CAP
A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
SCAN
Capital Medical Society Delegates Advocate for the Practice of Medicine READ MORE ON PAGE 16
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026
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CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
BOARD OF GOVERNORS John L. Meade, M.D., President
I N T H I S I SS U E :
MISSION: TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE FOR THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF THE PATIENT. (850) 877-9018 www.capmed.org
CMS News......................................................................... 4 Professional Notes......................................................... 5 New Docs on the Block..................................................7 CMS Birthdays................................................................. 8 CMS Lunch and Learn Seminars................................10 Duncan Postma, M.D. Scholarship Endowment......11 CMS Membership and CME Meeting......................... 12 Viewpoint........................................................................14 2026 FMA Annual Meeting.........................................16
Brence Sell, M.D., President-Elect
CMS and CMSF Staff in the Community..................19
Amy Reimer Neal, M.D., MBA, Secretary/Treasurer
September is Women in Medicine Month..............20
Russell Cole, M.D., Immediate Past President
2027 Celebration Awards Dinner............................. 22
Terreze Gamble, M.D.
CMS Foundation Supports Local Organizations..... 24 We Thank Our Donors................................................. 26
Kristin A. Harmon, M.D.
CMS Foundation: We Care Network........................ 27
Alex Ho, M.D.
In Memoriam.................................................................. 28
Narayan Iyer, M.D. Alexander Loeb, M.D. Michelle Miller, M.D. Mary Norton, M.D. Cielo Rose, D.O. Enrique Urrea-Mendoza, M.D. Leanne Dickhute, CMS Alliance President Tom Block, MS, Executive Director, CMS
ADVERTISER INDEX
PUBLICATION EDITOR Frank Skilling, M.D.
MANAGING EDITOR Shannon Boyle
GRAPHIC DESIGN Lauren Trudgeon
EDITOR EMERITUS Charles E. Moore, M.D.
Big Bend Hospice — PG 2 Eye Associates of North Florida — PG 5 Florida Medical Practice Plan — PG 6
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING AN ARTICLE FOR CAP SCAN?
Please contact Shannon Boyle at sboyle@capmed.org. All articles submitted will be reviewed by your peers prior to publishing. CMS Non-Endorsement Statement The editors welcome contributions from members. Opinions expressed in the Cap Scan are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect policies or opinions of the Capital Medical Society or Capital Medical Society’s endorsement. Cap Scan is the official publication of the Capital Medical Society. Advertising in Cap Scan does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the Capital Medical Society nor necessarily imply the accuracy or reliability of any advertisement displayed in this publication.
Home Instead — PG 8 Howell, Buchan & Strong — PG 13 Key Notes Piano Studio — PG 10 MagMutual — PG 9 TMH Physician Partners - Endocrinology — PG 4
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CMS NEWS
UPCOMING CMS MEETINGS/EVENTS Thursday, August 27 “Evening Rounds with Capital Medical Society: Networking Night with FSU College of Medicine Students” 6:00 pm FSU College of Medicine Atrium and Auditorium
Tuesday, October 20 CMS Membership and CME Meeting “Domestic Violence” – 2-Hour CME Presenter: Dr. Philip Toal 6:00 pm The Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks
Thursday, October 15 A Night to Connect: Welcoming Our New Physicians 6:00 pm Goodwood Carriage House
Thursday, December 3 CMS Foundation Holiday Auction 6:00 pm The Moon
WELCOME Dina Prus, MD Endocrinology
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine Residency: Internal Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Fellowship: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
TMH Physician Partners – Endocrinology 2633 Centennial Blvd., Suite 100 Tallahassee, FL 32308 Fax: 850-656-3376
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CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
PROFESSIONAL NOTES
PROFESSIONAL NOTES Alma Littles, M.D. was installed as the 150th president of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) at the FMA Annual Meeting on August 1st in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Littles is the first dean and African-American to hold this position in the FMA’s 150-year history. Congratulations, Dr. Littles!
Richard Thacker, D.O. was installed as the 130th president of the American Osteopathic Association, the nation’s leading voice for osteopathic medicine, representing more than 207,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and medical students nationwide. A former Capital Medical Society member, Dr. Thacker relocated to Dothan, Alabama, where he serves as associate dean of Clinical Sciences and associate professor of internal medicine at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Thacker!
Andrea Friall, M.D. has been appointed an at-large member of the Florida Medical Association Board of Directors. Dr. Friall is the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (Chief Medical Director) at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). Congratulations, Dr. Friall!
