This will be my last message to you all as Governor of the Oregon Chapter. It has been an incredible honor to represent this community and witness the inner workings of the College over the past four years. After getting to know the people in the College acting on our behalf, I have huge confidence that our interests are in good hands.

It is difficult to know what to say in the moment in which we all find ourselves. We recently weathered a stress test for healthcare and physicians unlike anything in nearly 100 years and now are witnessing an unprecedented stress test for our democracy. As a result, many of our friends in the scientific and medical community are facing grave uncertainty. As we learn of reductions in public health, research, veterans health, and medical care delivery; as funding of institutions of higher education comes under threat; as we see respected colleagues fear for their ability to continue their important work or in some cases to even remain in the country; as many ongoing projects in our state face the possibility of reduced resources from Washington D.C.; it’s important to remember our own circle of influence and our ability to cast light on what is happening.

Coffee Hour

Locally, we have continued our work over the past four years to provide community and friendship and sustain each other in our work. I am grateful to our DEI/Membership Committee and co-chairs, Dr. Adama Diarra and Dr. Augustine Okeke, for their efforts to invite and welcome all members into the family and provide a sense of belonging and community.

Their February “Coffee Hour in Hillsboro” brought together new and old members who found connection and camaraderie. The responsibilities and challenges of being a physician are difficult for those outside the profession to fully understand and having this professional home bolsters us.

Friends of Trees

I am grateful to the Council of Women in Medicine (WIM) Chair, Dr. Angelina Platas, who has similarly provided opportunities for members to gather, find connection, and take part in meaningful events over the past four years. The WIM spring volunteer event with “Friends of Trees” (FoT) allowed ACP members to contribute to the greening of our neighborhoods when FoT volunteers planted more than 100 trees in one morning and recognized the landmark planting of a million trees in our local communities.

Day at the Capitol

In addition to offering community, Oregon Chapter leaders have kept up our advocacy and presence in Salem, Oregon and nationally. I am grateful to our Health & Public Policy Committee and co-chairs, Dr. Logan Jones, Dr. Kelsi Manley, and Dr. Joel Burnett, for their ongoing efforts and to the Oregon Medical Association for their partnership at our “Day at the Capitol” this past week. We had more than 130 registrants for the event and completed sixty legislator visits this year, a new record! Attendees heard from Attorney General Dan Rayfield JD, Senator Lisa Reynolds MD, Representative Cyrus Javadi DDS, and leaders of the ACP and OMA. The delegations advocated for state funding support of the Oregon Wellness Plan, prior authorization reform, strengthened corporate practice of medicine restrictions, and corporate activities tax reform.

While some of these issues were policy-heavy and complex, their significance was beautifully explained in briefing materials and presentations. Information on additional policy concerns (firearm safety issues, workplace violence, the impact of non-compete clauses, funding cervical cancer diagnostic testing, ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, and instituting an independent scope of practice commission) were included in the leave-behind materials. Dr. Alex Schafir and Dr. Logan Jones will be leading a delegation of Oregon physicians and students to Washington D.C. soon also to speak with our representatives at the capitol.

CSM Panel

During my time as Oregon’s governor, I am grateful to have witnessed the impressive and growing engagement from our medical students, residents, and early career physicians over the past four years. We now have a Council of Student Members (CSM) in Oregon. I am grateful to Donna Oh, Zulfiqar Lokhandwala, Mihir Palan, Emily Ma, Kevin Huang, Yeonjoo Hwang, Myles Andrew Nelson, William Conzemius, and Dr. Doug Rice for helping grow programming for students and strengthen the pathway into internal medicine for students at OHSU and COMP-NW. In collaboration with the ACP, Western University COMP-NW and OHSU students held a mentoring luncheon at the Oregon ACP Annual Meeting in November and more recently held a virtual program director panel to learn about internal medicine residency programs in Oregon. Students had the opportunity to gain valuable insights into residency programs, the application process, and how to become competitive applicants. Participating program directors included Dr. Brinton Clark (Providence Portland), Dr. Paula Folger (Legacy Emanuel and Good Samaritan), Dr. Rand Ladkany (OHSU Hillsboro), and Dr. Jeff Youker (Providence St. Vincent).

