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SCMS Annual Meeting Minutes & 2021 Foundation Essay Contest Winners
SCMS Annual Membership Meeting Minutes
The Annual Membership Meeting of the Saginaw County Medical Society was held via Zoom on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anthony M. Zacharek MD, PresidentElect, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Dr. Zacharek noted he becomes President at tonight’s Annual Meeting, however, the official ceremony will be held at the inperson Membership Meeting on September 21, 2021.
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MOMENT OF SILENCE
Dr. Zacharek asked for a moment of silence in honor of our members who passed since our last meeting in January 2020:
Donald J. Cady MD Henry W. Moon MD Thomas A. Egleston MD Rustico B. Ortiz MD Victor L. Hill, Jr. MD Minoo K. Rao MD Zubeda S. Khan MD Dennis M. Tibble MD James A. Letson, Jr. MD Prabhundha Vanasupa MD Jack F. Martin MD
ORDER OF BUSINESS
• The current issue of The Bulletin is available on the home page of our website www.SaginawCountyMS.com and under the Bulletin tab, along with past issues. Distribution of hard copies was discontinued at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic because of financial setbacks. We hope to start offering hard copies again this Fall. • Congratulations to Dr. Tom Veverka who was elected MSMS President-Elect at the House of Delegates in May. He will take office in May 2022 as the 164th president. Dr. Veverka is only the fifth president from Saginaw County. Past presidents were James H. Jerome, MD who served in 1867 and 1881; Lyman W. Bliss, MD who served in 1890; Vernon V. Bass, MD who served in 1977; and
Jack L. Barry, MD who served in 1994. • Congratulations to Dr. Millie Willy who was elected Region 7 Representative serving Arenac, Bay, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella-Clare, Midland and Saginaw Counties. • Dr. Steve Vance expressed a heartfelt thank you to the many retired physicians who supervised CMU medical students administering the COVID vaccine. He especially thanked Drs. Caroline Scott and George Gugino for their countless hours spent volunteering.
Legislative Update
• Information on the following was presented to members who were asked to contact their lawmakers through www.MSMS.org under the Advocacy tab: o CRNA Scope Expansion Bill – House Bill 4359 o Auto No-Fault – House Bill 4486, Senate Bill 314 and House Bill 4992 o Prior Authorization – Health Can’t Wait, Senate Bill 247 • Dr. Zacharek asked Joan to provide information on Prior Authorization.
Implicit Bias Training Now Required for Licensure
• The Bureau of Professional Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) will require implicit bias training effective June 1, 2022, for health care providers. The SCMS will work to schedule a training for members as soon as it becomes available.
Report of the Nominating Committee and Election of Officers
• Dr. Zacharek, as a member of the Nominating Committee, presented the Slate of Nominees for 2021-22. The Slate was approved by the SCMS Board at their meeting on April 20, 2021, and published in the Spring issue of The Bulletin. Online voting was made available to members who couldn’t join the Zoom meeting tonight. o A call was made for nominations from the floor. o There being no nominations from the floor, a motion, second and vote was requested to approve the Slate. MOTION: Approve the Slate of Nominees for 2021-22 as presented. MOTION APPROVED.
SCMS Foundation
• Generally, the SCMS Foundation holds their Annual Membership Meeting concurrent with the SCMS Annual Meeting, however, the meeting will be held at the September 21, 2021, Membership Meeting. • The SCMS Foundation Bylaws were originally written in 1968. In 2019, the Bylaws were revised to bring them up to-date, and to add additional Trustees to increase the size of the Board. Before the Foundation Board can add Trustees, the revised Bylaws need to be approved. A request was made for a motion, second and vote to
approve the Foundation Bylaws as presented. Online voting was made available to members who couldn’t join the Zoom meeting tonight. MOTION: Approve the SCMS Foundation Bylaws as presented. MOTION APPROVED. The Foundation Board will meet this summer, and the Slate of Nominees for Officers and Trustees will be presented to the membership for vote at the September meeting. • The Foundation did sponsor their annual Essay Contest, “Why I Want to Be a Physician in Saginaw County” again this year. Winners were notified by the SCMS. Joan thanked Dr. Yahya Khan and his family for sponsoring an additional first place award in honor of Zubeda S. Khan, MD who passed in January. Dr. Zubie Khan served on the SCMS Board for several years. • It was noted several Foundation loan recipients would be returning to Saginaw to practice this summer after completion of their residencies. The Foundation offers a loan forgiveness program to those who return to Saginaw to practice and join the SCMS. A maximum of $5,000 or 25 percent per year of the loan principal is forgiven for every year they are a member. Joan noted loan recipient and SCMS Board member, Dr. Chris Allen, just completed the loan forgiveness program. Dr. Allen joined the SCMS upon completion of his residency, and has served on the SCMS Board since that time. Dr. Elizabeth Marshall, also a loan recipient in the loan forgiveness program, was elected as a new Alternate Delegate at tonight’s meeting. • It was mentioned the Foundation is looking for members to serve as Trustees, and anyone interested should contact Joan. Dr. Allen asked to be considered for a position on the Foundation Board.
