Surgery News - January 2009 - (Page 8) NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE JANUARY 2009 • SURGERY NEWS A Message From the Executive Director membership, to legislators on Capitol Hill, to the s we begin the new year, I would like to promedia, and to other surgical, medical, and health care vide you with an overview of a number of issues of concern to the surgical community. Let organizations. News stories on our health care reform proposal me assure you that the American College of Surgeons remains in great shape, despite the serious eco- have appeared in Congressional Quarterly, an extremely important and well-read publication nomic crises currently facing our nation. both on Capitol Hill and around the Several important issues are playing out country, and, to date, on the Web sites at this time. The Institute of Medicine of close to 100 business and daily news(IOM) recently issued a report on resident papers in major cities from the East work hours, which recommends some sigCoast to the West Coast, and on the nificant changes for training programs (see Web sites of magazines like Forbes. story on p. 1). A group spearheaded by To assist in our efforts to advance the L.D. Britt, M.D., FACS, Chair of the ACS College’s position on this and other isBoard of Regents, testified before the IOM sues, we have assembled a small comin March 2008. Presently, we are gathering mittee of individuals who can respond information from each of the surgical to future requests and inquiries expediboards and academies to determine their BY THOMAS R. tiously. To that end, we have appointed respective views on the IOM report. We RUSSELL, M.D., FACS members of some of our existing comintend to share this information with the mittees and leaders from the ACS Health Policy and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical EducaResearch Institute to serve on this central representation. A small task force has been assembled for this tive group. purpose so that surgery can present a unified view As we seek to influence issues such as payment reduring discussions with the council. form for physicians, potential health system reform, On another front, the College’s Statement on resident work hours, and so on, our governing bodHealth Care Reform, which the ACS Health Policy ies, as well as the general membership, will need to Steering Committee developed and which was reviewed and approved by the Board of Governors and communicate with each other more consistently. SURGERY NEWS, the Bulletin, and ACS NewsScope all do the Board of Regents, has been circulated to our a good job of keeping the membership informed about issues of importance to surgeons and their patients, as well as about College efforts concerning those issues. However, our expanding technological capabilities are now making it possible for the College to present Webinars so that we can address pertinent issues in a very timely and immediate way. These teleconferences were initially intended solely for the Governors and Regents, but we think that this might well be a wonderful vehicle for communicating with the entire membership of the College. We are looking into the details of making this modern means of communication available to each and every one of you. This will be a very interesting year. With the changes occurring in Washington, we have a wonderful opportunity to be a strong and positive partner in working together with other stakeholders on efforts to improve our health care delivery system, and, ultimately, the practice environment for our members and their patients. The best way to collaborate with others is to understand not only our own issues, but other people's problems as well—a goal that can be achieved through open communication. I appreciate the continued support of so many of you in these times of change. Rest assured: We are ready to handle the tasks at hand in a very affirmative way. ■ Dr. Mary H. McGrath Appointed to Joint Commission ary M.D., FACS, has been appointed to the of Commissioners of MJointH. McGrath, BoardanMPH, representative, Dr. The Commission. As ACS McGrath is one of five prominent health care leaders who were recently added to the 29-member board, which serves as The Joint Commission’s governing body. The board includes representatives from each of The Joint Commission’s Corporate Members—the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Physicians, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Dental Association—six public members, one at-large representative of the nursing profession, and the Joint Commission president. Dr. McGrath is professor of surgery in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California San Francisco and actively practices plastic surgery. She has held numerous leadership positions with the ACS, including serving as the Immediate Past First Vice-President, as a member of the Board of Regents for 9 years, and as Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents. Dr. McGrath has been a panel member and consultant for the Food and Drug Administration for more than 20 years. She regularly serves on review panels at the National Institutes of Health, and is a frequent author of publications and books. Dr. McGrath received her medical degree from St. Louis University and holds a Master’s in Public Health in Health Policy and Management from The George Washington