CMS Members: If you receive accolades, please let us know, so we can include you in this section! Email the details to Shannon Boyle at sboyle@capmed.org.
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To find out more, scan the QR code or visit med.fsu.edu/fmpp/COMMedicalPractices Please tell the advertiser you saw their ad in the Cap Scan magazine! 6
CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
NEW DOCS ON THE BLOCK
NEW DOCS ON THE BLOCK ACTIVE MEMBERS:
Fitz A. Blake, Jr., M.D. Ellison Leigh Ellison, M.D. Medical School: Chicago Medical School Medical School: Florida State University Practice: Tallahassee Memorial Practice: Gynecology & Obstetrics HealthCare Bixler Trauma & Associates of Tallahassee Emergency Center Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialty: Emergency Medicine; Hospice/Palliative Care Christina R. McKenna, M.D. Medical School: University of Virginia Practice: Eye Associates of North Florida Specialty: Ophthalmology, Optometry
RESIDENT MEMBERS: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM AT TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE – INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENTS Oleksandra Bohuslavska, M.D. Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Colton Herrell, M.D. St. George's University
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROGRAM AT TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE – GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENTS Ethan Harris, M.D. East Tennessee State University Andrew Register, M.D. Mercer University
Brian Mena, M.D. Trinity School of Medicine
Kevin Salimi, M.D. Florida State University
Connie Morizio, D.O. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alycia Savage, M.D. Florida State University
Amanda Noel, M.D. University of the West Indies, Jamaica
Padma Vasanthakumar, M.D. University of South Florida
Robert Phillips, M.D. Western Atlantic Univ School of Medicine
Austin Wiggins, M.D. Mercer University
Christian Ramos, M.D. St. George's University Kevin M. Schneider, M.D. Tulane University Johnathan V. Torikashvili, M.D. USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Mary Tran, D.O. Nova SE College of Osteopathic Medicine CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
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CMS BIRTHDAYS
{AUGUST BIRTHDAYS} Oliver A. Reyes, D.O. - 1st Cielo Z. Rose, D.O. - 1st Mina Salah Mousa, M.D. - 3rd Griffin R. Baum, M.D. - 4th Marino A. Martinez, M.D. - 4th Stacia Groll, M.D. - 5th Vamsi Ponnaganti, M.D. - 5th David Shapiro, M.D. - 5th Candace Elise Gonzalez, M.D. - 6th Alfredo Nova, M.D. - 6th Bob Soni, M.D. - 6th James "Trey" Welden, M.D. - 6th Emily Ashmore, M.D. - 7th John L. Williams, Jr., M.D. - 7th T. Dean Dalrymple, M.D. - 8th Lisa Flannagan, M.D. - 8th Stanley Gwock, M.D. - 8th David Pascoe, M.D. - 8th
Simon J. Lopez, M.D. - 9th Andrew Golden, M.D. - 10th Marc Inglese, M.D. - 11th Amy Harrison, M.D. - 12th Alice Pomidor, M.D. - 13th David E. Craig, M.D. - 15th Gadi Silberman, M.D. - 17th Eric Bouchard, M.D. - 18th Joshua Fuhrmeister, M.D. - 18th Terence N. Reisman, M.D. - 18th Ashley K. Desinor, M.D. - 19th Rachel Vanderby, M.D. - 19th Marie O. Becker, M.D. - 20th William L. Morse, M.D. - 20th Frank C. Walker, M.D. - 20th Michael W. Forsthoefel, M.D. - 22nd Shayla Gray, M.D. - 22nd Russell Eggert, M.D. - 23rd
Shannon Headley, D.O. - 23rd Robert Phillips, M.D. - 23rd Andrew N. Linares, M.D. - 24th Isaac Bell, D.O. - 25th Tracy Graham, M.D. - 25th Brittany Jackson, MHA - 25th Susan Drake, M.D. - 26th James R. Thomas, M.D. - 26th Jeffrey T. Ferraro, M.D. - 27th Manoela Mota, M.D. - 27th Karem Thomas Garcia, M.D. - 28th Alex Ho, M.D. - 28th Stan Whitney, M.D. - 28th Rick A. Damron, M.D. - 29th Gregory Hartlage, M.D. - 30th Allyson Williams, M.D. - 31st
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN! DID WE MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY? IF SO, PLEASE EMAIL ROSALIE CARLIN AT RCARLIN@CAPMED.ORG!
