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A periodic publication for SR-AHEC alumni volume 2 summer 2003
Welcome Send Us Your E-mail
You can receive updates and notice
Check out what’s happening of upcoming events by e-mail. It
only takes a minute to send us
around Southern Regional AHEC your e-address:
Welcome to the second edition of in medical education. We still have Direct an e-mail to:
the Duke/ Southern Regional AHEC carol.russell@sr-ahec.org
five questions, again answered by
In the subject line, put
Family Practice Residency Program a member of the class of 1999. (I
ALUMNI.
Alumni newsletter! promise the next set of five questions In the body, put your first
A lot has happened since our first will be asked of someone from a and last name.
issue came out in November — we’ve different graduation class.) In future
graduated another class of residents, issues we will tell you a little about It’s easy! And we promise not to
we held a fun and informative Alumni some of the faculty members that were send you superfluous mail.
CME event and we have begun here when you were here and what
orientation for a whole new group of they are now doing. If you’ve got a
residents. In this issue we will show favorite faculty member that you would
you some pictures from the alumni like to know more about, drop me an
get together and tell you what all e-mail or give me a call.
happened, and we will try to explain Enjoy!
what’s new, exciting or challenging Lenny
Announcing ... Thanks, Alumni................... 2
Worst Practices .................. 3
The Alumni Web Page! Q&A Questions................... 3
Alumni Reunion .................. 4
www.SouthernRegionalAHEC.org/residency/alumni.htm
Building A Residency ..... 6, 7
About the Match ................. 8
An exciting new place to go!
• Review current and past newsletters in Family Practice Trends....... 9
Acrobat PDF format.
What’s New ...................... 10
• Cruise alumni news, photos and memories.
• Contact us with any questions. Q&A Answers ................... 10
Check it out! You may find yourself or someone you
ACGME Competencies .... 12
know there!
Pat Lowry.......................... 12
For information on any of our CME programs, go to
For information on any of our CME programs, go to
www.southernregionalahec.org/reis/cme_medicine.htm Let’s Party......................... 14
www.SouthernRegionalAHEC.org/reis/cme_medicine.htm
2
2
It Was Great
To Have You Here!
Thanks to all the alumni and Alumni
faculty who returned to SR-AHEC
to reunite, remember and forge new Susan Aycock (1990)
relations among us. We are grateful
Karen Barefoot (1990)
for the special energy you brought
to the day’s professional events and Sandra Carr (1999)
celebrations. It was our pleasure to
Martina Dockery (2000)
have you as our guests, and
Marla Berg-Weger talks about we hope you will return again Stephanie Gillette
driving and dementia. next year!
(Oh dear, am I driving?) (Littrell, 1987)
Ben Hardin
(1980 – First Graduating Class!)
Faculty Nicole Holman (2001)
Darlene Johnson-Oduyelu
(2000)
Marla Berg-Weger, former director of behavioral science program;
Leila Kahwati (1999)
Chris Manasseh, former member of residency medical faculty;
Catherine Kelly (1993)
Lars Larsen, former residency director.
Gail Margerum (1989)
Pamela Murphy (2001)
At left, Darlene
Johnson-Oduyelu; Tandeka Nix (2002)
Below, PDA Boot Camp: Lenny Salzberg (1991)
power users in the making! Janine Scott-Lowe (1999)
3
By Amy Vega
Director of Allied Health
Education, SR-AHEC
Worst Practices
We spend a lot of time talking Don’t sweep mistakes under the carpet ;
about the things that we do well. It’s
only natural to claim bragging rights Share the valuable lessons you have learned.
when we are successful and we
love to share our best practices with she and I worked diligently with other that before and it just doesn’t work.” It
others. But why is it that when we folks from Coastal, Eastern, Area L was through our sharing of flops and
make mistakes or do things less than and Wake AHEC to plan a conference failures in program planning that we
perfectly, we sweep it under the carpet that was designed to reach a small somehow discovered the formula for
and move on? There are so many group of educators across the state developing and delivering a nearly
valuable lessons to be learned from of North Carolina — but drew a much perfect conference.
