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In this Issue:
- Governor's Message
- Leadership Day Update
- Medical Student Attends First Internal Medicine Meeting
- Maine and New Hampshire Joint Reception at IM 2022
- Maine MMC Resident Presents Poster at IM 2022
- ACP's Outgoing Governor's Class of 2022
- Portland Sea Dogs Outing
- Maine ACP Annual Scientific and Chapter Meeting
- 2022 Maine ACP Annual Scientific Meeting Agenda
Stephen R. Hayes, MD, MACP, ACP Governor
Governor's Message
Dear Colleagues
It is an honor to greet you as the new Governor of the Maine Chapter of the ACP. Since coming to Maine in 1994, our ACP chapter has been an important part of my professional life. As I think about all the changes in medical practice over the last three decades, my internal medicine colleagues have helped keep it all somehow manageable. I look forward to working with you as we see how our professional lives evolve.
We made it to Chicago for the annual meeting in late April. With all that has changed in the world of medicine since Covid appeared, it was exciting to actually attend a conference and interact with internists from all parts of the world (as well as a strong contingent from Maine!). The meeting remains a really comprehensive embrace of internal medicine practice, from practical updates on medical topics to the use of drama to address mental health challenges facing physicians. I hope everyone gets to attend a meeting like this soon – maybe next year in San Diego!
Rebecca and I both attended and participated in the Board of Governors Meeting which takes place at the national ACP conference. Her governor class went out with a musical flourish as you can see in the picture. As the meeting progressed, I was impressed by the amount of time given to discussing resolutions and the resolution process. We will be discussing the fall resolutions soon as a chapter and I hope people will take the opportunity to consider the resolutions and share their input. The voices of our members really do impact the College's decisions regarding adoption. As you can imagine, the current healthcare environment and discussions of women's health, access to care, payment reform, and firearm violence remain key to our public health efforts as a college and were discussed at length. Please see Dr Jarawan's report on ACP Leadership Day, where we were able to discuss these and other topics with our congressional representatives
At the chapter level, we are actively planning our Maine Chapter meeting in Bar Harbor. Doug Couper and his planning committee have put together an exciting program. There will be information and registration material coming soon! I look forward to seeing everyone there – mark your calendars for September 23, 24 and 25.
We held our third annual Engel Day Symposium in March, focused on obesity medicine. Dr Fatima Cody Stanford from Harvard gave the keynote presentation and summarized the current state of the science and clinical issues related to weight. Dr Peter Amann discussed medication management, focused on options for primary care physicians. Drs Nicole Hudak and John Erickson discussed weight bias. Participants were asked to complete an exercise designed to measure implicit bias prior to the meeting. This brought home the impact our biases have on our attitudes and our approach to patients.
I don't have to remind anyone that it's summer in Maine. I hope everyone gets to enjoy whatever it is they like about the outdoors. I especially hope that includes baseball! The Maine ACP will be hosting a night at the Sea Dogs on August 27th. Please be sure to let Warene know if you can be there. We will be gathering in the picnic area so room to spread out, socialize and enjoy the game.
I know we all continue to work in very challenging times. The demands of practice in all environments continue to grow. As internists, we will continue to be at the frontlines. Please remember the ACP has great resources available for education, practice management, health policy, board certification, and well-being. And please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you have about Medicine in Maine (or anything else!).
Steve Hayes
Governor, Maine Chapter ACP
207-662-12340
Leadership Day Update
Bhavini Prajapati, MD, Hani Jarawan, MD FACP and Stephen Hayes, MD MACP Maine Chapter Governor
With Congress open to visitors again, Maine's Leadership Day delegation—Steve Hayes, Bhavini Prajapati, and Hani Jarawan—was back on Capitol Hill this past May to advocate for the College's legislative priories. In an election year and with a bitterly divided Congress, many of our policies to increase access to care, make health care more affordable, and increase the physician workforce seemed doomed to stagnate for at least another year. Staffers for Senator King and Representatives Golden and Pingree expressed great interest in protecting expansions of the Affordable Care Act, reducing the price of insulin and other prescription drugs, and training and retaining more physicians to reduce critical workforce shortages. Unfortunately, there is still no clear path to passing these bills, even using reconciliation rules that only require 50% of the votes. Keep an eye out for a trimmed down version of President Biden's Build Back Better Act, which could be the vehicle for some of these bills this Fall.
