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2020 President, Danielle Hassel, M.D.
Volume 22, Number 1
Spring 2020
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Greetings!
I am honored to be your new President and thankful to Jesus Christ for allowing me to be in this position. I recognize our roles in health care are an enormous commitment, and I thank all of you for what you’re doing every day.
You may have heard this before, but it’s worth saying again. From the beginning of its creation in 1876, the Memphis Medical Society (MMS) has upheld its mission and been the voice for important issues of the day, speaking on behalf of both patients and physicians.
What does that mean for us in 2020? We will build and modernize. We'll improve our online activity at mdmemphis.org and look to provide data to our members regarding their online presence, to provide a business guide, and to add member resources. We'll grow MedTemps, our in-house, Joint Commission-accredited medical staffing and recruiting service. We'll increase our community partnerships and public health efforts by exploring avenues for more collaboration. Through our service, we will build relationships, while promoting our organization. As a result, we want more patients to seek our members for care. We want businesses and community leaders to seek our members for advice and expertise. Finally, we’ll continue partnering with the Tennessee Medical Association, particularly addressing hot issues such as scope of practice, which has already been a 2020 legislative win for the physician-led health care model in our state.
Imperative in our modernization is updating the bylaws and focusing on strategic planning. We want strength in numbers and voting from members concerning matters affecting the organization. A handful of docs can attempt to speak on behalf of the masses, but would that be an accurate representation of our physician community? I would say no.
So please join us with your paid/active membership. Moreover, we crucially need political action committee donations. When legislators vote on subjects directly impacting patients and physicians, who will they listen to? Let’s put our money where our mouths are and contribute to the nonpartisan Memphis Political Action Committee (MEMPAC).
In closing, I ask you to contact MMS with your concerns, questions, and suggestions. Let us know how to represent you as well as be a resource for you. Let's take inspiration from Helen Keller who said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Feature Q President's Gala 2020 With a record number of attendees, President's Gala gathered membership from medical students through retirees
A record number of medical students attended the Gala
Michael Ugwueke, CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Ted Galyon, M.D., and Chris Fleming, M.D.
MMS Past President Philip Langsdon, M.D.
Kelsie Summers, Dr. Catherine Womack, John and Jennings Dooley
Past Presidents, Dr. Philip Langsdon and Dr. Jimmie Mancell, cheers.
2019 MMS Board President Jimmie Mancell, M.D.
Bluff City Medical Society President, LaTonya Washington, M.D., and Dr. Wiley Robinson
2020 MMS President Danielle Hassel, M.D., with Presenting Sponsor First Horizon
Church Health CEO, Scott Morris, M.D.
Hugh Francie, M.D. and Jessie Lawler with sponsor SVMIC. Hugh Francis, M.D. and Jessie Lawler with sponsor SVMIC.
Medical students enjoyed face time with practicing physicians. Medical students enjoyed face time with practicing physicians.
MMS CEO Clint Cummins with John Dorian, M.D.
George Woodberry, M.D. talks with medical students.
Members say Gala is the best opportunity to catch up with colleagues and their families.
President-Elect Andrew Watson, M.D.
MMS CEO Clint Cummins
The crowd paused for the In Memoriam slideshow.
First photo as official Past President Jimmie Mancell, M.D., and President Danielle Hassel, M.D.
President Danielle Hassel, M.D., addresses the crowd.
Fifty years in service recognition went to MMS Past President Robert Kerlan, M.D., and Stephen Thomas Charles, M.D.
New Award Highlights an Outstanding Member
At the Gala, Dr. Mancell announced a new award titled “Beyond Call.” The Beyond Call Award is given to a Society Member who has shown extraordinary leadership, initiative and courage to impact organized medicine beyond the traditional oath of service and duty. It is given at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Dr. Mancell's speech follows.
We all know the importance of recruiting and nurturing young leaders in our profession. This future physician is not only one of those young leaders, she is already well on her way to nurturing her colleagues to be active in organized medicine. She has served in a variety of leadership roles, most notably as the Society’s student representative on our Board of Directors and for TMA as Chair of the Student Section. But where she goes “Beyond Call” is in the story of Graduate Medical Education funding. Simply stated, until 2019, increasing GME Funding was considered a dead issue by many, including the leadership of TMA. Our own Legislative Chairman, Dr. George Woodbury (who deserves his own credit for mentoring our winner and his steadfast pursuit of all Society legislative priorities) had championed this cause for years.
Then, tonight’s winner got involved, working with Dr. Woodbury, Dr. Womack, she mobilized her medical student colleagues in Memphis, and then those across the entire state. She worked to polish the message and energize her colleagues about this potential boost in funding, despite many saying it still would never happen. This all culminated with our annual Day on the Hill, which saw record turnout from medical students, which dramatically multiplied the number of voices tied to the GME Funding issue. Thanks to this, the governor included an increase in GME funding in his budget proposal and our state received its first increase in GME funding in almost 30 years.
Spend about 2 minutes in the presence of our winner and you’ll understand why so many have applauded her enthusiasm, energy and leadership. I am pleased to present our first-ever Beyond Call award to Jennings Dooley.
President Danielle Hassel, M.D.
President-Elect Vice President Andrew Watson, M.D. Christopher M. Pokabla, M.D.
Secretary Treasurer Immediate Past President
Lisa Usdan, M.D. David L. Cannon, M.D. Jimmie Mancell, M.D.
, Dale Criner, M.D., Perisco Wofford, M.D.
Board Members
W. Clay Jackson, M.D., DipTh; Walter Rayford, PhD, M.D., MBA ; Paul Tackett, M.D.; Lindi Vanderwalde, M.D.; Raymond R. Walker, M.D.; Catherine Womack, M.D.; Wiley Robinson, M.D.; O. Lee Berkenstock, M.D.
