Alabama Chapter News

Congratulations New Chapter Fellows

Leonard W Jones, III, MD FACP
Siddharth Patel, MBBS FACP

(September 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.

2024 Chapter Excellence Award-Silver Level Winner

(August 2024) We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Silver Level of the 2024 Chapter Excellence Award! This year 15 chapters received the Silver Award. The award recognizes chapters that achieve excellence in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet 20 Bronze criteria and 14 Silver criteria. Criteria include such activities as undertaking efforts to increase advocacy efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to increase visibility of the ACP, holding competitions for members, providing chapter financial reports to members, having Medical Student and Resident/Fellow members on the Governor's Advisory council, retaining transitional and unpaid members, giving awards to chapter members. We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.

Empower Your Advocacy: Introducing Our Comprehensive Toolkit

(August 2024) We are excited to announce the launch of our Advocacy Toolkit: Using Your Voice as a Physician Advocate, a powerful resource designed to equip medical students and physicians with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective advocates for health care in their communities. This toolkit comprises five self-contained and independent modules, each presented as engaging voice-over PowerPoint presentations. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the field, these modules offer valuable insights and practical guidance.

Module Highlights

Physician as Advocate

Discover advocacy tips and real-life examples that showcase how physicians can use their voice to drive positive health outcomes in their communities. This module emphasizes the pivotal role of physicians in advocating for public health.

Legislative Advocacy

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process at both state and federal levels. Learn about the opportunities available for physician advocacy within this process and how to navigate the legislative landscape effectively.

Print Media Advocacy

Explore the various types of print media, their audiences, and their scope in the realm of advocacy. This module provides insights into crafting compelling messages that resonate with readers and drive change through traditional media channels.

Social Media Advocacy

Delve into the dynamic world of social media and its potential as a powerful advocacy tool. Learn about the key features of different social media platforms and how to leverage them to amplify your advocacy efforts and engage a broader audience.

Audio Media Advocacy

Understand the motivations and uses of audio media in advocacy. This module focuses on the unique advantages of podcasts, radio, and other audio formats, offering strategies to effectively communicate your advocacy messages through these channels.

Each module begins with a standard introduction and overview, followed by an in-depth exploration of the topic, and concludes with a concise one-page outline to reinforce key points.

Toolkit: Using Your Voice As A Physician Advocate

By integrating these modules into your advocacy efforts, you will be better equipped to influence public health policy and drive meaningful change. Empower yourself and your community with the tools and knowledge provided in our Advocacy Toolkit.

Together, let's make a difference!

State Health Advocacy August Recess Grassroots Mobilization Challenge

(August 2024) Members of Congress are returning home to their districts during the August congressional recess. During this time, ACP is calling on internal medicine physicians to engage their representatives on important issues we need Congress to act on before the end of 2024.

To incentivize participation in this grassroots mobilization, the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (ACP grassroots network) is challenging members to see which states will have the highest engagement. Advocates can score points for their states by choosing to take one or more advocacy actions identified in the campaign.

Access the August Recess Grassroots Mobilization Challenge Now!

Congratulations New Chapter Fellow

Junaid Raja, MD FACP

(July 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellow. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.

Call for Spring 2025 Resolutions

(July 2024) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you would like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval is required to move resolutions forward to ACP national. Although not official ACP policy, a resolution becomes property of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Spring 2025 Board of Governors Meeting is September 27, 2024.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.

We want to hear from you: Fall 2024 BOG Resolutions

(July 2024) The following resolutions are up for consideration at the Fall 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. We invite you to review each resolution and share your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by August 12.

Developing Policy to Address Consolidation in Healthcare
Gaining an Understanding of the 1-Year and 3-Year Mortality Rates of Patients that Have Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Stays
Supporting Patients’ Access to Documentation and Communications in their Preferred Language
Declaring Access to Equitable, Affordable Healthcare is a Human Right
Developing Policy on Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries in the United States
Revising ACP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy to Promote an Age-Friendly Professional Home and Create Engagement Opportunities for Senior and Retired Physicians
Advocating for Funding of a Direct Comparison of Two Highly Touted Dietary Approaches to Control Type Two Diabetes Clinical Measures and Costs

Resolutions provide our members an opportunity to focus attention at the national level on particular issues or topics that concern you and gives grassroots members a voice, allowing you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine. Involvement in the resolutions feedback process is essential for maintaining a responsive and effective professional organization that truly represents its members.

Your feedback is valuable and will be forwarded to your Governor to assist in their testimony on behalf of the chapter. Thank you for your input.

