MSMS House of Delegates

House of Delegates

Thomas J. Veverka, MD Installed as President at MSMS House of Delegates

On April 30-May 1, 2022, Delegates and Alternate Delegates convened for the 157th annual meeting of the MSMS House of Delegates (HOD) in Kalamazoo to debate and determine the policies, priorities and direction of MSMS during the ensuing 12 months and beyond. More than 60 resolutions were introduced for consideration by the HOD. During the meeting, Thomas J. Veverka, MD, was installed as President of MSMS. M. Salim U. Siddiqui, MD, PhD, Wayne County physician and Radiation Oncologist at Henry Ford Health, was voted President-Elect. Representing Saginaw County at the HOD were Drs.

Christopher Allen, Judy Blebea, Elvira Dawis, Karensa Franklin, Elizabeth Marshall, Miriam Schteingart, Caroline

Scott, Julia Walter, Anthony Zacharek and Joan Cramer. Also attending was Dr. Millie Willy who was elected to serve a three-year term as Region 7 Representative which includes Arenac, Bay, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella-Clare, Midland and Saginaw Counties. Saginaw Delegates and CMU Medical Students served on Reference Committees tasked with making recommendations to the House on resolutions debated Saturday morning. CMU Medical Student Emily Ridge served on Reference Committee A – Medical Care Delivery. Dr. Caroline Scott served on Reference Committee B – Legislation. Dr. Tony Zacharek and CMU Medical Student, Samuel Borer, served on Reference Committee D – Public Health. Dr. Millie Willy served as Board Advisor for the Committee. Dr. Judy Blebea served on Reference Committee E - Scientific and Educational Affairs. On Saturday afternoon, a reception was held honoring Dr. Veverka’s installation as President. Dr. Veverka is a board certified General Surgeon, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and has received added certification in Surgical Critical Care. He served as the Associate Director of Trauma at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota before starting in private practice as a general surgeon and surgical intensivist in Saginaw in 1994. While in Saginaw, Dr. Veverka served in several physician leadership roles, primarily at St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital, as well as, on the Steering Committee for the General Surgery Residency program as the MSU surgical coordinator for the medical students. Dr. Veverka has served the SCMS as Director, Alternate Delegate and President over the past 15 years, most recently as Region 7 Representative on the MSMS Board of Directors. Dr. Veverka is a board member of the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA). Dr. Veverka has a special interest in trauma care and trauma systems development, and served as the initial medical director of the trauma program at St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital which eventually was designated as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. He subsequently became the initial Trauma Medical Director for MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland, which also successfully underwent verification as a Level II Trauma Center. He serves on the Michigan Committee of Trauma and performs Trauma Center Level III and IV verification visits for MDHHS. He also serves on the State Committee of Trauma in Michigan. Dr. Veverka is very passionate about addressing the opioid crisis through volunteer activities at MidMichigan Medical Center, MiHIA and through his position on the Board of Directors of MSMS. He also serves on multiple other subcommittees.

Dr. Veverka addresses the HOD for the first time as president

Dr. Veverka received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He completed his surgical residency at Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Inc., and returned to the University of Minnesota for his Surgical Critical Care Fellowship training. He maintains a passion for general surgery, trauma care and critical care, as well as, patient safety issues. Dr. Veverka has held a clinical faculty appointment with MSU College of Human Medicine Department of Surgery for over 25 years, as well as, holding a current clinical appointment with CMU College of Medicine. He is married to Cathleen and is the father of five. MSMS presidents have greatly impacted MSMS’ programs, position on policy issues and its prominence in Michigan. The MSMS president typically serves a term of one year and works with the Board of Directors to set the strategic agenda for the Society. Past MSMS Presidents from Saginaw are: • James H. Jerome, MD (1867 and 1881) • Lyman W. Bliss, MD (1890) • Vernon V. Bass, MD (1977) • Jack L. Barry, MD (1994) The SCMS would like to thank the physicians who spent their weekend representing their colleagues. A special thanks goes to Dr. Tom Veverka and Dr. Millie Willy for their time not only serving SCMS members, but representing physicians statewide.

Top row, from left: Cathleen and Dr. Tom Veverka, Dr. Veverka and family Second row, from left: Dr. Veverka with the Saginaw Delegation, Delegates meet Sunday morning Third row, from left: Drs. Tony and Claudia Zacharek and Caroline Scott , Drs. Elvira Dawis and Chris Allen, Drs. Tony Zacharek, Liz Marshall and Chris Allen stand in line to give testimony before the House on Sunday morning

UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE

SAGINAW, SUMMER 2022

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 2022 (HAYES PARK) June 8, 15, 22, 29, Jul 13, 20, 27, Aug 3, 10, 17 @ 6:30 pm 9200 Midland Rd, Freeland PICNIC IN THE PARK CONCERT SERIES (ROETHKE PARK) June 14, 21, 28, Jul 12, 19, 26 Aug 2, 9 & 16 @ 6:30 400 Leddy Rd, Saginaw

Jan Hauck 989.798.5217 Mary Knoll 989.239.7662

PARTY ON MCCARTY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES June 9, 23, Jul 7, 21, Aug 4, 18 partyonmccarty.com 3575 McCarty Rd, Saginaw LAWN CHAIR FILM FESTIVAL June 19 - Aug (Sun @ dusk) lawnchairfilmfestival.org Corner of Ames and N. Hamilton

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