CORF Events

Our Council of Residents and Fellows (CoRF), led by Dr. Anjali Das, Dr. Sonam Kiwalkar, and Dr. Rasha Nakhleh, has continued to innovate and grow participation in the Chapter’s Doctors Dilemma and Abstract Competitions. In November, we had a record number of abstract submissions with more than 150 entries. The competitions lead to Chapter submissions to the national competition as well and we look forward to supporting our students and residents attending the big meeting in New Orleans next week. The growth in abstract submissions poses challenges for space and timing but the Chapter is committed to maintaining an open door and honoring the impressive work of our trainees.

CECP

The Council of Early Career Physicians (CECP), under new leadership with Dr. Emily Janetos and Dr. Claire Zeigler, is starting to redirect energy towards programming for personal skills and professional development in the first years after training. They hope to introduce the benefits of ACP to more of their peers while providing topical information on insurance, investment for retirement, management of student loans, contract negotiation, how to be competitive in the job market, differences in practice models, building a practice, networking, advancement to FACP, etc.. They hope to provide an opportunity for connection at the fall Annual Meeting as well. Look for the offerings from this dynamic part of our community in the coming months.

Awards Ceremony

Over the past four years, the Awards Committee under the leadership of Dr. Anne Hirsch has continued to recognize the many talented and dedicated physician teachers, leaders, and servants in our state. During these years, I was so proud to see the Chapter recognize Dr. Greg Magarian (dec.), Dr. David Nardone, Dr. David Gilbert, Dr. Marianne Parshley, and Dr. Melinda Muller with the Laureate Award. Dr. Mythilli Ransdell, Dr. Anne Sammis, Dr. Ted Huang, Dr. Gordon Johnson, Dr. Lenny Mankin, Dr. Jaime Cutland were recognized with the Howard P. Lewis Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Elizabeth Sazie, Dr. Alicia Hidalgo, Dr. Annie Weinsoft, Dr. John Santa, Dr. Jennifer Letourneau, and Dr. David Shute were recognized with the Howard P. Lewis Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Adam Obley, Dr. Katie Iossi, Dr. Heather Fox, Dr. Annie Weinsoft, Dr. Emily Coombes, Dr. Laura K Byerly, and Dr. Ximena Levander were recognized with the Outstanding Early Career Physician Award. Dr. James Reuler, medical student Trisha Chau, Dr. Emily Hitchcock, Dr. Augustine Okeke, Dr. Angelina Platas, Dr. Smitha Chadaga, Dr. Allison Abraham were recognized with the Oregon ACP Diversity Award.

We have continued to put forward wonderful people for national awards successfully as well. This past year, Dr. Mark Helfand was awarded the Alvan R. Feinstein Memorial Award and Dr. Adam J. Obley received the Walter J. McDonald Award for Early Career Physicians. The ranks of our FACPs and our MACPs have also continued to grow and we welcomed Dr. Sima Desai, Dr. David Gilbert, Dr. Marian Hodges, and Dr. Claudia Leonard as Masters in the College during my governorship. It has been a special privilege for me to walk in convocation and honor these colleagues.

Wellness Activities

In addition to recognizing excellence in our Chapter, the Wellness Committee, led by Dr. Fareha Nawaz and Dr. Mary Gearn, offered resources to our members to counter the effects of the past difficult years. During the pandemic years, the Wellness Committee sent out “Caring for You” messages of hope that included poetry, quotes, images, and lessons for healing. They also offered programming at the annual meeting to support our members, encourage post-traumatic growth and healing, and provide models for systemic incremental change. This committee supported our Story Slam at the Annual Meetings, an addition that has helped center humanism and service at the heart of our scientific programming while providing time and space for processing the experience of doctoring as presented by physicians at all ages and stages (from student to senior physician). The Wellness Committee has also partnered with our WIM on the summer family picnic and Leadership Luncheon. This committee leadership is in transition and I am grateful for the essential perspective they have brought to our membership during the pandemic and its aftermath.

