penn State is a crucial element of maintaining and expanding our influence in a national arena. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Dauphin County Medical Society for making these trips possible.

Our chapter is currently in the process of planning fundraisers, community service events and more lectures about the current debate in health care reform. Thank you in advance for help with these events. If you have any ideas or need student help for your events, please do not hesitate to contact Jaimon Stucki, Chapter President, at jstucki.psu@gmail.com.

DCMSA President's Report
Lisa Mosher

The cooler weather is here, but the DCMS Alliance has not been hibernating. We have been busy with our Hands are Not for Hitting and Henry the Hand programs, teaching anti-violence, and proper hand-washing techniques. This program is headed by Past-President Kathy Darowish and targets kindergarten and first grade students in the Harrisburg schools. We also sponsored our 4th annual Family Night at Lincoln Elementary School with a focus on educating parents and older elementary students about puberty, and this was presented by Planned Parenthood.

We always welcome new members. If your spouse is interested in getting involved in our activities or learning more about the Alliance, please have them get in touch with me at tjmosher@hotmail.com.

Doc Talk VII a success!
Saturday November 14
The seventh annual "Doc Talk" health education event was held Saturday, November 14, at the Harrisburg Mall. Press releases were published in local papers, a front page article was published in The Patriot-News the day following the event, and two television crews arrived for coverage! We would like to thank the registrants for their enthusiasm and willingness to donate their time. We would also like to thank Dr. Gwendolyn Poles, Chair of the Doc Talk Task Force, for all of her assistance in planning this event. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

Be Sure to Vote!

It's time to vote for Dauphin County Medical Society's 2010 elected positions, which include officers, board members at large, delegates, alternate delegates, and section delegates. Eligible members should be sure to vote.

World Surgical Foundation
Domingo Alvear, MD, FACS

The World Surgical Foundation was in Honduras from October 24-31, 2009. Health care providers from various specialties volunteered to go on this trip. There were two pediatric surgeons, Dr. Domingo Alvear and Dr. Wolfgang Stehr from Children's National Medical Center of Washington, DC, Dr. Robert Wolf, who is a Plastic Surgeon and a member of DCMS, and Dr. Manuel Cacdac, a neurosurgeon from Indiana. Dr. Veneranda B. Alvear, Dr. Sharad Kheterpal, and Sue Miller, CRNA, provided anesthesia. Dr. Danielle Ladie from PinnacleHealth surgical residency program attended along with an OR and PACU nurse from PinnacleHealth and WellSpan systems. At least 100 surgical procedures were performed while in Honduras.

Nursing/Allied Health Scholarship Recipient

Shawn Stebleton was the recipient of the 2009 Dauphin County Medical Society Nursing/Allied Health Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a HACC student. The award was presented at the HACC Foundation Awards program on October 5. Congratulations Shawn!

H1N1 Updates

DCMS physician members are encouraged to subscribe to the PA Medical Society’s “Physician’s Flu Update” newsletter at www.pamedsoc.org/newsletters for the latest information.

Healthier Life Steps
Jaimon Stucki, Penn State Student AMA President

The AMA National Service Project is Healthier Life Steps. This holiday season, encourage your staff, colleagues, patients and the public to take healthier life steps by improving diet and exercise and reducing alcohol consumption and tobacco use. The AMA website has information, handouts and posters. There are several ways you can obtain information:

1. Do a google search for "AMA Healthier Life Steps."
2. Email Healthier.LifeSteps@ama-assn.org for questions and information.
3. Visit the AMA website.

As physicians, let's be examples to our patients by making healthier life choices for ourselves as well. Happy holidays.

Young Physicians Social
Thursday, December 17
The Young Physicians Section of the Pennsylvania Medical Society is sponsoring a gathering on Thursday, December 17, from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Molly Brannigans in Harrisburg. Bring a guest, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and the opportunity to meet other young physicians from the Harrisburg area. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Theresa Phillips at tphillips@pamedsoc.org or (800) 228-7823 ext. 2621.

Welcome New & Reinstated Members
August 6 - November 1, 2009
Active Members

Adam J. Albert, MD, Hospitalist
PinnacleHealth Hospitalists

Jonathan W. Bourgeois, MD, Anesthesiology
Riverside Anesthesia Associates

Dennis H. Chang, MD, Pediatric Cardiology
Children’s Heart Group

Dennis M. DeStefano, MD, Anesthesiology
Riverside Anesthesia Assoc., Ltd.

Michael Fernandez, MD, Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic Institute of PA

Anoop Karippot, MD, Sleep Medicine
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Adolescent & Child Psychiatry

Marilyn G. Larach, MD, Anesthesiology
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Dept. of Anesthesiology

Angelique N. McKinney-Bourne, MD, Family Medicine
Kline Health Center

Victor Santiago-Noa, MD, Psychiatry

Resident Members

Nancy H. Chasko, MD
Jennifer L. DeLutis, MD
Navid Jamshidi, MD
Kun Jiang, MD
Anuradha Sharma, MD
Kanupriya Vijay, MD
Abdul Waheed, MD
Pradeep K. Yadav, MD

2010 Calendar of Events

Board of Governors Meetings
March 3, June 2, September 1, December 1
6:15 PM at Society headquarters

Executive Committee (Officers)
January 6, February 3, April 7, May 5, July 7, August 4, October 6, November 3
6:30 PM at Society headquarters

PA Medical Society Annual Business Meeting - House of Delegates
October 23-24, 2010
at the Hershey Lodge

To opt out of future electronic (email and fax) communications, please write to dauphincms@pamedsoc.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER in the subject or call (717) 558-7849.