Tulsa Medicine - August 2025

MEDICINE TULSA

TULSA

A Newsletter for the Medical Community

President’s Letter Ondria C. Gleason, MD Member Engagement p. 03

Project TCMS recognized as “Champions of Health” p. 06

August 2025

Welcome New Members and In Memoriam p. 09

Address: 5315 S. Lewis Avenue Tulsa, OK 74105-6539 Web: tcmsok.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUG 07

02

Calendar of Events

02

Table of Contents | Leadership | Staff

03

President’s Letter

04

Ad: Trust Company of Oklahoma

05

Caroline Rhea headlines Project TCMS Event

06

Medical Student Scholarship Closes Soon

06

Project TCMS - 2025 Champions of Health

07

Commentary: From the Clinic to the Capitol

08

Ad: PLICO / MedPro Group

09

Welcome New Members // In Memoriam

10

Ad: Touchstone Medical Imaging

LEADERSHIP TULSA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY Physicians Advancing Health Care

TULSA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION Physicians Caring for the Community

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ondria Gleason, MD - Pres.

John Tedesco, DO - Pres.-Elect Sharon D’Souza, MD - V.P. Stephen Bruns, MD - I.P.P. Christopher Emerson, MD Karen Gold, MD Diane Heaton, MD Brian Macha, MD Reetu Singh, MD Sharon Smallwood, MD James Webb, Jr., MD

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Griffiths, MD - Chair Peter Aran, MD Stephen Bruns, MD Ondria Gleason, MD Michael Hairston, CTFA Martina Jelley, MD Brian Macha, MD David Minielly Kulsum Siddiqui John Tedesco, DO Matthew Wenger, MD

STUDENT RESIDENT COUNCIL LEADERSHIP Sydney Marouk, OSU, OMSIV Lily Robistow, OU, MSIII

STAFF Mark McElreath, MPA Executive Director TCMS & TCMS Foundation mark@tcmsok.org

Joetta Cunningham Director of Operations TCMS joetta@tcmsok.org

Pam Oppelt Care Coordinator Project TCMS pam@tcmsok.org

Ashley Bishop Development Coordinator Project TCMS ashley@tcmsok.org

Phone: 918.743.6184 Fax: 918.743.0336 Email: tcms@tcmsok.org

OSU First Year Medical Student Welcome Lunch OSU-CHS Tandy 411 12:00 PM - Noon

AUG 09

OSMA Board of Trustees Meeting

AUG 31

Scholarship Deadline

SEP 01

Labor Day

SEP 20

Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Society Annual Meeting

10:00 AM at OSMA in OKC or via Zoom

Open to OU/OSU 2nd, 3rd & 4th Year Medical Students To submit Scholarship Applications TCMS and TCMS Foundation Offices will be closed

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM The First National Hotel Oklahoma City, OK

To Register or for more information contact Joetta Cunningham, 918-743-6184 or joetta@tcmsok.org

SEP 23

OSDS Regular Scheduled Series

OCT 02

Champions of Health

OCT 03

Laughter is The Best Medicine with Caroline Rhea, Comedian and Actress Project TCMS Fundraiser at University of Tulsa, Lorton PC

More details to come

6:00 –9 p.m.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111

More details on Page 05

PROPER PRESCRIBING CME DATES (VIRTUAL) SEP 12 NOV 13 DEC 05

Friday, September 12, 12-1 PM Thursday, November 13, 6-7 PM Friday, December 5, 12-1 PM Speaker: Cori H. Loomis, JD., McAfee & Taft Free for OSMA members & $75 for non-member physicians

To sign up, or for more information, contact Katie Kemper, 405-601-9571, kemper@okmed.org, or visit www.okmed.org *Signed into law in 2018, Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 1446 mandates that all physicians complete one hour of CME in pain management per year. To help Oklahoma’s physicians better understand how this new law impacts their practice and patients, the Oklahoma State Medical Association is hosting special CMEs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. This one-hour event offers insight to the legal issues affecting pain management and an overview of the new laws connected with prescribing opioids to patients. All Oklahoma physicians with a DEA license are required to take this one hour course annually.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

A Night to Laugh, Connect, and Give Back Laughter is the Best Medicine Event Ondria C. Gleason, M.D. As summer begins to wind down and we turn our focus toward a busy fall, I want to thank each of you for the remarkable work you continue to do in your practices and in our community. It’s an honor to serve as your president and to witness the dedication, resilience, and compassion that define our profession.

