SEPTEMBER EDITION, VOLUME 2021, NO. 9
A DUMMIES' GUIDE AND REPORT TO THE 2021 FLORIDA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (FMA) ANNUAL MEETING By Rohan Joseph, M.D., CMS President Dear Colleagues, Greetings! I am happy to report that Capital Medical Society (CMS), once again, had a full cohort to the FMA’s House of Delegates (voting members representing a county or specialty society based on FMA membership) and was also well-represented in the four reference committees (I - Health, Education and Public Policy, II - Finance and Admin, III - Legislation, IV - Medical Economics). After thoughtful consideration (where masks were encouraged and unvaccinated persons asked not to attend), the meeting was held in person at the Signia by Hilton Hotel, Bonnet Creek in Orlando from July 30 - August 1, 2021. The turnout was slightly lower compared to past years, as expected, but strong in the face of the pandemic. Capital Medical Society is part of the Northwest Florida Caucus (conference of members), which includes FMA members from the Florida panhandle all the way to Pensacola. As has been the practice over the years, the CMS delegation met prior to the meeting to discuss the resolutions (legislative or health policy items that the FMA would petition the legislature in
favor or opposition) that would be the business on the floor of the House of Delegates in Orlando. Unlike previous years, the reference committees met virtually prior to the meeting and heard online testimony and drafted a preliminary report (adoption vs. non-adoption of the resolution) so as to minimize overcrowding during the hearings at the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, testimony was also heard in-person on the first day on a limited basis followed by an Executive session (final closed committee meeting to recommend- adopt, adopt with amended language, not to adopt, rarely to change the language of the resolution altogether, or to refer to the BOG for study and/or decision) of the reference committees CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Delegates and Members from Capital Medical Society: (l-r) John Bailey, D.O., David Dixon, D.O., Alfredo Paredes, M.D., Rohan Joseph, M.D., Alma Littles, M.D., Jana Bures-Forsthoefel, M.D., Michael Forsthoefel, M.D., Brence Sell, M.D., and Paresh Patel, M.D. (Not pictured: Andy Borom, M.D., John P. Mahoney, M.D., Seymour Rosen, M.D., Hugh VanLandingham, M.D., and Gary Winchester, M.D.)
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY 2021 MEETINGS CALENDAR September 14, 2021 Celebration Awards Dinner University Center Club at FSU 6:30 pm
September 21, 2021 Virtual CME (2-Hours) Panel Discussion – Updates and Debates in Cancer Screening 6:30 pm CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
