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In this Issue:
- Save the Date
- ACP Illinois's own Dr. Janet Jokela on KevinMD: How Physician-Patient Relationships Impact Adult Vaccination Rates
- ACP 2025 Health Policy Internship Application Cycle Now Open
- ACP's Career Connection Virtual Career Fair on Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- ACP Works with ABIM to Improve Transparency of Exam Refund Policy for Medical Cancellation
Thomas E. Bleasdale Jr., MD, FACP, ACP Governor, Illinois Northern
Autumn is on its way! I say this as the temperature in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago is expected to reach about 90 today. Perhaps Summer doesn't want to leave just yet. But just as every good thing must eventually move aside for another, the shorter days are a true indication that we are likely closer to leaves (or snow) being on the ground than we are from the Fourth of July picnics that seem like yesterday.
As we enter into this new season. It's with great enthusiasm that I'm able to share some of the great opportunities for learning and networking being planned across the region. First and foremost is the exciting venue that has been created for our combined 2024 Illinois annual Chapter Scientific meeting on Friday, October 4th at UIUC in Champaign, Il. This meeting is being presented both in-person and virtually and will have offerings for both CME and MOC points. Some of the highlights of the meeting will include updates in Cardio/Women's health, updates in vaccinations, wound care and the ever-evolving landscape of diabetic medication and management. The ILS will also present clinical vignettes, poster judging and the ever popular “Doctor's Dilemma”.
Please make it a point to visit this LINK and register for this meeting and attend what you can. It truly is a wonderful opportunity to learn, network and engage while helping continue to foster excellence Internal Medicine.
On November 20th, we have our Illinois Northern Resident and Student Competitions including poster presentations, Clinical Vignettes, Doctor's Dilemma and opportunities for our physicians in training to gather and make lasting connections from all over Northern Illinois.
On a national level, we are continuing to work and create College Policy that reflects the issues and needs of Internal Medicine Physicians across the country. I'm so appreciative to be able to bring to the national table the most pertinent concerns I hear from internal Medicine Physicians across our region. Issues to be discussed and debated range from consolidation of Health Systems and the impact it may have on individual physicians to government accountability for prescription drug pricing and maintenance of access to care for our patients. More is needed. I want to hear from providers both inside, but especially outside major metropolitan areas to discuss your needs and your concerns for the immediate and long-term future of our vocation. Please be the voice you want to be, and advocate for change. There has and will continue to be a lot of it… with or without us and ACP can reflect your voice. I choose to be part of it and I hope you do to.
Please feel free to reach out to me and the other leadership via our Executive Director, Colleen Keeku so we can continue speak for you on a National platform. Enjoy the change of season. Appreciate what you do and the reasons you do it. It is so important.
Sincerely,
Tom Bleasdale MD FACP
Governor, Illinois Northern
ACP Illinois Wellbeing Committee led by Dr. Cathy Wood met with Dr. Bleasdale to plan for the next year. If you are interested in participating on the Wellbeing committee please reach out to our Executive Director, Colleen Keeku.
ACP Illinois Women in Medicine Committee lead by Dr. Marina Kovacevic and Dr. Gauri Mittal, had an amazing first meeting of the ACP IL Women In Medicine Lean In Circles. We cannot wait to expand this series in the future! Look for more information to come!
Save the Date
ACP ILN Resident and Medical Student Competitions 2025
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, Fitzgerald's, Berwyn, IL
ACP Internal Medicine 2025
ACP's annual meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA, from April 3-5, 2025. https://annualmeeting.acponline.org/
ACP Leadership Day 2025 Washington DC
Monday, April 28, 2025 - 08:00 AM EDT - Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 05:00 PM EDT
ACP Illinois's own Dr. Janet Jokela on KevinMD: How Physician-Patient Relationships Impact Adult Vaccination Rates
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, senior associate dean of engagement at Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign discusses the importance of physician-patient relationships in boosting immunization rates in her article, “Patients and immunizations: It's a matter of trust” and podcast interview now available on the KevinMD website. Kevin Pho is an internal medicine physician and founder and editor of KevinMD, one of the web's most influential medical websites.
In her column and podcast, Dr. Jokela notes, “We, as internal medicine physicians, must continue to speak up [about vaccines] and be respectfully persistent because if we do not, others will step into that void, and the message conveyed may not be the one we would choose. We also must take care of each other as we do this, as recent years have not been easy.”
ACP 2025 Health Policy Internship Application Cycle Now Open
ACP is now accepting applications from medical students and residents for the 2025 Health Policy Internship Program, which will take place April 1-April 30, 2025. The ACP Health Policy Internship provides a multifaceted opportunity to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine.
One resident/fellow and one medical student will be selected to work in ACP's Washington, DC office with governmental affairs and public policy staff. The application closes on October 31, 2024. For more information about the program, please visit the Health Policy Internship Program page or contact Josh Serchen at jserchen@acponline.org with any questions.
ACP's Career Connection Virtual Career Fair on Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Announcing ACP's Career Connection Virtual Career Fair, October 22, 6-9pm ET. This event is for you if you're completing your residency or fellowship or you're a practicing physician. Register to chat with recruiters & browse open positions. FREE!
ACP Works with ABIM to Improve Transparency of Exam Refund Policy for Medical Cancellation
As the ABIM initial certification exams are ongoing this month, ACP is happy to report that our advocacy efforts to establish more flexibility with medically required cancellations have resulted in a positive change for our members and other physicians taking the exams. Improved transparency and accessibility of ABIM's medical cancellation policy now should allow for those with unanticipated concerns, including pregnancy/lactation needs that cannot be accommodated by the scheduled testing site, to request a refund that would allow them to reschedule for a later date without financial penalty.
ACP was able to work with ABIM to make this change during August to meet the needs of those physicians who are attempting to achieve initial board certification in 2024. Any person who medically requires cancellation of their exam should follow the ABIM's updated procedures:
- ABIM's cancellations information webpage now includes medical necessity as a reason for consideration of a refund.
- ABIM now also provides an email address to communicate about refund needs, rather than just requiring people to use the generic cancellation form (which does not allow for a medical indication for cancellation).
Please note the time sensitive nature of requesting an eligible refund.