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CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
CMS BIRTHDAYS
{SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS} Brittany Schafer, M.D. - 1st David Burday, M.D. - 2nd Ben J. Kirbo, M.D. - 2nd Enrique Urrea-Mendoza, M.D. - 2nd Mark A. Wheeler, M.D. - 2nd Donald Hansard, M.D. - 3rd Dan Kaelin, M.D. - 3rd Laurence Rosenberg, M.D. - 3rd Vicki Erwin-Wilson, M.D. - 4th George F. Slade, M.D. - 4th Alberto Fernandez, M.D. - 5th John P. Fogarty, M.D. - 5th Howard Kessler, M.D. - 5th Robert D. Rowland, M.D. - 6th Adam J. Engel, M.D. - 7th David T. Stewart, M.D. - 7th Laura B. Rosner, M.D. - 8th Mownika Yadlapalli Walker, M.D. - 8th Hardeep Singh, M.D. - 9 th Julia G. Weeks, M.D. - 9 th Carlos Campo, M.D. - 11th
Charles F. Manning Jr., M.D. - 11th Jordan D. Walters, M.D. - 11th Shelby Blank, M.D. - 12th Armand B. Cognetta, Jr., M.D. - 13th Remelda Saunders-Jones, M.D. - 13th Gates Scott, D.O. - 13th Tanya Evers, M.D. - 14th Kelly J. Forsthoefel, M.D. - 14th Henry Gunter, M.D. - 14th Karl F. Hempel, M.D. - 15th Kenneth Whithaus, M.D. - 15th Jodi Cooper Wilson, M.D. - 15th Robert S. Bradford, M.D. - 16th Christian Cunningham, M.D. - 16th Jennifer Swisher Lynes, D.O. - 16th James Martin, M.D. - 17th Mahnoor Akhter, D.O. - 18th Mervin P. Wallace, M.D. - 18th Phasin Gonzalez, M.D. - 19 th Ahmad Jaser, M.D. - 19 th Robert Brumberg, D.O. - 20th
Robert Hoyne, M.D. - 20th David Vermess, M.D. - 21st Faisal Munasifi, M.D. - 22nd Eric G. Nicola, D.O. - 22nd James W. Pfeifer, D.O. - 22nd Christopher Hurtado, M.D. - 23rd Temple Robinson, M.D. - 23rd Dean D. Watson, M.D. - 23rd Patrick Brown, M.D. - 24th Susan M. Cross, M.D. - 24th Jose Diaz, M.D. - 24th Berkeley Sirmans, M.D. - 24th Tyler Reese Pettis, M.D. - 25th Lonnie Draper, M.D. - 27th Zachary Silvano, D.O. - 27th Marilyn M. Cox, M.D. - 28th Joey A. Jarrard, M.D. - 28th Anthony Speights, M.D. - 29 th Mark Cannella, M.D. - 30th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN! DID WE MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY? IF SO, PLEASE EMAIL ROSALIE CARLIN AT RCARLIN@CAPMED.ORG!
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CMS LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINARS
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY 2026 LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINARS On June 17th, Stan Barnes, CFP®, CLU, AIF, Managing Director with Barnes Capital Group, and Phil Young, Director of Employee Benefits with Barnes Capital Group, provided an excellent presentation: Retirement Plan Fiduciary Essentials for Practice Administrators and Innovations in Group Benefit Administration.
We thank Premier Fine Homes for sponsoring the June 17th Lunch and Learn. Their representative was Laura Kalinoski, VP of Lifestyle & Events.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE REMAINING 2026 LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINARS: August 19 September 16 November 18 Time: 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (Seminar starts at 12:30 PM) Place: CHP Auditorium, 2nd Floor, 1491 Governors Square Blvd. Cost: $13 per person, per seminar (includes lunch)
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Rosalie Carlin at (850) 877-9018 or rcarlin@capmed.org.
Piano, Voice, Guitar, Ukulele and Music Composition Lessons since 1996 Now Enrolling for Summer and Fall Terms, 2026 (850) 328-3716 www.keynotespianostudio.com
Seminars will be held at the Capital Health Plan on Governors Square Blvd. – and we thank CHP for providing this venue. 10 CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
info@keynotespianostudio.com Please tell the advertiser you saw their ad in the Cap Scan magazine!
