September 27, 2022

NEED TO KNOW

Please Join VMS in Honoring the 2022 Leadership Award Recipients

Every year, VMS asks our members to nominate Vermont leaders who have provided outstanding contributions to the medical profession, to health organizations and to the welfare of the public. VMS is proud to announce this year's 2022 Leadership Award Recipients, who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the health of their patients and all Vermonters through the stress of the ever-evolving pandemic. The recipients are:

Distinguished Service Award goes to Edward Borrazzo, MD, FACS

"Awarded for being mentor, an advisor, a friend, and a stanch supporter of Medical Students, Surgical Residents, hospital colleagues, and surgeons here in Vermont and nationally."

Physician Award for Community Service goes to Kim Blake, M.D.

"Dr. Blake's volunteer work raising awareness of substance use disorder, working with families who have lost loved ones, treating patients with substance use disorder, and advocating for harm reduction methods, has made a big impact in Vermont."

Physician of the Year Award goes to Jason Brazelton, MD and Tim Lahey, MD, MSMC

"Dr. Brazelton’s thoughtful and collaborative approach has improved care in our community and Porter’s Medical staff has been incredibly fortunate to work with him"

"Whether it's updating the medical staff, testifying before the legislature, or speaking regularly with the media, Tim manages to discuss complex issues with compassion and empathy."

Founders' Award goes to Wendy Davis, MD, FAAP

" Dr. Davis has been a beloved primary care pediatrician, the director of the Maternal Child Health division at the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont's Health Commissioner, and most recently a leader in the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program."

Citizen of the Year Award goes to Patsy Kelso, PhD and Megan Humphrey

"Patsy has kept Vermonters aware and updated on the state of the pandemic through data presentations, press conferences and media interviews. She has been a calm, clear, and knowledgeable voice for Vermonters throughout the pandemic"

"Megan is the founder of Helping and Nurturing Diverse Seniors (HANDS). They have offered meals for 20 years, supported the development of gardening programs, and partnered with a local community senior center and local volunteers to create the “Support Buddies” program."

These awards will be presented on Friday, November 4th at 7pm in-person and virtually, as part of the 209th Annual & Collaborative meeting of the Vermont Medical Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians and the Vermont Psychiatric Association on November 4 & 5th, 2022.

For more information on the agenda click here. Register Register to attend the awards banquet recognizing the Leadership Awards Recipients or full meeting here.

Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, Infectious Disease Updates

Commissioner of Health Mark Levine, MD, held an update call with the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems last Friday. Notes from the call can be found here. He addressed the status of COVID-19, Human Monkeypox Virus and Polio, while stating that all three are relatively quiet in Vermont at the moment. VMS will hold our next call with Commissioner Levine on Thursday, October 6th at 12:30 pm. Learn more and find the call information here.

Vermont Public: Answering Questions on Article 22

Vermont Public is hosting a Vermont Edition episode today on Article 22, Vermont’s Reproductive Liberty Amendment.   VMS member and OBGYN, Lauren MacAfee, MD, joined the show, which was broadcast live today at noon and will rebroadcast tonight at 7pm.  Find ways to stream the episode here. VMS also featured an article in the Rounds last week on “What Can You Do to Help Pass Article 22?”.  See the archived article here or contact jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org for more ways to get involved in supporting Article 22.

Reminder to Register for VMS Hosted Fall Candidate Meet and Greets this October

Please join the Vermont Medical Society this fall for candidate meet & greets in three districts across the State. These will be in-person social events to which we are inviting Vermont State House and Senate legislative candidates from Washington, Chittenden and Rutland counties to member-led receptions in their respective districts. VMS members who work or practice in these districts are invited to these informal meet & greets to get to know the candidates who could be representing them after the general election in November. For questions please email Jill Sudhoff-Guerin at jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org.

Register for each event below (events are free to members but a head count is needed) :

MISC.

Information Blocking Rule Expansions Effective Oct. 6th

In April 2021, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) rules on information blocking went into effect. Information blocking is defined as practices that are likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). Physicians, hospitals, electronic health record vendors, health information exchanges, and health information networks are all subject to ONC's regulations. Since April 2021, information blocking requirements have been focused on a narrow subset all EHI. However, starting October 6, 2022, ONC’s information blocking requirements shift to the entire set of EHI. After October 6, physicians and other actors will be responsible for the access, exchange, or use of the full EHI requirement. The linked document provides an overview from the American Medical Association of the information blocking regulations, EHI definition, and recommendations for physicians to prepare for the upcoming deadline.

    Providing Health Care to Refugees: Using an Interpreter Webinar

    Join us on September 29th from 12:15pm to 1pm EST, for a webinar that will discuss using an interpreter.

    This webinar is a part of a series of webinars on Health Care for Refugees hosted by the Vermont Medical Society. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Registration is required here.

    To learn more about what other topics will be included in this series, click here.

    Apply Today: Applications Now Open for 2023 VMS ERF Leadership Course

    The Vermont Medical Society Education & Research Foundation is proud to open applications for a 4th statewide Physician Executive Leadership Institute Foundational Course beginning in January 2023.