Today, I’m writing with an exciting invitation to an evening that promises laughter, networking, and purpose - all in support of our shared mission.

“Laughter is the Best Medicine,” our annual fundraiser for Project TCMS (Tulsa Charitable Medical Services), is happening on Friday, October 3rd at 5:30 PM at the University of Tulsa Lorton Performance Center. I’m thrilled to announce that our headliner this year is the brilliant and hilarious Caroline Rhea! You may know her from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hollywood Squares, and her long-standing career in stand-up comedy. Her warm, witty humor will remind us all why laughter truly is the best medicine.

We spend our days and nights caring for others, this evening is about caring for ourselves, having fun, and supporting an event that directly benefits our program and community.

This is the perfect opportunity to make it a date night, plan a fun night out with friends, or gather your favorite colleagues for a well-deserved evening of entertainment. We’ll enjoy great food, conversation, and laughter, all for a great cause.

Here are several ways you can support Project TCMS and “Laughter is the Best Medicine”: Attend the event!

Come solo, bring a partner, or invite a group. It’s the perfect occasion to relax, connect, and recharge. Don’t miss the chance to upgrade to VIP tickets, which include a pre-show reception with great food and drinks and premium seating.

Sponsor through your practice or organization.

Sponsorship is a wonderful way to show your support while receiving recognition before and during the event.

Various sponsorship levels are available to fit different budgets and visibility goals. For members of TCMS and their practice or organization who sponsor, there is a special discount - contact the TCMS Foundation for more details - mark@tcmsok.org or 918.743.6184.

Know someone who might want to sponsor?

Whether it's a friend, patient, or local business owner, we’d love an introduction. This is a feel-good event that brings our whole community together - professionally and personally.

Can’t attend? Make a donation.

If your schedule doesn’t allow you to join us, you can still make an impact. Your donation supports the continued advancement of health in our community and the well-being of your fellow physicians.

Help spread the word.

Please share the event with your staff, social circles, and on social media. Personal invites go a long way toward helping us fill the room - and our mission.

You can find more details on pg 5 about the event.

Let’s come together for a night of laughter, positivity, and purpose. I truly hope to see you there!

With warm regards and gratitude, Ondria C. Gleason, MD TCMS President

August 2025 | Tulsa Medicine | 03

04 |

COVER PAGE // UPCOMING EVENT

Caroline Rhea, Comedian & Actress, headlines Project TCMS Fundraiser, “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”

TCMS Foundation and Project TCMS

We are excited to bring back the TCMS Foundation, Project TCMS Fundraiser ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’ on Friday, October 3, 2025. This isn’t your typical fundraiser, so see below for details on how you can join us for a night of laughter and giving back.

Date:

Friday, October 3, 2025

Time(s):

5:30 PM - Pre-Show Reception * VIP Tickets and Sponsors Only * Includes Free Valet Parking * Includes Hors d'oeuvres and Bar * VIP Seating in Auditorium, early seating 7:00 PM - Show / Program Begins * Premier, Preferred, and Reserved Tickets doors open at 6:30 PM

Location:

Tickets:

University of Tulsa Lorton Performance Center 550 S Gary Pl, Tulsa, OK 74104 VIP - $100 * Includes Free Valet Parking, Admission to 5:30 PM Reception with Hors d'oeuvres and Bar, VIP Seating in Auditorium Premier - $75 Preferred - $50 Reserved - $30 * Premier, Preferred, and Reserved Tickets include admission to 7:00 PM Show / Program (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

Attire:

Smart Casual, Come Dressed to Laugh

How to Purchase Tickets:

Online - Click on the ‘Buy Tickets’ Button and select the seats you want at the price you want.