our “worst practices,” and it’s too bad larger crowd than we had expected, It was only fitting that we hosted
that we don’t make more of an effort from seven different states across a panel discussion at this conference
to share them. the country. titled “Flops and Failures in Healthcare
SR-AHEC recently co-sponsored a We were pleasantly surprised, and Education,” in which four people
conference with four other AHECs, the one has to wonder where this windfall from various settings in healthcare
North Carolina Healthcare Educators of success came from. I truly believe education told stories about their own
Summit. Myself and Andrea Novak that we owe a lot of it to the fact that “worst practices” — things that they
from REIS served on the planning in our planning meetings, we shared tried, but just didn’t work, for whatever
committee as the SR-AHEC lots of ideas and we were quick to reason.
representatives. For the past year, tell each other, “Sorry, but I’ve tried Continued on page 5
Make a difference through your charitable contribution:
Donate and help SR-AHEC develop and
support the health care workforce.
Contribute in memory of a person or for a Answers on Page 10
specific purpose consistent with the SR-AHEC
mission; or 1. If you read a newspaper,
which part of the newspaper
Bequeath your contribution.
do you read first?
If you would like to make a contribution, please contact Deborah Teasley,
(910) 678-7230, or Lynn Greene at (910) 678-7232. 2. Where can you get the
best barbecue?
Credits 3. What were you doing on
September 11th when the
The Rotations newsletter is published by Southern Regional AHEC,
first plane hit?
1601 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304. If you have items of interest that
you would like included in an upcoming issue, please contact Sherry Stafford 4. What is your favorite
at (910) 678-7234 or e-mail Sherry at sherry.stafford@sr-ahec.org. vegetable?
Lenny Salzberg, publisher 5. If you had to choose a
Sherry Stafford, editor and graphic illustrator different medical specialty
Donna K. Bridges, page designer to practice, which would
you choose and why?
4
Alumni Day
... And Night
Day — Learning!
Stephanie Gilette, dispelling the PDA mystique!
Lively topics,
lots of chatter dominate
first alumni reunion
Night — Catching Up!
From left to right, Marla Berg-Weger, Susan
By Sherry Stafford Aycock and Lenny Salzberg.
CME Conference
What do thyroid, dementia and congestive heart Our wall of excited chatter and laughter rocked the loft
failure have in common? They were all morning section! Some lingered long over lunch or reunited with
lecture topics at the 2003 Alumni Conference! Dr. old acquaintances at SR-AHEC. Others hurried back for
Lars Larsen spoke (Update on Thyroid Disease), the afternoon class.
Dr. Marla Berg-Weger presented “The Family and A strong gathering of new PDA users acquired
Community Perspective on Driving and Dementia,” skills and received answers to setup problems they
and then Dr. Chris Manasseh updated us on had encountered in PDA Boot Camp, a three-hour
congestive heart failure. Breakfast goodies and crash course on the use of personal digital assistants
lively conversation filled the breaks in between. After (palm computers). Dr. Joyce Copeland, assistant
all, this was the first event of the first-ever gathering clinical professor at Duke University Medical Center,
of SR-AHEC alumni! All agreed that the lectures demonstrated the power of the PDA as a reference tool for
were very well done. (Three CMEs down and three physicians. Saundra Stanley, SR-AHEC ORPCE director,
to go.) helped attendees get a handle on Graffiti (handwriting
So what could follow a successful first act? A recognition system used by the Palm operating system).
delightful lunch for 30, catered at a stylish downtown Sherry Stafford, SR-AHEC IT specialist, demonstrated
mini-brewery! Although the food and atmosphere PDA software installation and file management.
were great, they took a back seat to conversation.
Continued on next page
5
Alumni
From page 4
Everyone left with some “Women
exciting new skills and ideas for Ironing”
customizing PDAs. The class by Edgar
dispersed to various corners of Degas,
Fayetteville to get ready for the
graduation celebration.