DUNCAN POSTMA, M.D. SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
Dr. Duncan Postma’s Legacy Will Live On Through New Scholarship Endowment Earlier this year our local medical community lost a pillar when Dr. Duncan Postma passed on May 11th. Now, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, his legacy will live on via the establishment of the Duncan Postma, M.D. Scholarship Endowment at the Capital Medical Society Foundation, Inc. The donor established the endowment as a tribute to Postma’s passion for the practice of medicine, his engagement as a We Care Network Donating Provider, and for his co-founding of Tallahassee Ear, Nose & Throat and Audiology Associates of North Florida, which included the city’s first sleep center. Earnings from the endowment will support fourth-year medical students at the Florida State University College of Medicine.
Ho w t o make a gi ft You may honor Dr. Postma, help grow his named endowment, and support future physicians by: Making a gift online at https://capmed.org/donate/ Sending a check payable to the CMS Foundation with Duncan Postma, M.D. Scholarship Endowment written on the memo line, to 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Or by Directing a Required Minimum Distribution from an IRA to the CMS Foundation, Inc.
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CMS MEMBERSHIP AND CME MEETING
CMS Membership and CME Meeting Hosted by the Capital Medical Society Foundation
AUGUST 11, 2026 THE MAGUIRE CENTER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AT WESTMINSTER OAKS Dr. Alma Littles shared an update as newly installed FMA President.
“Updates in Colorectal Cancer and the Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery” Presented by: Jarrod Robertson, M.D., FACS
Dr. John L. Meade, CMS President (far right) with the evening’s presenter, Dr. Jarrod Robertson, and the 2026-27 FMA President, Dr. Alma Littles.
Please Thank Our Sponsors for Their Support of the August 11th CMS Membership and CME Meeting Presenting Sponsor
Meeting Sponsors Be Strong Therapy Services NutritionAbbey.com Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
Supporting Sponsor Healthy Lymphatics, Inc.
TMH Federal Credit Union
To view the Minutes from this meeting, click here. 12
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VIEWPOINT
ARE WE READY TO DROP THE BOMB? Enrique Urrea-Mendoza, M.D. Neurological disorders profoundly affect personhood, physical function, cognition, and quality of life—not only for patients, but also for their families. Many of these diseases are incurable, relentlessly progressive, and ultimately life-limiting. As neurologists and healthcare providers, are we truly prepared to guide our patients through the complex journey of serious neurological illness? Are we prepared to "drop the bomb"—to deliver devastating news while remaining present to help patients and families navigate everything that follows? The World Health Organization defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness through the prevention and relief of suffering. Although most neurologists are not palliative care specialists, we are expected to provide primary palliative care. This means being prepared to have difficult conversations about diagnosis, treatment options, prognosis, advance care planning, changes in functional status, shared decision-making, and end-of-life care. For many years, I believed I was ready. I thought my clinical training and years of experience had prepared me for these conversations. But what happens when Parkinson's disease—or another neurodegenerative disorder—becomes deeply personal?
revisiting treatment plans as the disease evolved. I also encountered physicians with limited expertise in atypical parkinsonian disorders who were, unfortunately, reluctant to seek additional help. Living with a progressive neurological disease means facing uncertainty every single day. Family members notice subtle changes that may seem insignificant to clinicians but represent enormous losses in daily life. Too often, these concerns are unintentionally dismissed, leaving caregivers feeling unheard and unsupported. Perhaps one of our greatest challenges is that medicine is traditionally problem-oriented. Yet palliative care invites us to become goal-oriented. Rather than asking only, "What symptom should I treat?" we should also ask, "What matters most to this patient?" and "How can we help them achieve meaningful life goals despite the limitations imposed by illness?" Patients and families are looking for much more than prescriptions. Even when patients lose the ability to speak or move, they remain human beings deserving of dignity, respect, and compassion. Neurological illnesses produce suffering that extends far beyond motor symptoms; Social isolation, stigma, loneliness, changing family roles, caregiver burden, and loss of identity are equally important dimensions of illness that deserve our attention.
Patients are not ready. Families are not ready. Physicians are not ready.
For these reasons, I strongly applaud the efforts of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society in establishing a Neuropalliative Care Working Group. In their recent publication, Miyasaki and colleagues describe many of the barriers faced by movement disorders specialists and emphasize the urgent need to incorporate palliative care education into neurological training programs. This represents not only a necessity but also an extraordinary opportunity to expand our specialty and better serve our patients.