Membership Meetings
• The next Membership Meeting will be held in-person on
Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at a location to be determined. o Molly E. Gabriel-Champine, PhD, LP will present Physician Compassion Fatigue (program originally scheduled for April 2020). • The Tuesday, October 19, 2021, Membership Meeting will be in-person at a location to be determined. Marilyn Skrocki, JD, MBA of SVSU will present a program on
Physician Leadership. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m. MOTION: Adjourn the meeting. MOTION APPROVED.
Respectfully submitted, JOAN M. CRAMER Executive Director
First Place Winner of $1,000 Lydia Back, 2021 Graduating Senior from Freeland High School attending Alma College
A poster hangs in my laundry room from 1st grade. In a box on it, we had to draw what we wanted to be when we were older - I drew a doctor. Ever since I found out my grandpa was a cardiologist, I wanted to be a doctor. My mom could tell you, I was a curious kid and my favorite word was “why.” My love only grew for medicine as I shadowed my grandpa one day at work. At lunch, he asked me if I wanted to go home and I replied “No way! The day is just getting started.” Later in 8th grade, on a road trip to West Branch, my dad told me an inspiring story about my grandpa. My aunt’s classmate had passed away during the mile run because of a heart condition. The boy’s family had visited my grandpa’s house the next night and asked my grandpa, who was a cardiologist, to explain what happened to them. My grandpa showed strength and composure while explaining the sudden loss of a loved one. My dad said it was a sad and tough moment, but he was never so proud to call my grandpa his dad as he was in that moment. I knew that I wanted to be that person for someone one day, I wanted to offer a family clarity in a time of confusion with medicine. I have always admired the knowledge and tenacity of doctors and it was my dream to be like them one day. In 10th grade, my uncle was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. This was a devastating discovery for him and my family. I’ve watched him for the last two years go through pain and procedure after procedure. I listened to his complaints and experiences with doctors and the hospital. I knew I wanted to be better for people like him. People dealing with a life-threatening condition should not have to worry about being comfortable or heard. Having heard about this,
I wanted to change that experience for other patients by becoming a doctor. My sophomore year, I fractured my arm during a soccer game. This caused me to have a procedure screwing a plate into it. I was so fascinated by my own surgery that I wanted them to film it. They said no of course, but this caused me to want to do my senior project on fractures. Through my lifelong experiences with my grandpa, uncle, coach and a broken arm, I knew that being a surgeon is my dream and I would do whatever it takes to achieve it. I owe everything to Saginaw County and the people in it like my teachers, my doctors, and my senior project mentor for never giving up on me and that’s why I want to give back. My dreams are big, but my determination is bigger. I can’t wait to help people and change lives, even if it is only one person, I want to make a difference.