    This course is offered in partnership with the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Lumunos and is supported by funding from the Physicians Foundation.  Perhaps more than ever before physicians and PAs are being asked to step up and skillfully lead rapid change. Every clinician is being called upon to bring their leadership and management styles and skills to the forefront to ensure the best outcomes for Vermont patients. VMSERF is pleased to continue to offer an experiential learning opportunity that will enhance and fine-tune leadership skills and concepts for a statewide cohort of Vermont physicians and PAs.

    The course will run from January through November 2023.  It is aimed at individuals with 5 or more years of clinical experience but minimal formal leadership training, with a goal of enrolling 15-20 physicians and PAs from across Vermont.  To apply, submit a CV and brief description of interest to swinters@vtmd.org by October 14th. View the full 2023 brochure, schedule and application information here.

    Now Accepting Applications: VPHP Medical Director Position

    The Vermont Practitioner Health Program (VPHP), a program of the Vermont Medical Society, is seeking a psychiatrist or other appropriately experienced physician or clinician for a part-time Medical Director position.  The purpose of VPHP is to identify, evaluate and ensure effective treatment for clinicians whose ability to practice medicine is impaired, or is at the risk of becoming impaired. The Medical Director is responsible for assessing and developing evaluation and treatment plans for all referred health professionals and managing the clinical operations of the program.  The Medical Director does not provide direct treatment services.   It is an excellent opportunity to work with a statewide program to further its mission of assisting health professionals in the state of Vermont.  This is a part-time independent contractor position, approximately 1/4 FTE, with specific hours to vary weekly based on the needs to the program and as determined by the Medical Director.  To apply, submit a cover letter, resume and references to VPHP Program Administrator Colleen Magne, cmagne@vtmd.org.  Applications will be accepted through Monday, October 17th.  For full details on the position including qualifications and duties, click here. For more information about VPHP, click here.
     

    EVENTS

    No Cost Well-Being Workshops

    VMS is continuing our partnership with Doug Wysockey-Johnson of LumunosWellBeing to offer no-cost clinician wellbeing workshops at up to 10 Vermont medical staffs/practices over 2022. There are 3 remaining slots available this summer.  New topics for 2022 include A Clinician’s Guide to Recovering from the COVID Marathon and A Realistic Look at ‘Work-Home Balance’ for Clinicians. See the full list and additional details here.  Members can contact jbarnard@vtmd.org or doug@lumunos.org for more information or to schedule a workshop. 

    Growing a Competent Workforce

    in a Rural State: The University of Kentucky Bell Addiction Medicine Scholar Program

    September 28, 2022, 12pm to 1pm ET

    Virtual

    Presenter Michelle Lofwall, MD, DFAPA, DFASAM, Professor of Behavioral Science and Psychiatry, and Bell Alcohol and Addictions Endowed Chair at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research will explore the importance of treatment and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) along the continuum of care in rural communities. It will also outline a training program taking place at the University of Kentucky for physicians who are treating patients and educating future physicians.

    Register here.

    Structural Competence and Cultural Humility to Address Disparities and Inequities: A Foundational Health Equity Training

    September 30, 2022 9am to 12:30pm OR 2pm to 5:30pm

    This training from Maria Mercedes Avila, PhD, MSW, MED will go over the following learning objectives:

    • Demonstrate increased self-awareness of racial, ethnic and class biases
    • Define cultural and linguistic competency and indicate familiarity with the stages of cultural competency (or continuum)
    • Describe the implications of demographic trends for health disparities
    • Identify links between racial and health inequities and health disparities
    • Integrate National CLAS Standards into practice and service providing
    • Describe how cultural beliefs shape clinical encounters and patients’ health outcomes
    • Incorporate structural competence and cultural humility into service providing

    Register for the 9am to 12:30pm training session here.


    Register for the 2pm to 5:30pm training session here.


    To view the other provider bias training opportunities, click here.

    25th Annual Women's Health and Cancer Conference

    September 30, 2022, 8am to 3pm EST

    In-person and Virtual


    Join us for a special 25th anniversary celebration and a keynote address by Kim Dittus, MD, PhD, Moving from treating cancer to treating the whole person. 

    This free, educational event is geared towards a broad range of clinical providers as well as patients, friends and family members, researchers, and caregivers. Together, you'll learn about cancer screening, treatment, survivorship, reducing the cancer burden, and how the science has changed over 25 years (and where it’s going next). This conference is accredited at no charge to participants courtesy of the UVM Cancer Center.

    For more information about the speakers, sessions, accreditation and to register please visit here.

    Fall 2022 Virtual Ethics Education Series

    October 4th, October 11th, October 19th, 12:00pm to 1:15pm EST

    The Vermont Ethics Network presents their Fall 2022 Virtual Ethics Education Series, which has topics including:

    • October 4th - Patient Safety and the Dignity of Risk 
      • Learn more and register here
    • October 11th - Can Long Term Care Facilities Really say NO to Taking Patients Back? presented by Zail S. Berry
      • Learn more and register here
    • October 19th - Ethical Management of Clinician-Patient Conflict in the Hospital, presented by Tim Lahey. 
      • Learn more and register here

    VMS COVID Conversation with the Commissioner of Health, Mark Levine, M.D.