I encountered physicians who had little time to understand what my family truly needed. I met clinicians who focused solely on medications while overlooking changing goals of care, the need to reconsider a diagnosis, or the importance of
The authors also remind us that physicians require not only clinical expertise but also knowledge of ethics and legal principles to avoid becoming barriers to patients' right to a dignified death. I would go one step further: this knowledge is equally essential to
Everything changes. I would like to share what I learned from standing on the other side of the consultation room, helping my own family cope with one of the most devastating neurological diseases. The first lesson is simple: nobody is truly ready.
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VIEWPOINT
help patients live with dignity throughout the course of their illness—not only at its end. Communication is perhaps the most important intervention we provide. It is a core competency of palliative medicine and should become an integral part of every neurology residency and fellowship curriculum. Our relationships with patients are often measured in years. The median survival after diagnosis is approximately fifteen years in Parkinson's disease, seven years in Multiple System Atrophy, and eight years in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Corticobasal Degeneration. During this long journey, our role extends far beyond prescribing medications. Historically, palliative care in movement disorders focused primarily on symptom management, medication reduction, and addressing cognitive decline. Many clinicians still practice within this model. Modern neuropalliative care, however, embraces an interdisciplinary approach that prioritizes the goals, preferences, and values of patients and their families.
there is another way to understand medicine. We should not focus solely on delaying death but also on improving life before death. For many patients, the greatest fears are not death itself but losing independence, losing dignity, and becoming a burden to those they love. Finally, I would like to honor my father. He was not only an extraordinary example of love, discipline, responsibility, integrity, and unwavering values; he was also the embodiment of courage, resilience, and grace while facing one of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases. Even during the most difficult moments of his illness, he continued to teach us how to live with dignity, purpose, and compassion. He made me a better son. He made me a better physician. And perhaps his greatest lesson was this: sometimes the most important thing we can offer our patients is not another treatment, but our willingness to walk beside them until the very end.
But what do patients and caregivers actually want to discuss? Studies by Saranza and colleagues demonstrate that patients and families wish to have open conversations about disease progression, future planning, end-oflife care, medical assistance in dying where legally available, and even brain and organ donation. Importantly, they expect these conversations to be initiated by their movement disorders specialist—not postponed until the final stages of illness. These discussions must be individualized, respecting each patient's culture, religious beliefs, personal values, and readiness to engage. There is no single perfect moment, but there is often a moment that is too late.
References: 1. Miyasaki, J.M., Lim, S.-Y., Chaudhuri, K.R., Antonini, A., Piemonte, M., Richfield, E., Alburquerque Gonzalez, D., Lorenzl, S., Walker, R., Bhidayasiri, R., Bouca, R., McConvey, V. and the Task Force on Palliative Care of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (2022), Access and Attitudes Toward Palliative Care Among Movement Disorders Clinicians. Mov Disord, 37: 182-189. https://doi.org/10.1002/ mds.28773 2. Saranza G, Villanueva EQ 3rd, Lang AE. Preferences for communication about end-of-life care in atypical parkinsonism. Mov Disord. 2021;36(9):2116-25
Perhaps this is one of the greatest lessons we should teach future neurologists and medical students: Dr. Urrea-Mendoza presented an “Overview of Advanced Therapy Options for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease” at the Capital Medical Society’s CME meeting on April 15, 2025.
Dr. Enrique Urrea-Mendoza is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders at TMH Physician Partners – Neurology and an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the FSU College of Medicine. He currently serves on the Capital Medical Society Board of Governors. CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
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2026 FMA ANNUAL MEETING
YOUR PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE 2026 FMA ANNUAL MEETING By John L. Meade, M.D., FACEP, FACCP, CMS President As I write this, it is less than 24 hours since the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) in Orlando, July 31-August 2, 2026. I am still digesting all we heard, said, and did, but let me share some initial thoughts. Each year the 3 component medical societies of the Panhandle/Big Bend work together as the Northwest Florida Caucus. This year, as President of CMS, I had the honor of chairing that caucus to bring together the expertise and passions of the delegates from Escambia County Medical Society (Pensacola), Emerald Coast Medical Association (Ft Walton Beach/Panama City), and CMS.
The Northwest Florida (NW FL) Caucus to the FMA Annual Meeting, featuring delegates from the Capital Medical Society, Escambia County Medical Society and Emerald Coast Medical Association.