It’s that simple.

Call - 918.743.6184 - We’ll help you through the process or select seats for you.

TU Lorton Performance Center Seating Chart Online:

Click Here to

Buy Tickets

Sponsorship Opportunities Available with Discounts for Member Practices (Tax Deductible)

Our Headliner: Caroline Rhea Caroline Rhea is a stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her role as "Hilda Spellman” from the hit series ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’ and her numerous comedy specials. She voices the Mom on Disney’s hit series, ‘Phineas and Ferb’. She has starred in many films including Hallmark’s A Mrs. Miracle Christmas as Mrs. Miracle and roles in NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez and Jon Cryer’s Extended Family.

She has hosted her own talk show and has been a regular panelist on the game shows, Funny You Should Ask, Match Game, Name that Tune and Hollywood Squares. She recently filmed her 7th comedy special at the Sydney Opera House.

Caroline tours comedy clubs throughout the world and still makes time and for hosting and serving as an auctioneer for numerous charities. She is delighted to be hosting for her favorite charity.

We hope you'll join us for a night of comedy and laughter, while making a difference for our Project TCMS patients.

Visit thebestmedicinetulsa.com

August 2025 | Tulsa Medicine | 05

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Medical Student Scholarship Closes Soon Tulsa County Medical Society and TCMS Foundation

The TCMS Foundation is pleased to announce that it is now accepting scholarship applications from the OU-TU School of Community Medicine and OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Students. From July 1 to August 31, 2025, medical students are invited to apply for this prestigious scholarship opportunity.

The Scholarship Fund was established in 1964 as a 501(c)(3) organization from proceeds received from a community-wide mass immunization for Polio sponsored by TCMS. In 2010, the fund became a program of the Tulsa County Medical Society Foundation. The Fund had a total of $31,500 in the beginning. It was envisioned that approximately $2,500 annually would be presented until the fund was depleted.

To date, over $1.52 million in scholarships has been given to 1,342 medical students. The number of applications received annually ranges from 40 to 50.

The Educational Assistance Award Scholarship aims to support and empower the next generation of healthcare professionals by providing financial assistance to eligible candidates.

Click Here to Apply To be eligible, students must be in good standing and enrolled in their second, third, or fourth year in the 2024-2025 academic year at OU School of Community Medicine or OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

TCMS Foundation Scholarship Fund - Click Here to Give Now The TCMS Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is dedicated to: Supporting Education: Providing scholarships to medical students through educational and charitable giving.

Creating a Lasting Legacy: Ensuring the enduring impact of the Tulsa County Medical Society.

Project TCMS to be honored at the 2025 Champions of Health - Champion of the Uninsured TCMS Foundation Tulsa County Medical Society Foundation’s initiative, Project TCMS (Tulsa Charitable Medical Services), was recently named Champion for the Uninsured and will be honored at the upcoming Champions of Health Awards Gala, held on October 2, 2025, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, this prestigious recognition highlights Project TCMS’s critical role in bridging gaps for uninsured, low-income residents of Tulsa County.

What Makes Project TCMS Stand Out Launched by the Tulsa County Medical Society Foundation, Project TCMS coordinates donated specialty care for uninsured individuals who rely on safety-net primary clinics. It centralizes referrals, matches patients to volunteer specialists, and ensures equitable distribution through a rotating system—all while easing burdens on physicians and hospitals. This streamlined, compassionate model has yielded remarkable impact: $11.7 million in donated care 7,160 program services 1,806 referrals Support from 185 volunteer physicians and 12 hospital partners By eliminating inefficiencies like individual clinics having to search for specialists one by one, Project TCMS not only improves access but also preserves specialist goodwill and sustainability of donor efforts.

