Become what they are capable of being

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help
them to become what they are capable of being.”
~ Goethe

 

November 9, 2012

 

Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting … Remarkable Presence From Our Institution …

This year’s recent annual meeting of the AAMC was an exciting one for our college, institution, and community. Not only did we have a cadre of colleagues presenting this year, but also Dr. Ruth-Marie (Rhee) Fincher was awarded the AAMC’s Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education. She is the first Georgian to receive the award, the female recipient, and is our “rock star” of medical education. Please join us in the celebration and congratulations to her.

Also at the meeting, we had fifteen presenters this year including students and faculty. Class of 2013 students, Mr. Ronnie Zeidan and Ms. LaShon Sturgis received comments such as “phenomenal” and “amazing”. Kudos to Ronnie and LaShon! Our faculty presentations focused on medical education, diversity, regional campus experiences, integrating basic and clinical sciences as well as a faculty forward panel. We had a great presence at the meeting including some of our San Francisco alumni. And, of course, we heard visionary comments from “one of our own” – AAMC President Darrell Kirch. We not only learned a great deal but we also were able to teach and share our experiences with our colleagues.

 

Congratulations … Residency Review Committee Appointment…

Please join us as we congratulate Dr. David Terris, Otolaryngology Chair on his recent appointment to the Residency Review Committee for Otolaryngology of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This appointment is testament to Dr. Terris’ internationally renowned contributions and expertise in minimally invasive thyroid, parathyroid surgery techniques and graduate medical education.

 

Congratulations to Our new Educational Leader … Spirit of Interprofessionalism Award …

Please join us as we also congratulate Dr. Paul Wallach, Vice Dean Academic Affairs on recently receiving the 2012 University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences “Spirit of Interprofessionalism Award”. This award recognizes the key role Dr. Wallach played as Vice Dean at USF.

 

Leadership Development At Our Institution … Making Good On Our Commitments …

As mentioned at the PPG Membership meeting on Wednesday (excellent turnout and participation, thank you!), we have brought on-board (temporarily) a leading consultant, Ms. Kathi Becker (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kathi-becker/19/a79/80) to help us launch an institution-wide leadership development program. Ms. Becker is highly experienced, nationally renowned, and has just completed a major leadership development initiative at Dartmouth School of Medicine. We welcome Kathi and look forward to benefiting from her expertise as we make good on this important commitment. Many thanks also to Ms. Susan Norton, Mr. David Hefner, and Dr. Gretchen Caughman for advancing this initiative … more later…

 

Medical Association of Georgia Foundation Leadership Opportunity …

The Georgia Physician Leadership Academy is a MAG Foundation program designed to benefit and educate physicians who want to improve health care delivery and enhance their leadership skills. It is a year-long program with six sessions (http://www.mag.org/organizations/mag-foundation/academy). Participants will master communication skills, improve their advocacy expertise and develop strategies for negotiating communication skills. Our very own Dr. David Bogorad is a current GPLA fellow. Nominations for the upcoming class begin in November. Please drop me a line if you are interested.

 

Could Doctor Shortage Get Worse? … Take a Look …

A recent USA Today article, http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/20/doctors-shortage-lease-most/1644837/ shows an important and provocative analysis of the “Top 10” and “Bottom 10” U.S. states with regards to physician shortages. It also looks at training opportunities, population healthcare indices, and cost of living. Unfortunately, Georgia fares #10 on the “Bottom 10” list (based on 2010 data). Top of the list is Massachusetts with an average of 314 doctors per 100,00 people. Overall the report indicates that states that had the most doctors per capita also had better incomes, better health indices and more medical trainees. Take a minute and check out this interesting report.

 

Breaking Records … Medical School Applicants Increasing …

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, record numbers of students are applying for and entering medical school this year with the largest number being African Americans and Hispanics. Here at MCG, we have a 15.8% increase in applications and in our freshman class, Hispanic students increased from 9 to 12 in 2012 which is a 33% increase although MCG saw a decrease in the number of African American students (http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2012-10-23/record-numbers-students-minorities-enter-medical-school) and we continue our outreach to enhance our diversity among medical students and physicians to serve our ever changing patient population.

 

Many Thanks … Continuing Community Support …

Our thanks to Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. for their recent contribution of $100,000 in support of the construction of the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons Building.

 

Important and Exciting … SAVE THE DATE … November 28 …

Please mark your calendars on November 28th at 10:30 am for the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons groundbreaking. Dr. Harrison, MCG Class of 1948, gave a $10 million leadership gift resulting in the naming of the building. The new education commons building will be adjacent to the College of Dental Medicine. Chancellor Hank Huckaby and Mayor Deke Copenhaver as well as others will be on hand as we officially “break” ground for the construction to begin.

 

 

Upcoming Events …

 

TODAY – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, Noon, Lee Auditorium and Memorial service for body donors, 1 pm, Lee Auditorium

 

Month of November – Prematurity Awareness Month – ASU will be holding a fundraiser this month and will be wearing purple on November 16 in recognition of World Prematurity Day on November 17 which is when the focus is on the global problem of premature birth (http://www.marchofdimes.com)

 

November 10th – Augusta Rowing Club Head of the South Regatta, Savannah River, http://www.augustarowingclub.org/ HOTS Regatta – top national regattas, (over 1500 rowers, 500 boats, from 51 clubs representing 36 cities and 12 states)

 

November 11th – Veterans Day

 

November 11th – The Reid for Thornwell Missions Gala Silent Art Auction, Westlake Country Club, 5 – 7pm benefiting Thornwell Home for Children – Contact Bobbilynn Lee (bolee@georgiahealth.edu)

 

November 12th – Research Faculty Candidate Presentation by Dr. Robert Buchanan, EC 2214 at noon

 

November 12th – 17th – Coinciding with Veterans’ Day, AAMC has designated November 12 – 17 as Joining Forces Wellness Week. The cornerstone event will be a daily Webinar series on military health issues – see link for schedule and topics. Contact Anita Navarro (anavarro@aamc.org).

 

November 14th – Consolidation Working Group Public Meeting, 1st Floor CMC Conference Room, 5 pm

 

November 15th – Bone Marrow Drive, ASU Student Center, CMC, and Allied Health Sciences Building, 11 am – 2 pm

 

November 16th – Consolidation Open Forum, GHSU Large Auditorium, Noon and ASU Maxwell Performing Arts Theater, 3 pm

 

November 22nd and 23rd – Thanksgiving Holidays

 

November 28th – J. Harold Harrison M.D. Education Commons Groundbreaking, 10:30 am

 

November 28th – Employee and Faculty Service Recognition Dinner, The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 6:00 – 8:00 pm (honoring employees and faculty with 25, 30, and 35 years of service)

 

November 30th – GHSU Faculty and Spouse Club “Newcomer’s” Group, Partridge Inn Veranda, 6:30 pm, casual event, “the year ahead and what to expect and plan for regarding arts and entertainment”. A cash bar will be available with appetizers provided.

 

December 7th – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, Lee Auditorium, 12 Noon

 

December 11th – Richmond County Medical Society Meeting, Old Medical College, 7 pm

 

December 14th – Employee and Faculty Service Recognition Breakfast, The Salvation Army Kroc Center 7:30 – 9:30 am (honoring employees and faculty with 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service)

 

December 24th and 25th– Christmas Holidays

 

January 1st – Happy New Year and Holiday

 

Many thanks for your leadership.

Warm Regards,