(NOTE: Proposed resolutions should be considered confidential information and are intended to be viewed by ACP members only. Under no circumstances should proposed resolutions be shared with the news media or social networking media, nor should they be shared with other individuals and organizations. Proposed resolutions do not represent ACP policy.)

Happy Anniversary to our Chapter Members!

Chapter Anniversary Banner

5 Years

David R Clarkson, MD FACP
George M Narby, MD
Rick Player, MD
Richard D Barrett, MD
Tyler Green, MD
Alonso Heudebert
Nicholas R Ludvik, MD
Kyndal Sonnier McKnight, MD
Gary T Butts, MD
Ahmed Salem, MD FACP
Kimberly Forte, MD
Chibuzo C Odigwe, MD
Lily R Colpitts, MD
Carter L Capra, MD FACP
Mila Thomas Riehl, MD
Adrian A Cargill, Jr, MBBS
Rachel E Charles, MD
Jose E Rubio Mosquera, MD FACP
Jordan H Crocker, MD
Kevin Brown
Emilie Hallford, MD
Dwight Matthew, MD

10 Years

Louis R Lambiase, MD FACP
Edward T Robson, MD
Mukesh Kumar, MD FACP
Rachel E Mathers, MD
Steve B Fortson, MD
Leona Graham, MD
Andrew M Land, MD FACP
Eduardo Javier Bazan Lavanda, MD
Matthew D Hanserd, MD
Sachi A Gupta, MBBS FACP
Haley H Ballard, MD FACP
Rachel T Seaman, MD FACP
Abhijin Das, MBBS FACP
Alan S Baggett, MD FACP
Kimberly R Bryan, MD
Nivedita Tella, MBBS
Joseph T Fuqua, MD

15 Years

Kathleen J Warner, MD
Sohail Aman, MBBS FACP
John S Warren, MD
Jeremy D Smith, MD
Olivette T Hundley, MD FACP
Erin Coleman Townsley, MD FACP
Edina E Von Rottenthaler, MD
Brian C Corliss, MD

20 Years

Jacob B Webster, MD
Anabela A Simon-Lee, MD FACP
Joseph Amato, MD FACP
Scott R Fulgham, MD
Bret A Cuthbertson, MD FACP
Kanini Z Rodney, MD FACP
Michael R Eicher, MD
Ali A M Hassoun, MBchB FACP
Ali B Hachem, MD FACP
Shirin Banu, MBBS FACP
Reginald N Mason, MD FACP
Farrah Ibrahim, MBChB FACP
Ernest A Ruse, Jr, MD

(May 2024) Your ACP Chapter thanks you for your continued Membership and all you do every day to serve your patients and support the future of internal medicine. We’re proud that you’ve chosen us as your professional home, and we’re committed to remaining by your side—advocating for and supporting your professional journey.

BOR Action on Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions

(May 2024) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you would like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit the advocacy section of your ACP chapter website for more information on how to propose a resolution.

Congratulations New Chapter Fellow

Ishan A Lalani, MD FACP

(April 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellow. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.

2024 John Tooker Evergreen Awards

(April 2024) The John Tooker Evergreen Awards Program provides opportunities to recognize the valuable contributions of ACP Chapters as they strive to enrich, educate, and engage membership. In 2024, ACP recognized ten winning chapters. Our Chapter received the 2024 John Tooker Evergreen Award for our initiative, Laureate Society Fellowship Program .

Laureate Society Fellowship Program

The Alabama Chapter Laureate Society Fellowship is a two-year, fully funded program for residents and ACP members. Nominations are solicited from all internal medicine residency program directors in Alabama for outstanding PGY-1 or PGY-2 candidates who possess unusual leadership qualities and interest in the activities of organized medicine at the local, state, and national levels. The purpose of the Chapter Laureate Society Fellowship Award is to promote an early and deep integration of promising resident physicians into ACP, introduce them to ACP chapter leaders, ACP national leaders, policymakers, mentors, and to encourage and promote their paths to advocacy and leadership at the state and national levels in the College. Two individuals were invited to participate in the first year of programming.

For more information on the John Tooker Evergreen Awards, contact Dana Acord.

Member Feedback is Requested on Spring 2024 Resolutions

(February 2024) Twenty-one (21) resolutions will be considered at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. With the exception of Resolution 9-S24, which will not be debated because this resolution is slated for adoption as a reaffirmation, please review each resolution and then indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by the deadline your ACP Chapter Governor has requested or by midnight March 13, whichever comes first.