There was however a surprising amount of agreement on policies addressing the mental and behavioral health crisis among clinicians and patients. We were fortunate to briefly meet with Senator Collins about a wide range of our priorities, but she honed in on the mental health crises that COVID exacerbated even further. She and other staff spoke passionately about the issue, lifting hope that Congress will fund grants for primary care physicians who choose to deliver behavioral health care through Collaborate Care Models. A Senate bill has not been introduced yet, and our Representatives are not current cosponsors of the House bill, so there is space for effective advocacy here.
Senator Collins also reiterated her history of and ongoing support for telehealth expansions granted under the public health emergency. The CONNECT for Health Act has the bipartisan votes to pass the Senate, so we remain optimistic that this and the Telehealth Extension Act will come to a vote on the floor. Rep Golden's team also expressed support but has yet to cosponsor either bill.
We were not, however, able to agree on next steps on reproductive rights and the Women's Health Protection Act. Senator Collins continues to be concerned about the rights of religious organizations to decline to provide abortion care. The ACP disagrees with this reading of the legislation, and does not believe conscience protections for religious organizations will be at odds with ensuring all women can access the full spectrum of healthcare services, including in emergency situations. Senator Collins is working on a replacement bill to satisfy her concerns, but it remains to be seen how any reproductive rights policy will get the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.
“Nothing happens, then nothing happens, then everything happens,” seems to be the rule in Congress these days. I remain hopeful for one more omnibus spending bill before the election that will include many of the policies above. We will call on your help throughout the Summer and Fall to press our elected leaders to make these policies law.
Hani Jarawan, MD FACP
HPPC Chair, Maine Chapter ACP
Medical Student Attends First Internal Medicine Meeting
IM 2022 in Chicago was not only my first IM meeting, but also my first conference as a medical student. I had tempered my expectations, as I really did not know what to expect. As I walked into the conference center for my first day, I was confronted with vendors, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, and booths containing free coffee (every med student's dream). After checking in at the ACP booth, I made my way to my first event, “Stump the Professor”. It quickly became evident the event was one of the most popular of the hour, if not the weekend. The room was packed and I took up a spot near the back of the room (the capacity had reached “standing room only” by that point). The focus was on Gurpreet Dhaliwal, MD, an internist and clinical professor of medicine from UCSF. Dr. Dhaliwal was presented with two cases in an approach similar to how they would present for the first time to an internist in the hospital. Dr. Dhaliwal walked through his thought process and clinical reasoning and ultimately described a differential and treatment plan prior to the answer being revealed. It was an excellent lesson in thinking and approaching clinical cases like an internist. As it was one of the most engaging sessions of the weekend, it is not surprising to learn this event recurs every year.
Of all the great people I met and seminars I attended throughout the weekend, my favorite story begins at that same “Stump the Professor” event. At several points throughout the session, the audience was tasked with talking to their neighbor about what they thought was going on at a given point in the case. I spoke several times to my neighbor, a young physician who joked that I should know what was going on better than most as I was in the midst of studying for Step 1 of the boards. After the session, I told him it was nice to meet him, and we went our separate ways. Later that evening, I was speaking to some colleagues from the Maine ACP at our social event when lo and behold I saw a familiar face - that same physician I had met at “Stump the Professor”! I realized through further conversation that not only is he a practicing internist in Maine he also is an alumnus of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) - it truly is a small world. This conference was a fantastic experience for networking and learning. The medical student curriculum here is robust and promises to continue to deliver. I will be eagerly awaiting what lies ahead at IM 2023 San Diego.
Connor Devoe, MS
OMS-III at UNE COM, PWBPF Committee Chair - ACP CSM
Maine and New Hampshire Joint Reception at IM 2022
A joint reception was held on Friday evening, April 29th at FatPour Tap Works in Chicago. There was good food and drinks. Best of all there was great conversation and networking. Although the number of attendees was small all enjoyed themselves.
From left to right: Dmitry Tarasavich, MD, Stephen Hayes, MD MACP ME Gov., Kenton Powell, MD FACP, NH Gov, William Palmer, MD FACP, Immediate Past NH Governor.
Dr. Ivan Levin and Dr. Gineern Cudjoe, with Dr. Chris Wellins, in the background, enjoying a refreshment and good conversation.
Maine MMC Resident Presents Poster at IM 2022
The winner of the Maine Chapter 2021 Residents' Case of the Year, Elizabeth Mazzeo, DO presenting her poster “A Case of Mysterious Rash” at IM 2022.
Great job Elizabeth!