Musee
Graduation Dinner d’Orsay,
The first event of the gala was Paris 1884
an open cocktail bar and, if noise
level was any indication, it was
very successful in stimulating
conversation. Carol Russell’s
Worst Practices
creativity was evident throughout From page 3
the ballroom (red-white-blue One speaker talked about the When the public health workers came
ribbons, flowers and floating dilemmas that were experienced back in for follow-up, the men in the
balloon centerpieces decorated when a large conference on community showed them that they had
the tables) and in the menu. women’s health was hosted, but been doing just what they had been
With all the guests seated and the two-stall women’s restroom instructed to do — placing condoms
served, the cocktail din leveled quickly ran out of toilet paper. over poles before intercourse.
to a pleasant tone of dinner The attendees spent the rest After much laugher, the audience
conversation. of the day so upset over the jumped in to volunteer stories of
Dessert was followed inadequate bathroom facilities their own. Then, the panel followed
by a round of diplomas and that they missed the key up with an open discussion, inviting
acknowledgment for the objectives of the conference. conference attendees to offer their
graduates: James W. Brook, DO; Another presenter talked about guesses as to why the “flops and
Tanya J. Canfield, MD; Norman a “Breast Health Awareness” failures” had occurred, and how we
D. Means, MD; Jorge A. Sabin, campaign, which went afoul can practice in reverse for success.
MD and Robert G. Townsend III, when the marketing group We heard from several participants
DO. Each graduate was received that published their materials that the “Flops and Failures in
by representatives of the Duke/ left out the word “Health” and Healthcare Education” was the best
SR-AHEC Family Medicine instead implemented a “Breast session of all at our conference. I
Residency: Dr. Deborah Teasley, Awareness” campaign. think that it speaks volumes to what
SR-AHEC president and CEO; Not to be outdone, another we have to gain from sharing our
Dr. Lenny Salzberg, SR-AHEC panelist volunteered his “worst practices”. A wealth of lessons
residency program director; and experience from working with lie in the mistakes that we make. We
Dr. Joyce Copeland, assistant a project to introduce condom can either choose to tuck it away and
clinical professor at Duke usage to a tribal population forget that we failed — or share what
University Medical Center. overseas. When public health we’ve learned with others and pass
The final event is always the workers taught men how to on the wisdom that we’ve gained.
most fun — dancing! DJs provided correctly put on a condom Better yet, we can laugh — when it’s
music that inspired a throng (using poles as the model), appropriate — and remind ourselves
of participants in line dancing, the leaders of the tribe were that we’re all imperfect, and worst
electric boogie slide, shag, swing enthusiastic about implementing practices are written into our job
and slow dancing. You need what seemed like a fairly easy descriptions as human beings.
only look at the photos to feel the intervention. Only they weren’t So when you finish reading this
festivity. (See www.sr-ahec.org/ so happy a year later, when article, make it a point to go tell a
residency/alumni.htm). With that they reported back to the public co-worker, or call a colleague, or drop
many people dancing, you’d health community that their birth an email to an old friend — about your
better carve out your territory and rate had risen dramatically. own worst practices. You’ll be glad
keep in step! you did.
6
Building A Residency
Winter 1974 July 1974 August 1974
Charter of the Incorporation Buildings and
NC AHEC program of FAHEF land purchased
August 1974 August 1974 January 1975
Nursing program grows; Dr. William Hall
V.A., Womack civilian
Barbara McGrath (not shown) becomes the first
cooperation planned
becomes first director FAHEC director
March 1975 June 1975 February 1976
Dermatology Clinic FAHEF becomes Family practice
started at UNC affiliated with Duke residency approved
7
July 1976 September 1976 January 1977
Duke OB and FP residents Drs. Godwin and Goldstein Dr. Koek (shown)
to Cape Fear Valley Hospital come aboard and Dr. Howiler
recruited
February 1977 April 1977 Fun is timeless...
CME began Dr. Willis recruited Some things never change
Residents pictured below are: Clark Hammer, Ben
Hardin, Frank Hoffman and Steve Weigand.
July 1977 Followed by 25 years of June 2003
Learning... The residency program
First family practice begins its 26th year,
residents entered Teaching... now under the direction of
the program Healing Dr. Lenny Salzberg
8
About The Match
March 27, 2003
By Lenny Salzberg
Residency Program Director
There are several moments in
my life that stay with me forever: the
first time I played “spin the bottle,”
pitching and winning a little league
championship game, reading the
Haftorah at my Bar Mitzvah, my
wedding day and the birth of my
three beautiful children. Two other
moments that have helped shape me
professionally are when I was fired
from a job as a waiter and when I
matched with FAHEC on Match Day.
