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In this Issue:
- Advocacy Update
- Past Events
- Upcoming Events
- ACP Indiana Sock Drive
- ACP Indiana is seeking our next ACP Indiana Wellbeing Champion
- ACP 2025 Health Policy Internship Application Cycle Now Open
- ACP Works with ABIM to Improve Transparency of Exam Refund Policy for Medical Cancellation
Dee A. Moonesinghe, MD, MBA, CPE, FACP, ACP Governor
Warm greetings fellow Hoosiers,
As we once again investigate the changing of seasons, we are reminded of the fact that change is in fact constant. As the children return to school, and we gear up for flu season, and the leaves begin to show new shades of color, we can't help but notice that everything changes. Whether you have been waiting for Starbucks' PSL or watching the pollical weather, there is always something for us to anxiously await. Yet, I will remind you to mindfully take a minute to live fully in this moment, for it's the only one you really have.
I am reaching out to give a few reminders of upcoming events, especially to register for the Annual Chapter meeting on Friday, October 18th.
As always remind you to always take care of you, as you take care of all those around you. Where you simply take a quiet moment to yourself, or rely on a meditation app, lean on exercise, or find solace in hobbies, or simply fill your cup with friends and family, be sure to build your awareness muscle to “check your battery” as often as you do your phone's battery.
Advocacy Update
With the upcoming General Election, no matter which side of the fence you enjoy the view from, be sure your voice is heard and exercise your right to vote, in November.
As our IN Advocacy Chair, Dr Palmisano always says…
Advocacy doesn't have to be a trip to DC. Though we would love you to consider joining us next spring (April 28-29th) in DC for National ACP Leadership Day. You can make a difference at home and the ACP makes it easy to get started:
- Sign up for alerts through Voter Voice (https://www.votervoice.net/ACPONLINE/home) and quickly send messages to your Congresspeople when new action items arise.
- National ACP has also partnered with Vot-ER to help us help our patients get registered to vote and you can sign up at https://vot-er.org to get a badge with a QR code to wear with your ID to easily help patients register or get paperwork sent to their address to register to vote.
- Consider contributing to the National ACP Political Action Committee to further help support healthcare legislation that will directly impact our specialty and our patients (https://acpservicespac.org)
Past Events
2024 Evansville Road Trip meet and greet, on August 30th, 2024.
It was nice to see some of our local physician, resident, and student members on that Friday as we came to say hello at Comfort by the CrossEyed Cricket.
Upcoming Events
2024 Annual IN Chapter Meeting – Friday, October 18th, 2024
And as we do every year, come join us in person, or online, for our annual Chapter meeting, for a day of growing, learning, and celebrating.
- Updates in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Heart Failure, and Substance Use Disorders
- Pre-Operative Evaluation
- Inpatient and Outpatient 2024 Updates
2025 Events
- 2025 Fort Wayne Road Trip meet and greet, on March 14th, 2025
- ACP's annual meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA, from April 3-5, 2025. https://annualmeeting.acponline.org/
- 2025 Muncie Road Trip meet and greet, on May 30th, 2025
- 2025 Evansville Road Trip meet and greet, in August 2025 – date TBD
- 2025 Annual IN Chapter Meeting - TBD
Follow us online for more news and updates – COMING SOON
- Facebook: IndianaACP
- X: @AcpIndiana
- Instagram: @acpindiana
I will end by reminding us all to extend a little kindness and grace to each other - we never really know what kind of day someone is having. While you are at it, please remember to be kind to yourself too - we are often our own worst critics.
Warm compassion and much gratitude,
Dee
“You can't calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye
ACP Indiana Sock Drive
ACP Indiana is seeking our next ACP Indiana Wellbeing Champion
Background
ACP Well-being Champions (WBCs) are ACP members and well-being leaders who uphold the voice of ACP chapter members through promoting the rationale for investing in clinician well-being, sharing key evidence-based strategies to improve clinician well-being and professional fulfillment, and fostering the development of chapter-based communities that support well-being and professional fulfillment.
Well-being Champion Benefits
- Build your CV and advance your own professional development including chapter leadership, presentations, and publications.
- Obtain skills and tools to enhance your own well-being and professional fulfillment.
- Obtain skills and resources to advance well-being in your own organizations and practices.
- Learn from and collaborate with more than 250 emeritus and current WBCs and other experts.
Please reach out for more information on requirements and benefits. Please email your interest with your CV to Colleen Keeku by November 1st, 2024.
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 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.