Oregon Chapter Annual Meeting

I want to recognize the remarkable work of two of our most important committees. The Annual Meeting Planning Committee which has been led by Dr. Sima Desai, Dr. Claire Zeigler, and now by Dr. Laura Loertscher and Dr. Irene Foley over the past four years, has had to tackle immense challenges and a changing landscape. This committee transitioned to a virtual format at a time when many medical associations simply cancelled their hallmark annual event and provided programming responsive to current events including the racial equity reckoning and workforce traumas. In answer to member feedback, the committee has started a meeting site rotation to new locations around the state to engage a broader segment of our membership and to remind the internal medicine community everywhere in Oregon that we are all essential, important, and served by this organization. I hope to see new faces at our upcoming meeting at the Riverhouse Resort in Bend, Oregon, September 25th - 26th.

Finance Committee: Raising Our Game

The last committee that deserves recognition for impressive work over the past years is the Finance Committee, under the leadership of our Treasurer and committee chair, Dr. Sarah Rahkola. Dr. Rahkola has brought an intelligent and thoughtful focus to our management of Chapter resources, working closely with our executive director to improve transparency, standardize safety measures in financial management, set up a budgeting process that allows strategic priorities to be weighed, and increases intentional activity on fundraising. The Chapter introduced a new memorial Scholarship Fund this year, honoring beloved Oregon Physician Dr. Walt McDonald MD MACP, EVP and CEO Emeritus of the College (1995-2005), who passed away on July 31st, 2023. This scholarship fund supports travel to national ACP events for trainees with demonstrated scholarship and commitment to careers in internal medicine. Dr. Rahkola has also developed a multi-chapter collaborative effort to train Chapter leaders on how to increase and optimize efforts to increase sponsorships, grant opportunities, and other fundraising efforts to support important Chapter work. The Chapter hosted an impactful event, “Raising Our Game! Building Sustainable Chapter Revenue: Sponsorships” this past winter with two more events to come. The Chapter has also enrolled in Benevity which allows eligible donors to have corporate matching funds directed to the Chapter’s general fund.

ED and Secretary Transitions

Oregon Chapter work does not progress without the dedicated support of our staff. We had a 27-year run with Executive Director, Ms. Mary Olhausen, whose time ended early in 2023 when she handed the reins to Mr. Mike Oechsner with Association Management Inc. in Gig Harbor, Washington. Our Chapter Secretary, Dr. Mike Kositch also retired soon after and Dr. Adam Obley stepped into the role. With these transitions, there has been work done to expand and update Chapter policies, processes, website, communications, and records maintenance. Chapter leaders continue to expand use of Cloud-based workspaces and committee files. The Chapter Council, with assistance from our executive director, has developed a 2024-2028 Strategic Plan that will guide work for the coming years.

As I look back over the past 4-5 unprecedented years, I am struck by the incredible love, support, and dedication of many of our members. I have been so grateful for the continued active presence and counsel of past governors: Dr. Jim Reuler, Dr. Bob Gluckman, Dr. Linda Humphrey, Dr. Tom Cooney, and Dr. Marianne Parshley. These dear friends have been mentors, sponsors, and cheerleaders for so many of us in the time I have been in Oregon. They continue to play that role in the background for many of the people involved in our Chapter. They reflect the broader remarkable community of governors and council members who form a network across the country and indeed the world, supporting the integrity of our profession, creating an unbreakable chain of dedication and service. I am so thankful to have been given the gift of knowing these people and developing lifelong friendships through ACP. 

Welcome Dr. Alex Schafir

Finally, please help me welcome Dr. Alex Schafir as our new governor at the end of Internal Medicine Meeting 2025 in New Orleans. He has been with the Governor’s Council for more than a decade and involved with Chapter work for even longer. He knows our Chapter well and with his leadership, I look forward to seeing more exciting initiatives. 

For those of you who will be joining us in Louisiana next week, please check in with us at the Northwest Chapter Reception on Friday, April 4th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the New Orleans Marriott in Galerie 6. For those who can’t make it to IMM25, I hope you will all join us at the Annual Scientific Meeting in Bend, Oregon September 25th - 26th, 2025. 

It has been a privilege. Thank you.

American College of Physicians - Oregon Chapter



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