Champion for the Uninsured This year’s award placement in the “Champion for the Uninsured” category underscores Project TCMS's commitment to serving 06 | tcmsok.org | August 2025

individuals aged 18–64, residing in Tulsa County, uninsured and ineligible for public programs like Medicaid or Medicare, with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. With mental, physical, and financial barriers still impeding healthcare access, our program exemplifies how community collaboration can yield meaningful, measurable change.

Why it Matters Now Oklahoma continues to rank poorly on national health metrics, particularly in insurance coverage and overall health outcomes.

The Champions of Health program is dedicated to spotlighting game-changing initiatives that improve access and equity for Oklahomans, especially for underserved populations.

Becoming Champion for the Uninsured not only awards Project TCMS immediate recognition, it amplifies the program’s mission, inspiring further partnerships and advocacy for sustainable care for the uninsured. Congratulations to the entire Project TCMS team, volunteer physicians, safety-net clinics, and hospital partners for their dedication to healing Tulsa County’s most vulnerable, and for earning this well-deserved honor.

COMMENTARY

From the Clinic to the Capitol: Why Medical Students Should Be at the Policy Table Saramarie Azzun, MSIII, OU College of Medicine – Tulsa

Spotlight: OU-TU SCM MSII Commentary Featured in OSMA Journal A commentary on the importance of advocacy and becoming politically active in Oklahoma as a medical student.

The sun had risen to its fullest as we gathered in the conference room. From the minute we walked into the room, there was not a second of silence as we filed in like a current, flowing shoulder to shoulder around the packed table. One by one, white coats found their way into the room: some fresh off a busy shift at the hospital, others arriving in scrubs with stethoscopes still lining their necks.

A few students had hurried in straight from lectures, with some even driving nearly two hours away for this historical moment. Residents, attendings, and medical students filled the room, bound together not by hierarchy but by a shared sense of camaraderie.

Every inch of space was filled with voices, purpose, and presence. We were not here for rounds or lectures. We were about to walk into a different kind of exam room: the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Before we stepped foot into a legislator’s office, we began with a crash course in the heart of the issues.

As the room continued to fill, organizers and physician leaders stepped at the front of the room to guide us through the day’s agenda. As our profession’s principle stands, we were here to put our patients yet again before ourselves. We flipped through pages that detailed everything, such as insurance clawbacks, those retroactive payment denials that threaten the stability of clinics and the care continuity for countless patients of Oklahoma.

In each room we entered, we led not with credentials but with conviction. We were learning a different way to practice medicine, one where our mouths were our stethoscopes and our treatment plan was a vote.

Medical training often teaches us that our sphere of influence begins and ends in the clinical or hospital walls. That day, at the Capitol, I was reminded how much of our communities’ health was determined more by policy than prescriptions. In a state like Oklahoma, the current political atmosphere has several polarizing push and pull factors; however, as future physicians, medical students need not let this polarization sway them. We cannot afford to disengage simply because the path forward is complex. The truth is, no matter their affiliation, every lawmaker wants to see the health of Oklahomans improve: they just differ in how to get there. Our shared goal is our entry point. What struck me the most that day was how few barriers there are for medical students’ voices to be heard. No dramatic debates, no locked doors. Just eye contact, questions, and conversation. In a world where policymaking often feels distant and untouchable, this experience made it clear: change begins with showing up.

The most powerful thing medical students can bring into the room is our presence. Our experiential diversity adds a layer of authenticity and depth that cannot be replicated. We are not yet bound by the constraints of billing codes and bureaucracy. This season of our training is one of the most impactful times to speak up. We are close enough to the classroom to still question the status quo, and close enough to the clinic to understand what is at stake for us and our patients. Advocacy does not start with doctoral graduation regalia or a medical license. It starts now.