Your comments will be forwarded to your Governor to be used as part of his/her testimony on behalf of the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Giampietro, BOG Administrator, at chapter@acpmembership.org. Thank you for your input.

Call for Fall 2024 Resolutions

(February 2024) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The just released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is now available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval is required to move resolutions forward to ACP national. Although not official ACP policy, a resolution becomes property of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Fall 2024 Board of Governors Meeting is March 29, 2024.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.

Congratulations New Chapter Fellows

William Bradford, MD FACP
Tetsuro Maeda, MD FACP
Jacqueline D Mir, DO FACP
Chris C Richardson, DO FACP

(February 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.

Chapter Speakers at Internal Medicine Meeting 2024

(December 2023) We’d like to bring attention to our local chapter members who will be presenting as faculty at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts this April. Early-bird registration is available through January. For a full schedule or for more information on the meeting, click here.

Ryan Cron MD PhD
Meet the Professor - Dr. Ananda Prasad Lecture in Physiology: Severe Inflammation: In Sickness and In Health
Friday, April 19, 2024 | 4:30 PM

Alayne Markland DO
Meet the Professor - Maximizing Urge Incontinence Treatment and Maintaining Cognitive Safety in Older Adults
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 7:00 AM

Stephen Russell MD
Clinical Skills Center - Teaching Bedside Clinical Skills in the 21st Century

Keandrea Titer MD
Clinical Skills Center - Teaching Bedside Clinical Skills in the 21st Century

BOR Action on Fall 2023 BOG Resolutions

(December 2023) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

Dr. Vaughn Featured in ACP IMpact

Ross Vaughn, MD, FACP, Alabama Chapter Governor, has been featured in ACP IMpact. You can read his profile here.

2023 Chapter Excellence Award – Silver Winner

We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Silver Level of the 2023 Chapter Excellence Award! Only 11 chapters received the Silver Award. The award recognizes chapters that achieve excellence in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet nineteen Bronze criteria and seventeen Silver criteria. Criteria include such activities as undertaking efforts to increase advocacy efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to increase visibility of the ACP, holding competitions for members, providing chapter financial reports to members, having Medical Student and Resident/Fellow members on the Governor's Advisory council, retaining transitional and unpaid members, giving awards to chapter members.

We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.

We Request Your Feedback on the Proposed Fall 2023 Board of Governors Resolutions

(August 2023) We would like to request your feedback regarding resolutions that will be considered at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting. With the exception of Resolution 3-F23 which was accepted as a reaffirmation and will not be debated, please review the balance of the slate and then indicate your support or opposition by completing the resolutions electronic response form by August 30th.

After considering the intent of each resolution and how it fits with the College’s Mission and Goals, please provide your feedback on each resolution and indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by August 30. Your input will be used as part of testimony on behalf of the chapter.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to provide comments regarding these resolutions. By providing your feedback on the Board of Governors resolutions, you have helped to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Congratulations New Chapter Fellows

Scott E Caldwell, MD FACP
Aditya Kotecha, MD FACP
Rachel C Kruspe, MD FACP
Bhanu Prakash Maturi, MD FACP
Heath A Parker, DO FACP

(July 2023) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP^® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.

Call for Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions

(July 2023) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The recently released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is now available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval to move resolutions forward to ACP national is required. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors Meeting is October 16, 2023.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.

BOR Action on Spring 2023 BOG Resolutions

(June 2023) summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Spring 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

Congratulations Chapter Abstract Competition Selectees

(April 2023) 2023 Alabama ACP Oral Presentation Acceptances

Use of Endobronchial Valve Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction- A systematic review by Shreya Patel

Refractory AKI heralding a diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma by Ekemini Hogan

A Rare Cause of Chest Pain: Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Pleura from Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Ashley Andrews

2023 Alabama ACP Resident Poster Acceptances

A Curious Case of Vasculitis Masquerading as a Lupus Flare by Ore Adekunle

A Rare Case of Acute Pancreatitis from a Large Hiatal Hernia by Queendaleen Chukwurah

A case of Acid vs Storm heralding a diagnosis of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 by Gogo-ogute Ibodeng

A near-fatal case of status epilepticus from HHV-6 encephalitis in a 71-year-old Caucasian maleby John Guidry

CLIPPERS SYNDROME; A DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMA by Gogo-ogute Ibodeng

A Case of Polymicrobial Purulent Pericarditis from a Pancreatico-pericardial Fistula by Mark Cromer