Every year we see that some of the issues brought to the attention of the FMA are statewide, or even nationwide problems, and some are more regional. By banding together, our NW FL Caucus increases our impact on issues that might not be understood in the same way by our colleagues in the more urbanized areas of South Florida. Once we got to the FMA meeting, we were thrilled to bear witness to our own Dr. Alma Littles, Dean of the FSU College of Medicine, being installed as the 150th President of the FMA. Never has the Tallahassee area been better represented in the FMA! We were also able to hear from the (currently) leading gubernatorial candidate, Congressman Byron Donalds, specifically how he would assist physicians 16
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in changing the current landscape of statewide regulation and micromanagement. The actual work of your delegates starts long before the trip to Orlando. We receive proposed resolutions weeks in advance and hold a meeting of the delegation to review these. We come up with a preliminary response on whether we should support or oppose these resolutions. This year a few days before the FMA meeting we held a “Virtual Caucus Meeting” with the delegates of Escambia and Emerald Coast, so we could discuss these resolutions in the larger group. We meet again onsite at the meeting and even assign members the responsibility of getting up before the House of Delegates to advocate for our caucus position. The resolutions themselves are discussed and debated in true parliamentary fashion, with amendments, deletions, and substitutions all recommended and voted upon. As has been said before, “The majority rules, but the minority is heard.” The subjects ranged from breast cancer imaging to ultra processed foods, Medicaid reimbursement for patients who live across a nearby state line, Emergency Department boarding, pediatric psychotropics, medical necessity criteria for eating disorders, and much more. All of these subjects involve regulations that need to either be enacted, changed, or removed, so that we physicians can practice medicine in the ways that we are trained best to do. None of our desired changes can ever happen without it being effectuated by state legislators, regulators, and governor. This means they have to be persuaded by our lobbyists and our physician members. And we know that we have a better chance to persuade a legislator to vote our way if the legislator is someone who we helped elect because he was already someone who viewed physicians in a positive way.
2026 FMA ANNUAL MEETING
Your membership and donations to the FMA PAC cannot be stressed enough. If you are glad the naturopaths did not get licenses to practice primary care medicine, or that you were not mandated another specific CME course on Sickle Cell Disease, or that you didn’t have to abide by new onerous regulations on office surgery, thank the FMA and the FMA PAC. So, in closing, thank you for being a member of the Capital Medical Society, and please join the FMA and FMA PAC if you haven’t already (FMA membership and PAC are not automatic with your CMS dues). We are all working to make your everyday practice of medicine in Florida better in every way. Thank a CMS Board Member or Delegate the next time you see one and ask them how you can get involved.
CMS President Dr. John L Meade led this year’s meetings of the Northwest Florida Caucus, which includes Capital Medical Society, Emerald Coast Medical Association, and Escambia County Medical Society. The caucus met multiple times to discuss and advocate for or against proposed legislation and FMA policy.
Your Capital Medical Society Delegates had front row seats in the House of Delegates.
CMS Delegate Dr. John Bailey chaired Reference Committee III at the FMA Annual Meeting, which focused on legislative affairs.
CMS Delegate Dr. Andy Borom served as FMA PAC President for 2025-26.
CMS Executive Director Tom Block was elected President of the Conference of Florida Medical Society Executives (CFMSE), succeeding Alachua County Medical Society Executive Vice President Jackie Owens who served as president this past year.
CMS Delegate Dr. Amy Neal in the House of Delegates.
The 2026-27 FMA Board of Directors. FMA President, Dr. Alma Littles, appointed CMS Executive Director, Tom Block, to serve on the Board representing county and specialty societies from around the state.
Photo credit: Florida Medical Association
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2026 FMA ANNUAL MEETING
The 150th FMA President, Dr. Alma Littles CMS Member, CMS Past President, and Dean of the FSU College of Medicine, Dr. Alma Littles was installed as the 150th FMA President on August 1, 2026 at the FMA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Littles is the first Dean and African-American President in FMA history!