ACP's Outgoing Governor's Class of 2022
The Maine Chapter thanks the outgoing Governor's class of 2022. Dr. Rebecca Hemphill, immediate past Governor, was a member of this class. During 2 of the years as Governors they were faced with a worldwide pandemic. During their term a Presidential election was held along with all of the chaos that followed.
During all of this the Class theme was “I Will Survive” and survive they did!!
Left: Rebecca Hemphill, MD FACP
Right: Elissa Choi, MD FACP, MA Chapter
Portland Sea Dogs Outing
You and 4 guests are invited to attend a Portland Sea Dogs game. The Sea Dogs will face the Hartford Yard Goats, on Saturday, August 27th. Game time is 6:00 pm.
We will be seated in the Coco-Cola Picnic Area.
Food and beverages will be provided.
To reserve your spot send an email to mainechapteracp@gmail.com provide your name, the number of guests joining you and contact information – cell number. Let's Play Ball!!
Maine ACP Annual Scientific and Chapter Meeting
The 2022 Annual Scientific & Chapter Meeting will be held Friday, September 23rd thru Sunday, September 25th. We will return to the Atlantic Oceanside in beautiful Bar Harbor. We are very excited to be together again. We have a great educational program lined up – see the agenda at the end of the newsletter.
Registration information will be sent soon.
2022 Maine ACP Annual Scientific Meeting Agenda
Friday, September 23rd
11:00 am Registration Opens
12:50 – 1:00 pm Opening Remarks: Stephen Hayes, MD MACP, ME Chapter Governor & Douglas Couper, MD MACP, Program Chair
1:00 -1:30 Leadership Day Update: Hani Jarawan, MD FACP, HPPC Chair
1:30 – 2:00 Legislative Update: Maine Medical Association Representative
2:00 – 3:00 Psychiatry for Internist: Pearls Every Internist Should Know: Henry Skinner, MD DFAPA
3:00 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:00 Suboxone Update: Emily Zarookian, MD FACP
4:00 - 4:30 An Update in Addiction Medicine: Kristen Silvia, MD
4:30 – 5:00 Wellness Isn't for the Faint of Heart – Making the Business Case for Professional Satisfaction in the Practice of Medicine: Christine Hein, MD
5:00 – 5:15 Poster Session Introductions: Emily Zarookian, MD FACP Poster Coordinator
5:15 – 7:00 Poster Viewing and Reception
6:30 Medical Students, Residents & Early Career Physicians Event
Saturday, September 24th
7:00 - 8:00 am Resident/Student/Faculty/GAC breakfast (all others - breakfast is in hotel main bldg)
8:00 – 9:30 Case Vignettes: Fascinating Case Presentations by Internal Medicine Residents: Jessica Evans, MD, Katherine Herrick, MD, Rachel Heuer, MD, Kimberly Toomire, DO
9:30– 10:00 Break
10:00–11:00 Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine: Frank Chessa, PhD
11:00–11:30 Psychopharmacology in Treatment Resistant Depression: Stephanie Nichols, PharmD, BCPS BCPP FCCP
11:30 –12:00 pm Introduction to Harm Reduction Model of Care: Hilary Eslinger, Executive Director Maine Access Points
12:00 – 6:00 Free time for personal enjoyment and Mount Desert Island
6:00 – 7:00 Reception
7:00 Banquet
7:30 Chapter Award Presentations
8:00 – 9:00 “Leonard M. Keilson, MD, FACP Memorial Presentation”: “Wabanaki: Our Land Our Healing”: Lisa Sockabasin, CEO, WPHW
Sunday, September 25th
7:00 – 7:30 am Women in Medicine Breakfast: Rebecca Hemphill, MD FACP Coordinator
7:30 – 8:30 College Update & Town Meeting: Stephen Hayes, MD MACP Governor
8:30 – 8:45 Review, Discuss Resolutions: Stephen Hayes, MD MACP Governor
9:30 Break
8:45 –10:45 Multiple Small Feedings of the Mind
8:45 – 9:15 From Bench to Bedside: Clifford Dacso, MD FACP
9:15 – 9:45 The Rising Cost of Medications: Andrea Lai, PharmD
9:45 –10:15 Hospital at Home: Gina Quinn-Skillings, MD FACEP
10:15 -10:45 Telehealth and Rural Medicine in Maine Clifford Dacso, MD FACP
10:45-11:15 Break
11:15-12:00 pm Post Pandemic Look at Health Care System Reform - Where Does It Stand Where is it Going: Dora Anne Mills, MD MPH FAAP
12:00 – 12:15 Q & A: All Faculty