University. LaMar S. McGinnis Jr., M.D., FACS, the current President-Elect of the College, and Kurt D. Newman, M.D., FACS, a past president of the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the ACS, also serve on the Board of Commissioners as representatives of the College. For more information, visit The Joint Commission’s Web site at www.jointcommission.org. ■ Time Is Your Greatest Asset residents and members of the lege, investing $100 per an account For SDIF can makeyoungermonth indifferenceColwith a tremendous over is $5,000 assuming an automatic investment plan of at least $100 per month is implemented; waivers of the minimum are possible. The minimum investment has been modified for Medical Student Memtime. bers ($500), Resident Members ($1,000), and AssociThe charted hypothetical example included with this article illustrates the difference between two in- ate Fellows ($2,500) of the College. For more information about SDIF or to discuss vestors who invest identical amounts, starting with $100 per month, and increase their contributions by your specific situation, contact Savi Pai 312-20210% each year. The chart assumes an average annu- 5056, spai@facs.org; Tom Kiley 312-202-5019, tkiley@facs.org; or shareholder services at 800-208al return of 6%, compounded monthly. The only 6070. You may also visit the SDIF Web site at difference is that one investor starts today and the www.surgeonsfund.com. other starts 10 years from now. Forty years later, An investor should consider the charges, risks, exthe investor who started early has a portfolio of more than $1 million. The investor who started lat- penses, and investment objective carefully before investing. For a prospectus containing this and other has only $400,000. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The example is exclusive of er information, please contact SDIF at 1-800-2086070, or visit www.surgeonsfund.com. Read it caretaxes and fees. fully before you invest or send money. Some members of the College have found SDIF SDIF is subject to the same risks as the underlyto be the investment vehicle of choice for their aning exchange-traded funds (ETF) that it invests in, nual Roth IRA contributions. As long as you have including interest rate risk, credit/default risk, marearned income and you fall under the adjusted gross income (AGI) range, the maximum allowable ket risk, international investment risk, derivatives contribution for calendar year 2008 is $5,000 (age 50 risk, management risk, commodity risks, NAV risk, and liquidity risk. Investing in the underlying ETFs or older $6,000). indirectly through SDIF, an investor will incur a The suggested minimum investment to participate in SDIF has been reduced to $10,000. For those proportionate share of the expenses of the ETFs held by the Fund, and the expenses of SDIF. who find it feasible to participate in an automatic SDIF is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, investment plan*, the minimum initial investment LLC, 225 Pictoria Dr., Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246. The phone number is 513-587Early Start Yields Greater Long-Term Gain 3400. ■ $ 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 years 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Starting 10 years later Starting today Investment after 40 years: $1,082,949 Investment after 30 years: $405,821 * A program of regular investing does not ensure a profit or protect against depreciation in a declining market. Because a consistent investing program involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating prices, you should consider your financial ability to continue to purchase through periods of various price levels. http://www.surgeonsfund.com http://www.surgeonsfund.com http://www.jointcommission.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Surgery News - January 2009 Surgery News - January 2009 Contents The 20/20 Vision Intent to Prevent News From the College: The Year Ahead Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph Practice Trends: Making the Grade Surgery News - January 2009 Surgery News - January 2009 - Contents (Page 1) Surgery News - January 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Surgery News - January 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Surgery News - January 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Surgery News - January 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Surgery News - January 2009 - The 20/20 Vision Intent to Prevent (Page 6) Surgery News - January 2009 - The 20/20 Vision Intent to Prevent (Page 7) Surgery News - January 2009 - News From the College: The Year Ahead (Page 8) Surgery News - January 2009 - News From the College: The Year Ahead (Page 9) Surgery News - January 2009 - Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph (Page 10) Surgery News - January 2009 - Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph (Page 11) Surgery News - January 2009 - Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph (Page 12) Surgery News - January 2009 - Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph (Page 13) Surgery News - January 2009 - Thoracic: Tracheal Triumph (Page 14) Surgery News - January 2009 - Practice Trends: Making the Grade (Page 15) Surgery News - January 2009 - Practice Trends: Making the Grade (Page 16)
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