    October 6th at 12:30pm EST

    The next time we will speak with the Commissioner of Health will be October 6, 2022 where he will provide us with the most pressing information affecting the state and nation. You will have the opportunity to submit questions to Dr. Levine who will answer them, time-permitting.

    You can join the zoom meetings here which take place on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 12:30pm to 1pm EST or add to your calendar by following this link and clicking download (you will then need to open the downloaded file and click save to add to your calendar).

    Supporting FAMILIES Impacted by Substance Use/Mental Illness

    October 8, 2022, 1:30pm to 3pm EDT

    In-person at Jenna's House

    AND

    October 9, 2022, 4pm to 5:30pm EDT

    In-person at Rock Point Center

    Dr. Libby Stuyt, the Vermont Psychiatric Association 2022 Keynote Speaker will lead the conference.

    This training will educate providers on the needs of families impacted by a loved one's substance use disorder or severe mental illness. The aim is to both increase awareness of the needs of this group of individuals' for support and provide tools such as traditional CBT as well as acupuncture and mindfulness training that can decrease the family member's stress, anxiety or PTSD. Resilient families help create healthy communities where recovery is possible and supported.

    Evidence based tools such as mindfulness practice, acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback and emotional freedom technics will be introduced. Providers, including EMTs and first responders, will also learn non-pharmacological methods to decrease patient's anxiety, stress and PTSD while helping to cultivate coherence, self calming and emotional regulation .

    Register here.

    Vermont ACP Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting

    October 14, 2022

    Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT

    The Vermont ACP Chapter's Annual Scientific Meeting will occur on Friday, October 14, 2022. The ACP is optimistically planning for an in-person meeting. The ACP will host a virtual poster competition for resident and student members.

    Update your medical knowledge, engage with colleagues, and receive CME credits and MOC points.

    For meeting details and to register, click here.

    Private Practice Simple Solutions: Team Documentation

    October 18, 2022, 10:00 am CDT

    The AMA’s newly launched Private Practice Simple Solutions series is designed to help implement actionable changes that can improve efficiencies within a physician’s practice.

    Each FREE multi-week session focuses on a single topic. This Team Documentation session will be a panel with subject matter expert on common obstacles  in a clinical vignette.

    Register here.

    Neurology for the Non-Neurology

    October 21, 2022, The Essex in Essex, VT

    Back at The Essex, this course is designed to update the non-neurologist on how to diagnose common neurological disorders, order appropriate diagnostic studies, and provide appropriate patient care. Topics include: Headache, Epilepsy, MS, Office Neuro Exam, Neuro-Oncology, Long COVID and more. 

    For more information about speakers, sessions, accreditation and to register please visit here.

    Integrated Care: Hub & Spoke and Beyond

    October 20, 2022, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and October 21, 2022, 8:30am to 1:00 pm

    CME credit available (up to 6.75 credit hours).  No cost to attend.

    Two break out sessions on October 21st (MOUD for Patients with Multiple Prescribers & MOUD and Surgery) can meet up to 1 hour of the required hour of prescribing controlled substances credits for those with a DEA license. (Note you will still need to complete a second hour that discusses Vermont laws and prescribing rule).

    See the full agenda and register here.

    Northern New England Neurological Society Annual Meeting

    October 21-22, 2022, The Essex in Essex, VT

    The NNENS Annual Meeting will present an update on latest treatments and therapeutic options across the field. The meeting is open to neurologists and other medical professionals with an interest in neurology. You do not need to be a NNENS member to attend!

    For more information about speakers, sessions, accreditation and to register please visit here.

    Osteoporosis Update for Primary Care 2022

    November 4, 2022, The Hampton Inn Conference Center in Colchester, VT

    Designed to improve the skills of the primary care healthcare team as they are often the first to encounter patients who have, or who are at risk of developing, osteoporosis. Topics include: Osteo in men, treatment medications, proper use of calcium and vitamin D, fractures from an orthopedic standpoint, and more!

    For more information about our speakers, sessions, accreditation and to register please visit here.

    Vermont Medical Society Annual and Collaborative Meeting

    November 4th and 5th, 2022

    The 209th VMS Annual Meeting will be held on November 4th and 5th in person at Topnotch Resort, Stowe, VT, with virtual options. The weekend will be filled with educational content, time to spend with colleagues, policy-setting meetings, and the opportunity to honor physicians and other health care leaders across the state. VMS’ Annual Meeting, hosted in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians and the Vermont Psychiatric Association, is a celebration of the unwavering commitment Vermont clinicians have to their practice and to the deep connection VMS members have with each other.

    To view more information or submit nominees for 2022 leadership awards, please click here.

    Register here.

    UVM will have conferences for Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Dermatology and Anesthesia this Winter 2023. Sign-up to get updates via email for topics that are of interest here.

    VTMD.ORG

    Vermont Medical Society

    134 Main Street

    Montpelier, VT 05602

    -- Unsubscribe --