Winner of the Zubeda S. Khan, MD Special Scholarship of $1,000 Emily Irish, 2021 Graduating Senior from Freeland High School attending the University of Michigan
Home is where the heart is. For the last 18 years, I have called Saginaw County my heart and home. It is time for me to recognize its strengths and work to improve its shortcomings. Two powerhouse hospitals, Ascension St. Mary’s and Covenant Healthcare, both staffed by outstanding, but overworked nurses and physicians, provide support to the county’s residents. However, many of the inhabitants of Saginaw County are underserved, especially in rural communities such as Reese, Merrill and St. Charles. Citizens use the emergency rooms of these essential hospitals for basic care. For some residents, this method is their only access to any type of healthcare. For example, the majority of the geriatric population in the Buena Vista Senior Community Apartments can’t afford to see a specialist or even go into the hospital. I've seen this first hand. I participated in an Emergency Medical Technician class during the winter of 2021 in order to become a licensed EMT before college. During my first EMT clinical, my crew and I helped an older woman who had fallen and should've been examined by a medical professional. However, she refused transport because she could not afford the medical bill that would come along with the ride to the emergency room. This was just one call during one 12 hour shift, but this woman is not alone in her experience. Our residents who also call Saginaw County their home and heart deserve better. For our neighbors, families and friends, this is not good enough care. I want to be a part of the movement for change. This desire leads me to pursue an education to become an emergency medical physician. Abraham Lincoln once made the comment, “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.” While firmly believing in this quote, I have already started to put it into practice. I have stepped on the first rung of the ladder as an emergency medical technician working in Saginaw County and plan to make even more of an impact as a physician. The county continues to grow and progress. Saginaw Valley State University and Delta strive to serve educational needs. Local school systems work to bring young minds into the 21st century. The county will thrive. Physicians will be needed to care for those who live and work in Saginaw County. I plan to be one of those physicians.
Second Place Winner of $600 Nicholas Ehlman, 2021 Graduating Senior from Nouvel Catholic Central High School attending CMU Third Place Winner of $400 Rebecca Willour, 2021 Graduating Senior from Hemlock High School attending CMU
The Annual Essay Contest is open to high school juniors and seniors interested in becoming a physician who live and attend high school in Saginaw County. Applications are accepted starting February 1, and are due March 31.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
SECOND READING:
Application for membership that may be recommended for acceptance at the Tuesday, September 21, 2021, Board Meeting:
Matthew S. McRae, MD (Covenant Emergency Department) Specialty: Emergency Medicine – Board Eligible Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2017 Internship/Residency: Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, MI, Emergency Medicine, 7/17-6/20 Sponsors: Doctors Matthew D. Deibel and Walker N. Foland
An educational journey
Growing up in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield, Husain first considered teaching as he pursued his undergraduate education. He spent four years teaching career and college readiness to at-risk youth in Detroit public schools. As he delivered lessons in STEM and anatomy, he also saw medical needs and struggles for proper care in his students and their families. "I got such an insight into what a lot of families have to deal with," he said. "It became clear that so much of medicine is education. I realized I could still be an educator and practice medicine."
Caring for the long haul
CMU's medical mission to reach underserved areas of Michigan caught Husain's attention as he considered medical schools. Learning about CMU's signature Comprehensive Clinical Clerkship program clinched his decision. At most colleges of medicine, clinical rotations are four to eight weeks long. The CMU College of Medicine's unique curriculum includes a 24-week longitudinal clerkship in primary care. Embedding students in rural or urban underserved communities provides a comprehensive experience that emphasizes caring for a community over a longer term. Husain served his clerkship at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit. "It gave me a real opportunity to share a connection with patients," he said. "You get to have a different impact when you're seeing patients for the third or fourth time.” After residency, Husain will be able to apply for positions anywhere in the country where a doctor is needed. He hopes eventually to practice primary care in his native state. Michigan's my home," he said. "I am definitely leaning that way."
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Third-Year Students Publish Peer-Reviewed Research on COVID-19 Behaviors and Perceptions
Making a Real-World Difference in Mental Health Services and Education
This spring, the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health published “Revelations From the Clinic: Protective
Behaviors and Perceptions Among People at High Risk
for Severe Illness From COVID-19.” Third year students, Frances Greathouse, Sally Nagia and Morsi Rayyan, along with Beth Bailey, PhD, Director of Health Services, conducted the research during the students’ Comprehensive Clinical Clerkship experience during the fall of 2020. The writers say the goal of the research is to “characterize the risk perceptions and protective behaviors among residents [patients] of a rural central Michigan region.” The researchers concluded being at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 was not a significant factor in predicting the behavioral decisions of mask-wearing and social distancing.
The CMU website featured the College of Medicine in an interdisciplinary story about how CMU is confronting mental health challenges in Michigan. The CMU piece features three College of Medicine programs: Trauma training for childcare workers (Alison Arnold, EdD, Director of CMU’s Interdisciplinary Center for Community Health and Wellness), virtual psychiatry outreach and support (Furhut R. Janssen, DO, faculty member and Director of the CMU Psychiatry Residency Program) and education to fight the social stigma of mental illness (Neli Ragina, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Students and Residents Clinical Research). Click HERE to read.