Erythropoietin Use in Sickle Cell Disease by Alejandra Osorio

Idiopathic Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (MC) Vasculitis by Ahmed Ali

Non-invasive phlegmasia cerulea dolens management by Eric Mak

HIT induced acute graft occlusion following coronary artery bypass surgery by Sangeetha Isaac

Atypical Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Precipitated by Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Review of the Pathophysiology by Aniekeme Etuk

Exploring inpatient readmission rates in the first 6 months of the second inaugural internal medicine residency cohort by Edward Kim

A Unique Case of Exudative Pleural Effusion by Chris Terrell

An Impending Doom: Recurrent Life-Threatening Gastric Variceal Bleed Heralding Sinistral Portal Hypertension by Queendaleen Chukwurah

When Hickam’s Dictum Becomes Occam’s Razor: A Cryptic Case of Cats, PETs, and Unexplained Lymphadenopathy by Isha Dabke

2023 Alabama ACP Student/ECP Poster Acceptances

Interventional Pain Procedures by Tarik Babar

Current Status of Bariatric Artery Embolization by Tarik Babar

A Word of Caution in Medical Management of Appendicitis: Case Report of Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma Masked as Chronic Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth Colburn

Modifiable Comorbidities Effect on Postoperative Outcomes Following Robotic Abdominal Wall Reconstruction for Ventral Hernias by Alexandra Skoczek

An Assessment of the Nutritional Profile of Foods Accessible to Prisoners in Alabama by Jackson Carlyle

Characterizing Medical Malpractice in Interventional Cardiology: a Westlaw Database Analysis by Sheridan Rose

Nitrous Oxide Use - We need to “Whippit” in the Bud by John Lawson

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in a HIV Patient with Bactrim Induced Pancytopenia by Hope Lackey Shortness of Breath in Immunocompromised Patient by Bethany Langner

Exploring Etiologies of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure by Michael Huber

Pseudo-hematochezia in the setting of beet supplement ingestion by Max Oscherwitz

Reducing Patient Wait Times by Improving Workflow in a Student-Run Free Clinic by Channing Bruce

Bilateral Hutch Diverticulum As Rare Cause of Obstructive Uropathy by Audrey Driver

From Facial Droop to Global Aphasia: A Journey through ADEM by Craig Oliver Spontaneous hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade due to apixaban by Siddharth Patel

Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship

(March 2023) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the American College of Physicians. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.

Nathan T Douthit, MD FACP

Nabin Karki, MBBS FACP

Lauren Pacheco, MD FACP

Jose E Rubio Mosquera, MD FACP

Judy V Blair-Elortegui, MD FACP

Abhijin Das, MBBS FACP

Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!

Chapter Speakers at Internal Medicine Meeting 2023

(March 2023) We would like to draw your attention to our Internal Medicine Meeting 2023 local speakers.

Robert Centor - Anticoagulation/Vascular Medicine 7 General Internal Medicine - Saturday, April 29, 2023 | 11:00 AM

Gustavo Heudebert - How to Write a Clinical Case Report - Friday, April 28, 2023 | 2:45 PM

If you’re attending IMM23, please join us at our Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana Chapters Reception, to be held Friday, April 28 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Garage Kitchen and Bar, 655 Fourth Avenue, San Diego.

Member Feedback is Requested on Spring 2023 Resolutions

(March 2023) Fourteen (14) resolutions will be considered at the Spring 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. Please review each resolution and then indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by the deadline your ACP Chapter Governor has requested or by March 22, whichever comes first.

Your comments will be forwarded to the Chapter Governor to be used as part of their testimony on behalf of the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Giampietro, BOG Administrator, at chapter@acpmembership.org. Thank you for your input.

Call for Fall 2023 Resolutions

(February 2023) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval to move resolutions forward to ACP national is required. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting is March 30, 2023.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.

Board of Regents Action on Fall 2022 BOG Resolutions

(November 2022) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Fall 2022 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you'd like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit your ACP chapter website for more information on how to contact your Governor or chapter staff about proposing a resolution.

Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship

(November 2022) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the American College of Physicians. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.

Holly G Pursley, MD FACP
Anabela A Simon-Lee, MD FACP
Waseem A Mohamed, MD FACP

Chapter Excellence Award – Silver Winner

(September 2022) I am pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Silver Level of the 2022 Chapter Excellence Award! Only 14 chapters received the Silver Award. The award recognizes chapters that achieve excellence in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet twenty Bronze criteria and seventeen Silver criteria. Criteria include such activities as undertaking efforts to increase advocacy efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to increase visibility of the ACP, holding competitions for members, providing chapter financial reports to members, having Medical Student and Resident/Fellow members on the Governor's Advisory council, retaining transitional and unpaid members, giving awards to chapter members. I would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.

