Mississippi Academy of
Family Physicians Newsletter
October 7, 2017


Upcoming Events

MAFP Board Meeting
December 8-9
Indianola, MS

MAFP Capitol Day
March 7, 2018
Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson

MAFP Spring Conference and 
Spring Fling
April 20-22, 2018
Jackson


Recent MAFP Newsletters


Welcome
New Members

Jana L. Ebert, DO
Louisville, MS

Don A. Gibson, MD
Brandon, MS

Curtis R. Glidewell, MD
New Albany, MS

Dominika A. Jegen, MD
Water Valley, MS

Resident
Moses Braimoh, MD
UMMC

WCUCOM Student
Shea Qarqish

UMMC Students
Joanna Boyles
Darin K. Busby
Tyler Crosswhite
Morgan Davis
Taylor Harvey
Caleb Martin
Laura Martin
Ashton Nicholson
Avani Patel
William Ross
Eric Wilkerson II

Keep up with us on
Social Media


Miss. Academy of Family Physicians


@MSFamilyDocs


MSAFP
 

GETU1 and promote healthy living in the state of Mississippi by purchasing a Live Healthy specialty license tag for the small fee of $31.
 
Request this tag at your county tax collector's office when you renew your license tag. Proceeds from the sale of this tag benefit the Mississippi Academy of  Family Physicians Foundation.

 
October 17 Deadline for Comment on Proposed Opioid Prescribing Rules
This week, we alerted our members about the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure proposed opioid prescribing rules. This is a reminder the comment period ends Tuesday, October 17. Here are the details on the proposal.
Boards and Committees Meet at 
Fall Conference in Starkville
More than 50 physicians, exhibitors, residents and medical students attended last weekend's Fall Conference in Starkville, featuring CME, social events and board/committee meetings. Check out the video above and view our photo album posted on FacebookIn addition to the MAFP Board and the MAFP Foundation Board, the Academy's five committees held meetings. Some of the actions that came out of the committee meetings:

ACADEMY - (Dr. David Wheat, Chair) 
  • Reviewed best prospects list to recruit new members
  • Planned a 'Thank-a-thon' and invite medical students to call current members thanking them for their membership
  • Scheduled membership drive to include personal letters with MAFP information

ADVOCACY - (Dr. Tim Alford & Dr. Susan Chiarito, Co-Chairs) 
  • Discussed 2018 legislative priorities which include protecting scope of practice, monitoring the Mississippi Medicaid Technical Amendments bill, and lobbying for the public health and safety of all Mississippians.
  • Worked to develop plans to help legislators better understand what it means to practice family medicine in Mississippi.
  • Reviewed plans for Capitol Day on March 7, 2018.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - (Dr. James Griffin, Chair)
  • Reviewed evaluations from annual meeting and conferences
  • Discussed new venues for the fall conference
  • Planned additional procedures at conferences
  • Created incentives to encourage members to attend conferences
  • Recruited members for national meetings
  • Planned opioid summit for next 3 - 6 months

PUBLIC AWARENESS - ( Dr. Luke Lampton, Chair) 
  • Evaluated the Academy's website, social media presence, e-newsletter and printed magazine.
  • Decided to make MAFP Directory available in electronic format on website instead of printing and distributing.
  • Created the MAFP Young Physician Award to be given annually.

WORKFORCE - (Dr. Bill Grantham, Chair)
  • Discussed how to work with family medicine residency programs to engage and mentor resident members
  • Reviewed a variety of speakers and educational topics for Spring Fling including Punch Biopsy, Manipulation Techniques
  • Suggested promoting the online job bank on the MAFP website
The Professional Development Committee met September 29.
Referral to Specialist Letter 
Now Available for Member Use
Have you ever felt out of the loop after referring a patient to a specialist? Have you sent a patient to a specialist, only to have them actually see a PA or NP?  In response to requests from family physicians, the MAFP Board has authorized the use of a letter that clarifies a family physician's expectations to the specialist. Feel free to use the letter in your practice. If you have questions, contact Beth Embry.
MAFP Seeks 
FamDocPAC Donations
The 2018 Mississippi Legislative Regular Session is only three months away, and the MAFP is busy gearing up to protect the interests of family doctors across Mississippi. Your state leaders are hearing our voice and we are in a strong position to fight for family medicine and our patients. Be sure to make your 2017 donation to our FamDocPAC by December 31.   Thank you to our 2017 contributors so far:
Tim Alford, MD, FAAFP
Steven Brandon, MD
George Bush, MD, FAAFP
Susan Chiarito, MD, FAAFP
J. Anthony Cloy, MD
Samuel Crosby, MD, FAAFP
Wade Dowell, MD
Jennifer Gholson, MD
Margaret Glynn, MD
Anna Marie Hailey-Sharp, MD
John Hassell, MD, FAAFP
Bill Jackson, MD, FAAFP
Word Johnston, MD, FAAFP
Ben E. Kitchens, MD, FAAFP
Luke Lampton, MD, FAAFP
Carlos Latorre, MD
Bruce Longest, MD
John R. Mitchell, MD, FAAFP
Katie Patterson, MD, FAAFP
Sue Simmons, MD
Thais Tonore, MD
Gerald A. Turner, MD
Christy Vowell, MD
David Wheat, MD, FAAFP

Sign Up for 'Doctor of the Day' During the Legislative Session
Sign up now to serve as Doctor of the Day during the Mississippi Legislative Session (January to March). We need family medicine represented at the State Capitol. You must be a MSMA member since they sponsor/fund the program.  Get all the details here .
MAFPF Vice President Dr. Jeremy Wells, left, and Dr. Carlos Latorre.
It's Time to Give to Puerto Rico's Academy of Family Physicians
Puerto Rico was recently devastated by Hurricane Maria, knocking out all electrical power to the island. As officials estimate 4-6 months without power, generators are one of the most pressing needs. MAFP Foundation donated $1,000 on Saturday to the Indiana AFP Foundation's Hurricane Maria Relief Effort, which is working closely with Puerto Rico AFP to allocate the funds. It has raised $59,000 already - enough to buy 51 generators plus supplies. In making our donation, MAFPF  specifically recognized MAFP Board Member and Foundation past president Dr. Carlos Latorre of Vicksburg, who has family on the island. Make a tax-deductible donation today and GENERATE some funds!
Your (Quick) Input Needed: MSU's Birth Control Survey
The Family and Children Research Unit (FCRU) at MSU's Social Science Research Center is conducting a study to better understand the availability of contraceptive care in Mississippi,  with particular attention to practices involving long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). 

The findings from the study will be used to guide policy directions in maximizing access to contraceptive care across Mississippi.  Physicians can participate in the study using this link.

"Currently, we have no data representing the opinions and practices of family physicians on contraceptive attitudes and practices," said Dr. Ed Hill, a member of the study's research advisory committee, in a letter to physicians. "We really need to have our voices heard in this survey."