March 26, 2007

Editor's Column: Resolutions And Their Meaning
Never A Dull Moment
FDA Moves To Squelch Undue Influence
Doctors' Night At The Science Center, April 20
Mind, Mood, Medicine
MSMS Accepting BOM Nominations

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Editor's Column:
Resolutions And Their Meaning

By JOSEPH WEISS, MD
If one seeks an example of American political life, there is no need to look further than the resolution process of the Wayne County Medical Society.

Monthly, from January through March, the County’s delegate body met to hear resolutions to bring to the April House of Delegates meeting; the resolutions came from delegates and medical society members at large. All proposed resolutions received a hearing but each resolution was subject to scrutiny for its logic, clarity, implications, flaws, omissions or contradictions. Authors of resolutions also fielded questions from the delegate body on the motives. Resolutions submitted in January and February had the advantage of re-write. However, just because the delegates rejected a resolution, it did not mean an end to the proposal. The author can reconstruct the resolution based on comments and criticisms of the original, and resubmit for re-evaluation and approval. Also, if an author feels the original resolution best reflected what he wanted to say, the author can again submit the resolution at the April MSMS meeting without delegate backing for a hearing.

Attending a delegate body meeting on resolutions is a profitable use of one’s time. Doctors bring up inequities not previously considered. Attending these meetings is an exercise in concentration to catch what aspect of the resolution strikes the listener as excellent or needing change. The evening extends one’s knowledge of what others experience in their own practice of medicine.

The January through March meetings act as the first filter of ideas and presentations. The second filter begins its work on Saturday, April 28, when the MSMS’s House of Delegates Reference Committees meet to sort out and refine the resolutions. At that time any MSMS physician can testify for or against a resolution.

At the Sunday, April 29 meeting, individual resolutions are again debated and voted on for approval or not by the whole House of Delegates. At the Sunday meeting any delegate can request that a resolution disapproved by a committee be “extracted,” i.e. brought to the floor for debate by the whole House. The effect is to give a resolution yet another opportunity for resurrection.

Resolutions allow members to make their opinions known; at the same time the leadership learns where members’ concerns lie. Furthermore, the delegates see where compromise and cooperation should prevail. The resolutions process explains why the county and state medical societies enjoy the respect they hold today, and bring strength in their dealings on our behalf.

Never A Dull Moment

By PAUL NATINSKY
When it became clear that representatives from the Wayne State University School of Medicine would be unable to attend the 15th Annual Rhoades Lecture Friday night it seemed that attendees would miss a big chunk of information on a night devoted to medical education.

With the two-year WSU/DMC contract operation but not finalized, residents' match day passed and further evaluation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education scheduled in for mid April, the timing was right for WSU Medical School Dean Robert Mentzer, MD, and DMC CEO Mike Duggan to jointly discuss the future of medical education at Wayne State and the Medical Center.

But, never failing to be provocative, Mike Duggan did not disappoint. He shared his plan to land the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine's new satellite campus at half-empty Hutzel Hospital on the DMC's core campus.

He further spelled out plans to work with MSUCOM training medical students at Sinai-Grace and Huron Valley hospitals, where he said there is excess capacity, regardless of whether MSUCOM chooses Hutzel for its satellite campus.

Duggan's rationale is that Detroit-area medical schools and residency programs have done well retaining students, with 40-plus percent of graduates -- most of whom are specialists -- remaining in the area. Duggan described his own attraction to the city of Detroit, which occurred when he took his first job working there and developed a strong attachment. He said the 50, and later 100 students, per year who would attend the MSUCOM satellite would spend two years in Detroit and even if a small percentage of them set up practice in Detroit it would be a boon for the city.

For its part, WSU expressed concerns in prior interview with reporters with finding spots for all of the medical students to train, in what was described as a already-crowded environment.

Duggan stressed that any arrangment DMC makes will not be at the expense of training WSU/DMC residents or medical students or compromise the $75-million-per-year contract between the two parties.

Drs. Henry Lim of Henry Ford Health System, Steven Minnick of St. John Hospital and Paul Bozyk, who is president of the WSU/DMC Resident Council, formed a reactor panel. Their short presentations focused more on the general state of graduate medical education and its impending challenges, with few specifics regarding the WSU/DMC issue.