We Request Your Feedback on the Proposed Fall 2022 Board of Governors Resolutions

(August 2022) We would like to request your feedback regarding resolutions that will be considered at the Fall 2022 Board of Governors Meeting. The resolutions have been posted on ACP Online for your review and cover an array of topics such as supporting paid sick leave for U.S. workers, covering insulin pumps under CMS Part B for insulin dependent diabetics, and integrating a health equity framework into methods for developing ACP clinical guidelines.

After considering the intent of each resolution and how it fits with the College’s Mission and Goals, please provide your feedback on each resolution and indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by August 31. Your input will be used as part of testimony on behalf of the chapter.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Applications Now Open to Apply for the Million Hearts® 2022 Hypertension Control Challenge

(August 2022) The Million Hearts® 2022 initiative is now accepting applications for the Hypertension Control Challenge and encourages ACP members to apply. ACP is a partner in the Million Hearts Campaign, a national initiative that aims to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes by reducing hypertension and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve cardiovascular health.

The Hypertension Control Challenge identifies and spotlights health care professionals, practices, both solo and group, and health care systems that have achieved nationally laudable hypertension control rates. Applicants that have achieved hypertension control rates of at least 80% over a 12 month period are eligible to enter for possible recognition as a Champion. To learn more about the rules and eligibility requirements to become a 2022 Million Hearts ® Hypertension Control Challenge Champion, please visit https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/partners-progress/champions/rules.html. All prospective Champions are required to complete the application form https://hypertension.millionhearts.hhs.gov/.

The submission deadline is September 7, 2022.

New Advocacy Resources Available to ACP Members and Chapters

(August 2022) We would like to make you aware of two new advocacy resources available to ACP members and chapters.

Understanding Advocacy and Why We Do It - A Comprehensive Toolkit for Chapters

ACP has created an advocacy best practices toolkit to support engagement in and the efficacy of chapter-level advocacy at the state and federal level. This comprehensive toolkit breaks down the different methods and mediums for advocacy engagement and highlights all the programs and resources offered by ACP to make the most of chapters’ advocacy efforts. This toolkit is only accessible to ACP members.

Reproductive Health Toolkit Now Updated

ACP's toolkit for chapters to utilize in navigating issues surrounding abortion rights and related policies in their states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade has been updated. The toolkit now includes sample letters that chapters can use to advocate with state officials and information on recent federal activity.

For questions regarding these toolkits, please submit all requests through this questionnaire to ensure we can track inquiries and respond in the most timely and efficient manner."

Are you a member of the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn)? Learn more here.

Congratulations New Alabama Chapter Fellows

Nessy Abraham, MBBS FACP
Juanita T Heersink, MD FACP

(July 2022) Congratulations to the Alabama Chapter's newest Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP^® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.

BOR Action on Spring '22 BOG Resolutions

(June 2022) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Spring 2022 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you'd like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to our chapter.

Let's Celebrate our Local Abstract Competition and Doctor's Dilemma Winners

(July 2022) The Alabama and Mississippi Chapters would like to congratulate the following individuals for finishing at the top of their respective categories at the recent abstract and Doctors Dilemma competitions held in conjunction with our recent annual meeting:

The Oral winner was David Shumway from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. His presentation was When in Africa, Look For Zebras: An Unexpected Case of Severe Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in a Mississippi Hospital.

The Early Career Physician winner was Muhammad Sattar. HIs presentation was Intracranial Hemorrhagic Rhombencephalitis - The Unusual to Think about Legionairres Disease.

The Student winner was Maggie Holmes from UMMC in Jackson. Her presentation was Dual Biopsy-Proven Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma and Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis.

The top five scorers for the Resident category were:
Archanaa Murugan, UAB Montgomery
Anna Case, UMMC
Uttsav Sandesara, UMMC
Uday Vempulapalli, Brookwood Baptist Health
Jesse Zheng, UAB Huntsville

The winning team for Doctors Dilemma represented UAB. Members are John Craver, Gabriela Gastanadui and Brian Westbrook.

Congratulations New Alabama Chapter Fellow

Oluyinka S Adediji, MBBS FACP

(February 2022) Congratulations to the Alabama Chapter's newest Fellow. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP^® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.