FMA President's Celebration (above)
Capital Medical Society and the Florida Association of Family Physicians hosted a reception in honor of Dr. Alma Littles, which was supported by FSU Health and attended by physicians from Photo credit: Florida Medical Association around the state. 18
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CMS AND CMSF STAFF IN THE COMMUNITY
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY AND CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION STAFF IN THE COMMUNITY On July 24th, the CMS and CMS Foundation staff volunteered at Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
The Capital Medical Society Foundation’s We Care Network Program (WCN) sponsored the 27th Annual United Partners for Human Services (UPHS) Conference for Excellence in Nonprofit Management and Leadership on July 15th held at the Florida State University Student Union. The UPHS Annual Conference is an opportunity for local health, human, and social service organizations to come together to network, learn new skills, and connect with other resources in our community. The WCN attendees included (L to R) Kaylah Betsey, Shonda Davis, Diana Bixler, Kelly Smith, Ashleigh Jordan, and Myriam Joseph.
On July 27th, Shonda Davis, Senior Case Manager and Dental Coordinator with the We Care Network attended the Veterans Resource Fair at the VA Clinic. Recently, Kaylah Betsey and Myriam Joseph, Case Managers with the We Care Network, attended a resource fair at the Family Worship and Praise Center.
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WOMEN IN MEDICINE SEPTEMBER IS WOMEN MONTH IN MEDICINE MONTH
WOMEN IN MEDICINE MONTH THANK YOU TO THE WOMEN PHYSICIANS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE SHAPING HEALTH OUTCOMES ONE PATIENT AT A TIME!
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WOMEN IN MEDICINE MONTH
SEPTEMBER IS WOMEN IN MEDICINE MONTH
WOMEN IN MEDICINE MONTH THANK YOU TO THE WOMEN PHYSICIANS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE SHAPING HEALTH OUTCOMES ONE PATIENT AT A TIME!
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2027 CELEBRATION AWARDS DINNER
CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE I.B. HARRISON, M.D. HUMANITARIAN AWARD AND THE THOMAS L. HICKS, M.D. OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN AWARD The Capital Medical Society and the Capital Medical Society Alliance will host the annual Celebration Awards Dinner on March 30, 2027 at the FSU Alumni Center, in honor of Doctors’ Day. At the event, we will be awarding the I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award, a prestigious award initiated by Capital Health Plan, and the Thomas L. Hicks, M.D. Outstanding Physician Award.
activities, clinical excellence, and educational activities; particularly with medical students. The late Dr. Hicks is not only the inspiration for the award, but its first recipient, as well.
The criteria for the awards differ. The criteria for the I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award are predicated on the values that came to be associated with the late Dr. I.B. Harrison: treating all patients with respect and dignity. Dr. Harrison was known as the voice for the ethical, compassionate practice of medicine. He is not only the inspiration for the award, but its first recipient, as well.
Nomination Form – I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award
The Thomas L. Hicks, M.D. Outstanding Physician Award honors a physician who has demonstrated distinguished leadership in organized medicine, community volunteerism, political and governmental
Dan Kaelin, M.D. 2026 Recipient of the I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award
We are seeking nominations from the CMS membership as both of these awards are presented to physicians by their peers.
Nomination Form – Thomas L. Hicks, M.D. Outstanding Physician Award Please give thoughtful consideration to nominating a physician for each award. Please mail or email your completed nomination forms to the Capital Medical Society. All nominations are held in the strictest of confidence The deadline for nominations is October 26.
Tom Truman, M.D. 2026 Recipient of the Thomas L. Hicks, M.D. Outstanding Physician Award
If you’re wondering whether the nomination timeline for our annual awards has changed, the answer is yes. We’ve adjusted the awards timeline to give award winners’ families and friends more advance notice so they can clear their calendars for the big celebration. The celebration will continue to be held annually at the end of March in conjunction with Doctors’ Day. 22 CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
2027 CELEBRATION AWARDS DINNER
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE OUR FELLOW PHYSICIANS By John Bailey, D.O.
I hope that we can encourage CMS members to think about physicians who have served the community and the profession well. Why is it important to keep up with the awards? Because the physicians who are recognized are held up as an example to the community, and to their younger peers. Because there are so many counter-examples being held up to scrutiny every day in the news, television reports, and social media. Because medicine really is a good cause, a calling, and not
a technology to be "managed." Because practicing medicine is a risky business that places doctors in harm’s way for the benefit of others. Because society, and especially the Capital Medical Society, needs to reward its heroes of today, and inspire its heroes of tomorrow.
Nomination Form – I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award
Nomination Form – Thomas L. Hicks, M.D. Outstanding Physician Award
I.B. Harrison, M.D.
Please consider nominating your physician colleagues for these awards.
Thomas L. Hicks, M.D.