Many of us were hearing these bills in detail for the first time, and just as sobering was the thought that the public, too, had likely never heard of these bills, never been given the chance to sit in a room like this, to learn how a quiet signature or line of policy jargon could determine the care they receive or coverage they lose.

August 2025 | Tulsa Medicine | 07 09

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UPDATES FROM TCMS

Welcome New Members!

By joining TCMS and OSMA our members are among friends, colleagues, and peers, who share their interest, concern, and dedication, to the medical profession. Our strength relies on individual members like these, who are committed to making an impact on the field of medicine. Share with them the opportunity to join! Have them visit www.tcmsok.org/join or have them contact Mark or Joetta at 918.743.6184 or email tcms@tcmsok.org.

Sara M. Coffey, DO Psychiatry, Neurology General Psychiatry Neurology Child & Adolescent Psychiatry OSU Behavioral Medicine 5310 E 31st St Ste LL Tulsa OK 74135 918.236.4000

In Memoriam

We take a moment to honor the memory of our esteemed members and colleagues who have passed away, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and compassion in the field of medicine. Their contributions have profoundly impacted countless lives, and their absence will be deeply felt within our community. As we reflect on their lives, let us remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." We encourage all members to share their memories and tributes, celebrating the remarkable individuals who have shaped our society and inspired us all.

Dr. Paul M. Krautter Member since 1989 - 36 Years

Paul Marsh Krautter passed away peacefully at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 5th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 70 years old. He fought courageously against adenocarcinoma of the lung for three years. Paul was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on November 28th, 1954 to Alice Anne Krautter and Eugene Frank Krautter. Paul is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brother, Frank Krautter.

He is survived by his twelve children, Lacey, Caleb, Lisanne, Lydia, Christian, Lyrica, Liesl, Lark, Campion, Linnea, L’aria, and Lilian, by the mother of his children, Wendy Fore, by his grandchildren, Aria and Preston Giuliano, by his sister, Louise Fell, and by his niece and nephews.

Paul graduated with honors from Richardson High School in Texas before completing a triple major in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at Rice University. Feeling a divine call to medicine, he achieved a score in the 99th percentile on the MCAT, earning him a place at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston. He went on to complete his Family Practice Residency and three years of a Surgical Residency at Youngstown Hospital Association, Northside Hospital, Youngstown, Ohio. He then went on to complete two years of a Surgical Fellowship at the City of Faith Medical Research Center through Oral Roberts University School of Medicine.

After this fellowship, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for two years as a U.S. Army doctor at Madigan Medical Center. To view the full details, please click here.

Dr. Sara Lee Newell Member since 1983 - 42 Years

Sara L. Newell, M.D. passed away on June 25, 2025, at the age of 77. Born October 5, 1947, in Denver, Colorado, she grew up on a farm in Iowa. She received her B.A. from Vassar College, M.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin, M.D. from the University of Iowa, and subsequently completed her internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship at Washington University (Barnes Hospital). In 1982, she began her practice of medicine in Tulsa, OK first at Springer Clinic then at Warren Clinic and practiced for 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend David W. Cone, and her parents, Russell R. Newell and Margaret L. (Carper) Newell. She is survived by daughter, Margaret E. Cone, OK; son-in-law, Patrick G. Henderson, M.D., OK; stepdaughter, Lydia J. Lewis, VA; brother, Michael R. Newell, IA; nieces Elizabeth A. McKinney, IA, Alexandria N. Aliaskari, VA, and Christina J. Newell, CA; step-granddaughter, Katy M. Cone, MD; and step-great-grandson, William B. Coleman, LA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Eastern Oklahoma Arthritis Foundation or to the medical student scholarship fund at the Tulsa County Medical Society. To view the full details, please click here.

August 2025 | Tulsa Medicine | 09

TULSA MEDICINE | A Newsletter for the Medical Community 5315 S. Lewis Avenue Tulsa, OK 74105-6539 Return Service Requested