FDA Moves To Squelch Undue Influence

The Food and Drug Administration moved March 21 to reduce inappropriate influence in its drug approval process by excluding experts who have significant financial ties to industries regulated by the FDA from serving on committees which can recommend approval.

An editorial appearing in the March 23 New York Times applauds the measure but says it doesn't go far enough.

The proposed rule states that a medical expert with more than a $50,000 interest in pharmaceutical companies cannot serve on agency committees that review their products or those of their competitors. Those with a smaller interest can serve on the committees, but cannot recommend approval or disapproval.

The New York Times pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry provides $300 million a year to help finance the approval process and regulation of drugs; an interest that the Times opines should be dissolved in favor of public funding.

Doctors' Night At The Science Center, April 20

By JOSEPH WEISS, MD
Please set aside Friday evening April 20th from 5:30 p.m. onward. The Wayne County Medical Society, in conjunction with the Oakland County Medical Society, the Young Physicians Committee, and Alice Haidostian, has reserved the Detroit Science Center for us. Members of WCMSSM, their families and friends, will have the Science Center exhibit: OUR BODY *The Universe Within - for our viewing alone. In addition, we have admission to the IMAX Theater presentation: OUR BODY.

The exhibit provides a unique view of human anatomy. The opportunity of a personal showing allows a viewing without obstruction or hurry. A physician will be able to undertake a visual dissection of the body more thoroughly than possible in the anatomy laboratory of medical school years. The chance to show anatomy to others is another plus. The Center cafeteria will remain open for anyone who wants to take a break in seeing the exhibit for coffee or a snack.

WCMS members have another reason to attend. The Science Center is initiating a revamped Health Science Exhibit Hall. It is worth physicians’ efforts to take a long-term interest in the project. Attending this event on Friday, April 20 will provide doctors a sense of the role the Center can play in educating the public. See what possibilities exist for learning for yourself, your family, and your patients.

Note: tickets for the evening are $25/person. See the accompanying application or contact Jason Riske at the WCMS (313) 874 1360 ext. 23 for further information.

To sign up click here

Mind, Mood, Medicine

2007 Retreat for Women Physicians - "Mind, Mood and Medicine"
Friday-Sunday, April 13-15, Kalamazoo

The MSMS Foundation is proud to announce that the 2007 Retreat for Women Physicians will take place Friday-Sunday, April 13-15, at the Kalamazoo Radisson. This year’s event, titled "Mood, Mind and Medicine," will focus on the needs and interests unique to women physicians, including life transitions for women, scope of practice, epilepsy in women, sexual dysfunction, depression, and more.

Now in its fourth year, the Retreat for Women Physicians will provide attendees with the opportunity to network with colleagues while learning about topics that affect their personal and professional lives. Breakout sessions covering a wide array of topics will allow attendees to choose which sessions best suit their needs and interests.

The weekend also will include a number of recreational/non-medical opportunities, such as spa services and a Saturday evening showing of "The Women," by Clare Boothe Luce, at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the daily program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost is $200 for MSMS & MMGMA members, $275 for non-members.

For more information or to register, visit www.msms.org/events or contact the MSMS Registrar at (517) 336-5784 or abatten@msms.org.

MSMS Accepting BOM Nominations

The MSMS Committee on Licensure & Discipline has begun the process of soliciting candidates who wish to receive the recommendation of MSMS for appointment to the Michigan Board of Medicine. On Dec. 31, 2007, the terms of five Board of Medicine members will expire. Of those five, four are eligible to be reappointed to a second four-year term. One position will be vacant and require an appointment by the governor. The Committee considers many key factors (peer review experience, board certification, and involvement in organized medicine) when selecting a candidate it believes to be qualified to serve in this capacity. The Committee will begin accepting candidates this month and will continue to do so through the end of April so that the recommendations may be brought to the July MSMS Board of Directors meeting for final approval.

For more information or to obtain a nomination application, visit www.msms.org/advocacy. Or contact Colin Ford at MSMS at (517) 336-5737 or cford@msms.org.

This publication brought to you by Natinsky Publishing Network.

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