Getting fired is a whole other story;
today I’d like to talk about the Match. The New Residents: Class of 2006
Match Day is a big day for medical Southern Regional AHEC’s Class of 2006 is, from back, left to right:
students. It is when we find out where Jeremy Ackermann, DO; Brad Butler, MD; Johnnie Moultrie, MD;
we are going to spend the next three DeShonta Springs, MD; Samar Elgendy, MD; and Lori Haigler, MD.
years of our lives. As students, we
have big decisions to make. What type
of specialty will we practice?” “What it isn ’t Mac-and-Cheese or Ramen Fayetteville and teaches our residents
part of the country would we like to live Noodles)?” in a practice that is owned by Cape
in?” “Should we eat Mac-and-Cheese I’m writing this one week after Fear Valley Hospital. One of our new
and Ramen Noodles for two more applicants for residency programs residents grew up in Fayetteville,
weeks in order to afford to interview found out where they matched for the and his father still works at Cape
at one more program?” For most of coming year. So much has happened Fear Valley Hospital. Two of our new
us Match Day is the first day that in one week that it is hard for me to residents rotated with us for a month
we know we’ll be a “real doctor” and believe that so little time has passed. and did a great job. Both of them play
actually have a job the following year. We filled three of six positions in ultimate Frisbee.
For residency programs and the match. We filled three of three Finding good residents is not easy.
program directors, Match Day is also positions in the scramble. We are very I think we’ve done a very good job
huge. Questions that run through happy with our six new residents. Four of adding to our FAHEC/SR-AHEC
our minds include, “Will we fill all our of the new residents went to medical family.
positions in the Match?” “Will we fill school in North Carolina. One of the By the way, I had a mandarin
any unfilled positions we may have new residents will be the second chicken wrap from “What’s for Lunch?”
on the ‘Scramble?’ ” “Will we get resident ever in our AOA approved DO on the day of the scramble, but I do
good residents?” “What will I eat for internship. One of our new residents is eat Mac-and Cheese quite frequently
lunch if we have to scramble (I hope married to a pediatrician who lives in (my children love it!).
9
Family Practice Trends expenditures of more than $1.1 trillion
The following is edited from http:// Fill rate falls short each year. For 16 measurable health
www.aafp.org/match/nrmpinfo.html.
for residencies indicators, the U.S. recently ranked
12th of 13 countries in an international
The 2003 national fill rate for family in family practice comparison. These critical failings
practice residency positions is 2,239 of our current health care system
positions filled out of 2,940 positions had experienced three consecutive were confirmed by a separate WHO
offered (76.2%). This represents a years of increased positions filled from study which ranked the United
decrease in the percentage of family 1998 to 2001, followed by a decrease States 15th among 25 industrialized
practice residency positions filled in 2002, increasing again in 2003. countries. While arguments have
through the NRMP over 2002. Forty- Emergency medicine offered 41 been offered that lifestyle choices
three fewer family practice positions more positions in 2003 (1,114 vs. are the primary cause of our poor
(1.4%) were offered in 2003 than 1,073), representing an increase of national health status, these have not
in 2002. About 118 fewer positions 3.8%. In 2003, the fill rate was 96.3% been demonstrated to have merit in
(5.0%) were filled in 2003 compared compared with 98.0% in 2001. U.S. comparison to other nations. The crisis
with 2002 (2,239/76.2% vs. 2,357/ seniors accounted for 77.1% in 2003 of our health status, while certainly
79.0%). compared with 80.7% in 2002 (859 multifactorial, appears to hinge on
Some 179 fewer positions (12.7%) vs. 866). the failings of our system to provide
were filled with U.S. seniors in 2003 Discussion adequate, appropriate primary care
compared with 2002 (1,234/42.0% Medical students in 2003 continue to meet the needs of our nation.
vs. 1,413/47.4%). Of U.S. seniors to demonstrate a preference for Improving access to care can only
participating in the 2003 NRMP, 8.6% medical subspecialties over primary improve health so long as the access
matched in family practice compared care practice when compared with is to the appropriate care. Recent
with 9.9% in 2002. Similarly, of U.S. data from the past few years. This studies clearly demonstrate that the
seniors matching, 9.2% matched trend is apparent among graduates of higher the primary care physician-to-
in family practice compared with both MD and DO medical schools. population ratio in a state, the better
10.5% in 2002. 2003 is the sixth As seen in the past five years, the health outcomes. Furthermore, of
consecutive year since 1998 that a graduates are selecting careers that the seven countries with the highest
smaller percentage of U.S. seniors, offer more flexible lifestyle choices average health rankings, five have
participating and matching through and potential for greater financial strong primary care infrastructures.
the NRMP, matched in family practice incentives. They are also choosing Of particular concern is a recent
than the previous year. practice environments that provide study indicating that, of physicians
Contrast With Other fewer external productivity pressures practicing rural primary care, U.S.
