Vol u m e L X X VI I , N o. 1 • Sp ri n g 2 02 1
Ser v in g t h e G rea t er Met ropolit a n Kno x vi l l e A r e a
KAM 2020 Events !! ! ! ! o Tw e k a T
Second Time's a Charm! 2021 Upcoming Events: • • • • •
KAM/KAMA Summer Picnic at Zoo Knoxville London Amburn Summer CME Webinar Series KAM Day at the Smokies KAM VIP Conference with Dr. Wayne Sotile KAPA’s Boot Scootin’ Ball Details inside!
KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
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| KNOXVILLE MED CINE
KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG
Academy Officers Jeff Ollis, MD PRESIDENT
Brian Daley, MD
PRESIDENT ELECT
David Harris, MD SECRETARY
Daniel Bustamante, MD TREASURER
Tim Wilson, MD
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Kimberly Weaver, PhD CEO
Board of Trustees Melissa Chiles, MD Greg Curtin, MD Matt Doppelt, MD Jeff Gilbert, MD James Hurst, MD Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, MD
Ex- Officio Board Members Mark Browne, MD Richard Briggs, MD Debbie Christiansen, MD Randal Dabbs, MD Elise Denneny, MD Richard DePersio, MD Keith Gray, MD Robert Page, MD Carolyn Cates -KAMA Akshita Patel - LMU
Publisher Kim Weaver, PhD
Editor Jonathan Weaver
Production/Advertising Karen Greene
ADVERTISING: For advertising information, call the Academy offices at (865) 531-2766. The magazine is published four times per year by the Knoxville Academy of Medicine (KAM). All rights reserved. This publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Greeting KAM Members
KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
This is my first newsletter as President of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine, and I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve our community of physicians in this role. I can remember how my interest in organized medicine began at the beginning of my first year in medical school. During orientation, a physician from the local county medical society gave a presentation and invited us to join as medical students. At the time, I knew little about county medical societies or organized medicine, but I knew this was an organization exclusively for physicians, so membership for an eager, new medical student was a source of pride. Much like my new and freshly pressed short white coat, joining this organization meant that I was an official, card-carrying member of the medical profession! Later that year, I had the opportunity to represent my medical school at the annual meeting of the NC Medical Society and later at the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association. I was captivated by what I witnessed – physicians bringing forth resolutions to define the official positions of these organizations, highly organized debates following parliamentary procedure, brilliant discussion over policy that could potentially impact millions of patients across the state and nation. I still recall the moment it dawned on me that there is strength in numbers, and organized medicine would enable me to have an impact on more patients throughout my career than I could ever reach solely at the bedside. I realized then and there that participation in organized medicine would be an integral part of my career.
Since then, I have continued to marvel at what can be accomplished by physicians working together, and I have been inspired by the leadership I’ve witnessed from fellow KAM members who have served as the voice of physicians locally and at the state and federal levels. This has never been more evident than throughout the last year of the pandemic. Our own Knoxville Academy of Medicine physicians have stepped up in so many ways as the experts of medicine, educating the public and our elected representatives and setting public policy to keep our communities safe. As an organization, the Knoxville Academy of Medicine sought out ways to support our local physicians, working to locate resources to keep our clinicians safe during a shortage of PPE and offering anonymous and confidential support for members who might need assistance to cope with the stress or burnout that can occur from practicing medicine during such challenging times. While the value I assign to county medical society membership has evolved since that first day of medical school, I am no less proud of my membership today than I was then. If you know a physician colleague who is not a current KAM member, I hope you will encourage them to join because organized medicine makes a difference for our profession and for our patients. In our community, that begins with the Knoxville Academy of Medicine.
Jeff Ollis, MD
A Day at the Smokies
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Sunday, August 22, 2021 1:30 pm
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Sponsored By: KNOXVILLE MED CINE | 3
ACADEMY NEWS New Members
A big welcome to our newest members! We are excited that you have decided to join the Knoxville Academy of Medicine.
