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In this Issue:
- Save the Date
- House Bill 5105
- Internal Medicine Meeting 2024
- Fellowship/Membership Update
Shawn A. Chillag, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Save the Date
Save the date for West Virginia ACP Fall Chapter meeting November 1-2 (Friday-Saturday) in Charleston, WV at the Sheraton Four Points on the river. A reservation link will follow soon. The Stonewall Resort at Roanoke, WV had served well but many were ready for a venue change and Four Points is a bit less expensive. Please make reservations by October 4, 2024 before rooms are released. There are several nearby hotels if you decide after the deadline and no rooms remain.
Kristen Helmick, MD and Michael Cheshire, DO are leading the planning committee for the November meeting. Jessica Amos, DO is leading the newly formed Abstract Committee to codify and enhance this important part of the meeting. Michael Iannetti, MD is serving as the treasurer of the chapter.
House Bill 5105
Brad Henry MD, FACP stimulated the state ACP to join the discussion for the recent legislative session about House Bill 5105. The bill would have rescinded current law that does not permit non-medical exemptions for childhood vaccinations. The Governor vetoed the bill. Thanks to all who messaged their state representatives and Governor Justice. My expectation is that this issue will re-surface after the November election so you may hear from your state ACP again.
Internal Medicine Meeting 2024
I recently returned from the April National meeting in Boston. The scientific meetings were even better than I remembered. The governors were very active moving along many resolutions for the welfare of patients and practitioners. The convocation for new FACPs was very busy and James Griffith, MD was onstage to receive the national ACP Award for Distinguished Contributions to Behavioral Medicine. Bill Fox, MD, FACP from Virginia, who spoke at our 2023 chapter meeting, ascended to become the ACP Chair, Board of Regents.
The resident team from Camden Clark Medical Center won the Doctors Dilemma knowledge competition at the chapter meeting and competed in Boston. The team did well but did not win.
Fellowship/Membership Update
I would be pleased to assist anyone wishing to move from membership to FACP. The criteria on the ACP website are pretty clear and many will already meet the other criteria if you have had membership dues paid for 3 of the last 4 years. There are some other pathways for early career physicians that waive the FACP fee. Omar Kawaja, MD is the latest fellow from WV.
Our WV chapter was 18th in the nation in those who were late to renew membership. A late push brought the chapter to the top 20 that brought a premium to the chapter from national.