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CMS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
CMSF Supports
DONATING TO T
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS BIG BEND HOSPICE FOUNDATION On July 10, 2026, Tom Block, Executive Director of the Capital Medical Society Foundation, presented a $5,000 grant to Dena Strickland Hendrix, President of the Big Bend Hospice Foundation. The grant will support grief counseling services for both youth and adults— offering individual and group sessions, as well as communitybased grief education. This important outreach effort aligns with the CMS Foundation’s mission to increase access to health care in our community.
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR SENIORS On July 13th, Tom Block, Executive Director of the Capital Medical Society Foundation, presented a $4,500 grant from the CMS Foundation to Elder Care Services. The award was accepted by Nicole Ballas, Chief Development Officer, and Jocelyne Fliger, President and CEO of Elder Care Services. This grant supports the Foundation’s mission to increase access to health care services. Elder Care Services’ home-based care program provides essential in-home support for seniors, along with transportation to medical appointments and other health-related services. We are grateful for their continued dedication to ensuring these vital resources remain accessible to seniors in our community. 24 CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
CMS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Local Organizations
THOSE IN NEED
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ACCESS TO CHILD SAFETY SEATS The Capital Medical Society Foundation recently presented a $4,500 grant to KidSafe, a lifesaving program of Lutheran Social Services of North Florida, Inc. The grant, accepted by members of Lutheran Social Services’ Board and staff, will help expand access to critical child safety seats for families who otherwise couldn’t afford them. In addition to providing new car seats, the funding will support a community education and assistance initiative aimed at improving the safe installation and use of these seats across Tallahassee and Leon County. We’re proud to support KidSafe and the impactful work of Lutheran Social Services in keeping children safe and families supported!
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THOSE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT On July 13th, Capital Medical Society Foundation Executive Director Tom Block presented a $4,500 check to Lighthouse of the Big Bend to support the purchase of assistive devices for individuals with vision loss. Tina Torrance, Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse of the Big Bend, accepted the grant on behalf of the organization. These devices play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for the visually impaired by promoting greater independence in managing their health and medical needs. We commend the impactful work of Lighthouse of the Big Bend!
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WE THANK OUR DONORS
We thank the following donors who recently made a gift to the CMS Foundation:
Capital Medical Society Foundation Dr. and Mrs. J. Brian Sheedy – In Memory of Duncan Postma, M.D. James R. Thomas, M.D.
Capital Medical Society Foundation – Area of Greatest Need Robin McDougall, LCSW
We Care Network David Beggs
The CMS Foundation Scholarship Fund David Bellamy, M.D. – In Memory of Blake Randall Thacker
Capital Medical Society Foundation – FSU College of Medicine Tallahassee Regional Campus Food Pantry Anonymous Elaine Geissinger – In Honor of Hardworking Medical Students David Jones, M.D.
The Charles D. “Pedro” Williams, M.D. Scholarship Endowment Charles D. Williams, M.D. Gifts may be made by credit card or direct debit at https://capmed.org/donate/, or by check. Checks should be made payable to the CMS Foundation. Indicate on the memo line of your check to which designation you would like to give. Bring your check to the CMS Office or mail it: Capital Medical Society Foundation, 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. If you would like to discuss a gift of appreciated securities, an insurance policy, designation of retirement plan assets, estate gift, or multi-year pledge, please contact Tom Block at tblock@capmed.org or (850) 321-1648.
Make a gift to support the new Duncan Postma, M.D. Scholarship Endowment or any CMS Foundation causes today! 26 CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
CMS FOUNDATION: WE CARE NETWORK
Monthly Recaps
During the months of May 2026 and June 2026, the We Care Network....
RECEIVED 439 REFERRALS, WITH 215 PATIENTS NEW TO THE PROGRAM
SCHEDULED 485 APPOINTMENTS WITH VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS
$1,390,898 IN DONATED CARE WAS REPORTED BY WE CARE NETWORK VOLUNTEERS
The We Care Network program thanks our referring and donating providers. To our CMS members and We Care Network partners who provided healthcare to new patients in May 2026 and June 2026, your generosity and support of the We Care Network makes a difference. Visit capmed.org/we-care-network to view a detailed list of providers for May 2026 and June 2026. CAP SCAN - A CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
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CHARLES R. DEAL, M.D. 1932 – 2026
In Memoriam
w o l l o F us
Capital Medical Society
@CapMedSociety
Capital Medical Society