First Column: Clayton W. Bell, MD; Colin Hirst, MD. Second Column: Megan Jack, MD; Anne K. Kassira, MD. Third Column: Ryan Kenneth Schmocker, MD
CLAYTON W. BELL, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE Internal Medicine & Integrated Health 1926 Alcoa Hwy Ste C-470 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________
ANNE K. KASSIRA, MD CARDIOLOGY University Cardiology 1940 Alcoa Hwy E-310 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________
WILLIAM BRENT BUSH, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE American Family Care 6108 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 ___________________________________
LAURENCE MATTHEW PITTMAN, MD ANESTHESIOLOGY American Anesthesiology of Knoxville 501 20th Street, Ste 606 Knoxville, TN 37916 ___________________________________
COLIN HIRST, MD CARDIOLOGY University Cardiology 1940 Alcoa Hwy E-310 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________
RYAN KENNETH SCHMOCKER, MD ONCOLOGY University Surgical Oncology 1926 Alcoa Hwy, Ste 330 Knoxville, TN 37920
MEGAN JACK, MD PLASTIC SURGERY East Tennessee Plastic Surgery PC 9430 Park West Blvd Ste 240 Knoxville, TN 37923
KAMA Corner
By: Carolyn Cates, KAMA President KAMA continues to be active even through the Covid-19 pandemic. KAMA has made the best of our situation of socially distancing and maintaining connections. Our January meeting was a member wide book club. As a group, we read the book Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn: Woman Suffrage, Free Election & a Life of Service in celebration and enlightenment of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. The author of this book Tyler Boyd was our speaker for our virtual January meeting. His presentation was informative, and the question and answer session was very engaging. KAMA held in January 2021 our first Comedy & Cocktails fundraiser, which will fund medical and nursing scholarships. Many enjoyed the fellowship of friends and the sharing of laughter by virtually attending our fundraiser. We are appreciative of the support of Premiere Surgical Associates and Tennessee Orthopedic Clinics as our sponsors. We are also thankful for Ashe’s Wine and Spirits, who provided a discount to our event participants and Parkwest Hospital for their services in providing our graphic designs. Attendees Sarah Higgins and Connor Brunson were wittingly interactive with our hilarious comedian Jeff Shaw. Jeff also noted our celebrity audience attendee Sean Connery aka Dr. Marty Prince. Rice Catering and Personal Chef provided cocktail mixers and appetizers that were top notch. Donna Brunson was Chair of the Comedy and Cocktails fundraiser, and Jen Ollis, our Director of Communications, launched all communications, graphics, and technical aspects of the event. Our Comedy and Cocktails committee included Tom Walker, Jacqlyn Schmitt Booth, 4
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Jacque Prince, Judy Akers, Kirstin Kropilak, Lorraine Johnson, Cynthia Gash, Jen Ollis, Nancy Sewell, Sarah Higgins, Maria Jernigan, and myself. If you could not attend and would like to donate, make checks payable to “KAMA Philanthropic.” KAMA Philanthropic Treasurer c/o KAMA P.O. Box 10551 Knoxville, TN 37939 KAMA members have been active in volunteering with the Knox County Health Board in assisting with their Covid-19 vaccine clinics as medical and non-medical volunteers. In addition to providing their time, KAMA members have also shown their appreciation to volunteers and staff of the clinics by providing lunches and refreshments. KAM members, if your spouse is not a member of KAMA and would like to learn more about KAMA, we would welcome the opportunity to inform potential members of our mission and our activities, both social and philanthropic. Please visit our website kamalliance.org for general information and contact one of our Membership Co-Chairs Jo Terry jo.terry@ comcast.net or Jacqlyn Schmitt Booth jacqlynschmitt@gmail.com for further information about KAMA. Thank you Carolyn Cates, KAMA President 2020-2021
KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
Calendar of Events MAY 2021 22
TMA House of Delegates, Cool Springs Marriott Franklin, TN
JUNE 2021 24
KAM/London Amburn Webinar – Stark Challenges: Is Your Practice Prepared? 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
JULY 2021 31
KAM/KAMA Family Picnic Day, Zoo Knoxville, Opens at 9:00 am, Lunch from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
AUGUST 2021 22
KAM Day at the Smokies, 1:30 pm, Smokies Stadium
SEPTEMBER 2021 1718
VIP Kick-off Conference, Bridgewater Place With Keynote Speaker, Dr. Wayne Sotile, author of “The Medical Marriage”
OCTOBER 2021 22
KAPA’s Boot Scootin’ Ball, 6:30 pm, Bridgewater Place
FOR MORE INFO ON ALL EVENTS, VISIT WWW.KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG
KNOXVILLE MED CINE | 5
FINANCIAL NEWS STRATEGIES FOR PAYING AN UNEXPECTED TAX BILL By Rhett Lankford, CRC® Vice President FirstBank
Surprised by a tax bill this year? Consider ways to pay without interrupting your financial plan. Filing season is underway, and many working Americans are already receiving their refunds – but what happens if you were expecting to break even or receive a refund and are facing a bill instead? First, stay calm. Second, think strategically about how to pay what you owe, particularly if your money is invested, earmarked for retirement or stashed away in an emergency fund. Last, put plans in place to include more tax-mitigating strategies into your financial plan. Doing so can help avoid this situation next year. If you do find yourself obliged to pay, perhaps you can rely on one of these options to help you settle up with the IRS and keep your financial plan undisturbed and on track. ACTIONS TO TAKE Make sure it’s not a mistake. Review your return with your accountant to make sure you’ve included every exemption and credit for which you qualify. Consider taking out a low-interest rate loan. If you do owe a significant amount, a securities-based line of credit or a home equity loan may be a more cost-effective way to pay instead of selling securities that are part of your long-term investment plan. These types of loans can offer quick liquidity and flexibility to help you meet your tax obligation, at competitive interest rates. And you may be able to avoid capital gains taxes that could result from selling appreciated investments.
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Carefully select investments that could be sold for additional liquidity. In some cases, selling securities to capture capital losses or rebalance a portfolio is a good idea. Talk to your advisor about securities that could be harvested for capital losses or ones that you can sell to help bring your portfolio back into alignment with your long-term goals. Another possible benefit? Unused realized capital losses may be available to offset future tax bills. Remember, rebalancing may result in tax consequences. IF POSSIBLE, AVOID… An unfavorable offer in compromise. The IRS may negotiate an offer in compromise (OIC) to help you settle your bill for less than you owe. However, be aware that there are associated costs, including a filing fee. Paying with a high-interest-rate credit card.This kind of debt can negatively impact your credit score and quickly rack up fees, making it harder to pay down the principal. Even though the IRS also charges interest (federal short-term rate plus 3%), it’s far lower than most credit card companies. Taking money from your retirement accounts. It’s not a great idea to undermine a long-term plan by withdrawing funds early. You’ll be faced with penalties, as well as additional taxes on the amount you take out, which could mean you won’t have as much to pay your tax bill as you thought. And you’ll have even less for retirement. PLAN AHEAD If you do end up owing taxes, talk to your tax and financial advisors about other ways you can pay the bill without disrupting your investment plan or depleting savings. If you anticipate owing taxes again, you may also want to discuss your withholding amount as well as investment and tax-saving strategies to reduce your liability next year and beyond.
LEGAL NEWS
KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF AFFORDABLE LEGAL DISPUTES By Jason H. Long
During my freshman year in high school, my history teacher preached daily that the greatest advancements in human history arose out a need of the people and a response to that need. She frequently invoked the well-worn adage “Necessity is the mother of invention,” to the point it was seared into our brains. I have thought of her, and her mantra, during this past year, as the pandemic has forced us to embrace technological change like never before. A year ago, few people had ever heard of Zoom. Now it, and other virtual meeting platforms, are staples of our daily lives. We use remote technology for everything from grocery shopping, to religious service, to teleheath encounters. While not always ideal, the development and adoption of new technologies has facilitated our ability to stay connected and function during a period of great disruption. Like the medical community, the legal community has not been immune to the disruption. Courts have been closed to traditional trials and in-person hearings for nearly a year, but the work of the legal community and access to justice has continued through innovation. Judges now hold routine hearings online from their chambers. Depositions and mediations have adapted to an online model as well. The legislature and executive branch have passed measures to facilitate legal work while social distancing, such as the approval of remote notarization of documents. The pandemic has fueled these changes, but they promise to remain with us after the crisis passes. The result should be a boon to business and consumers of legal services. Would a lawsuit now actually make sense for your practice? Maybe, depending on the circumstances. While “litigation” may not be the most popular term in the medical community, there are instances where it may be an efficient and economical way forward for you or your practice. Consider the following scenarios: • You are party to a contract with a non-compete or non-solicitation covenant. Relations between the parties have deteriorated and you are concerned about whether/how these covenants could or should be enforced. If no legal action is taken, it could have result in serious consequences to you and/or your practice. • Your practice is in dispute with its cable/internet provider concerning the need for enhanced services. Someone from your office
signed a new three-year contract on your behalf, which that person had no authority to do. You demand the cable/internet provider release your practice from the contract but they refuse. You are now faced with a significant financial commitment your practice had no intention of entering into. • A physician is retiring from practice, but there is a dispute over how much he is owed. Your corporate documents (if you have any) are not clear about what amount should be paid and on what terms. Neither side is willing to budge, but failure to resolve the matter is leading to increased economic uncertainty not to mention bad feelings between the parties. These are just a few examples. But like other tools at your disposal (technological or otherwise), there are circumstances in which litigation may be the most effective way forward. Moreover, with the advancements we have seen over the past year, the cost of pursing litigation may no longer be a significant barrier to utilizing this tool moving forward. The inefficiencies of our legal system are still there, but technology is working to minimize them. Counsel can work on other matters from their desk as they wait to be called for an online hearing, deposition or mediation. No longer does the attorney have to bill their client for travel and wait time formerly so prevalent. To be sure, there will still be times when remote lawyering will not meet the needs of the case. However, incorporation of, and comfort with, remote technology promises to open doors to individuals and companies to make better choices, with more options, as to how they wish to resolve legal disputes. As strange as it may seem to say, we may have reached a time where “litigation” is no longer a dirty word and is instead another viable business option to consider in handling disputes involving you or your practice. Jason H. Long is an attorney with London Amburn. Mr. Long’s practice is focused primarily upon complex litigation involving medical malpractice defense, healthcare law, and business litigation. He chairs the firm’s Healthcare Business Litigation team and is a past president of the Tennessee Bar Association. Disclaimer: The information contained herein is strictly informational; it is not to be construed as legal advice.
Stark Challenges: Is Your Practice Prepared? June 24, 2021 6 PM, EST Presented by KAM and the Law Offices of London & Amburn Attorneys Patti Cotten and Erin Williams will lead a 1 hour webinar on Stark Law Compliance followed by a Q&A session. All practices that bill for ancillary services must have a plan in place addressing distribution of profits by year end. This forum will address what is needed for compliance and tips for best practice protocol. Physicians must understand this law, how it effects self-referrals and compensation, as well as penalties for noncompliance. Free to all KAM Members. Register at knoxvillemedicine.org KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG
KNOXVILLE MED CINE |
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KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
KAM and KAMA Members! Mark Your Calendars Now for KAM and KAMA Summer Picnic at Zoo Knoxville! Saturday, July 31, 2021 Presented by FirstBank and London Amburn
This event is open to all KAM and KAMA Members and their families! All attendees receive complimentary admission to Zoo Knoxville on July 31, 2021 PLUS… Join KAM and KAMA for our Annual Summer Picnic located in the Zoo Kids Cove Tent (next to the carousel)! Picnic lunch will be from 12 noon- 1:30 pm, but feel free to arrive at the Zoo anytime after the 9:00 am opening to be sure and see EVERYTHING! NEW THIS YEAR! Be one of the first to visit the FirstBank ARC, Zoo Knoxville’s newest exhibit protecting endangered amphibians and reptiles!
Admission is complimentary for all KAM and KAMA member families but you must RSVP! Limited availability so register today by visiting knoxvillemedicine.org today!
KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE www.knoxvillemedicine.org
KNOXVILLE MED CINE | 9
V
ITALITY KAM
Knoxville Academy of Medicine’s
KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
Initiative Project
Vitality Initiative Project Conference with Keynote Speaker, Wayne Sotile, PhD
Friday, September 17 Bridgewater Place
& Saturday, September 18
LMU DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Knoxville Campus
REGISTER NOW for this exciting conference! Space is limited. Earn up to 4 CME
Knoxvillemedicine.org
(865) 531-2766
Presented by:
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New Date!
Friday, October 22, 2021 6:30 PM
New Location! Bridgewater Place
KNOXVILLE’S MOST TALKED ABOUT FUNDRAISING EVENT
They say hindsight is 20/20… so in 2021 we’ll be taking KAPA’s Boot Scootin’ Ball Back to the 80s!!!!!! To celebrate the 80s in style, our special guests for the 2021 KAPA’s Boot Scootin’ Ball will be the Journey Tribute Band, RESURRECTION! Come hear all the great Journey music from the 80s like Don’t Stop Believing, Any Way You Want It and Faithfully!!! Step back in time with a remarkable Journey Tribute Experience along with a great dinner, dancing, and a variety of beers in your own bottomless souvenir glass, and a large silent auction. Be sure and dust off those neon bracelets, leg warmers, high waisted jeans and tease that hair!!!!! KAPA’s Boot Scootin’ Ball is going BACK TO THE 80s! All proceeds to benefit Knoxville Area Project Access (KAPA).
FOR MORE INFO VISIT KAPABOOTSCOOTIN.COM OR CALL (865) 531-2766