Specialty Trends and more generous third party-payer medical graduates are more likely
Two marker disciplines, reimbursement. Strikingly similar, to choose family medicine, whereas
anesthesiology and diagnostic Canadian medical students cite international medical graduates are
radiology, experienced increases in low pay, high student debt and low more likely to choose rural internal
both positions offered and filled in prestige among the reasons for not medicine or rural pediatric practices. In
2003. In anesthesiology, about 40 selecting family medicine careers. 2003, the trend of fewer U.S. medical
more positions (10.7%) were filled in Family medicine in the United States graduates entering family practice
2003 compared with 2002 (415 vs. has experienced a decline in fill rate to residencies has worsened, ultimately
375) and 14 more (4.6%) were filled the levels of approximately the 1993 translating into fewer rural family
with U.S. seniors (321 vs. 307). This Match. The result of this disturbing physicians. Because family physicians
represents the seventh consecutive trend is a health care delivery system provide the vast majority of patient
year of increases in anesthesiology. that is severely compromised in its care in rural areas of the nation, the
Eight additional positions (6.4%) ability to meet the growing needs of decline in U.S. graduates choosing
were filled in diagnostic radiology in our nation. family medicine may have the most
2003 compared with 2002 (133 vs. The United States population dramatic impact in our nation’s
125), with eight more U.S. seniors does not have the best health status greatest areas of need.
(7.4%) entering diagnostic radiology indicators, as determined by the World
(116 vs. 108). Diagnostic radiology Health Organization (WHO), despite Continued on page 14
10
Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, N.C. This issue’s answers from
The Graduates of 2002 Kyndall was 7 lbs., 13 ounces and 21
inches. Tracy Hamill M.D., class of 1999
Dr. Tandeka Nix has been named Dr. Thuy Keriakes has a 7-month-
the Director of Women’s Health old, Stephen. Thuy and her husband 1. If you read a newspaper,
and Director of the Women’s Health live in Fort Worth, Texas. which part of the newspaper
Fellowship at East Carolina University.
She completed both Women’s Health do you read first?
and Faculty Development Fellowships The Graduates of 2001 Front page (then the
June 21, 2003. obituaries).
Dr. Jorge Rodgriquez has Dr. Pamela Murphy is the director
completed two fellowships at East of Osteopathic Medical Education 2. Where can you get the
Carolina University — Sports Medicine for the Southern Regional Area best barbecue?
and Faculty Development, June 21, Health Education Center’s Family
Medicine Residency Program. She The Smokin’ Pit, Tell City, IN
2003. He also published the cover
article for the April 1, 2003, edition was instrumental in developing the
of “American Family Physician.” His program’s osteopathic internship, the 3. What were you doing on
article is entitled “The Prevention and first osteopathic internship in the state September 11th when the
Treatment of Common Eye Injuries of North Carolina. She, her husband
Dr. Eric Fisher, and their two children, first plane hit?
in Sports.” The web address for Dr.
Rodriquez’s article is www.aafp.org/ Maggie and Rebecca, are doing well. Getting ready for work.
afp/20030401. He received an award
for “Best Two Minute Presentation” The Graduates of 2000 4. What is your favorite
April 2003 at the Annual American
Medical Society for Sports Medicine. vegetable?
This summer he will give a talk on Dr. Stella King and Dr. Bradley Corn-on-the-cob.
eye injuries for the NCMS Annual
Sports Medicine Conference. Jorge
Turner were wed September 7, 2002,
in Fair Haven, NJ. The couple settled 5. If you had to choose a
now practices in Cary, N.C. His group
in Sarasota, Fla.
is comprised of five family physicians different medical specialty
with fellowships in sports medicine. to practice, which would
They are the team physicians for the The Graduates of 1999
Carolina Hurricanes and their family you choose and why?
members. They also have other Although the money would
affiliations with high school, college Dr. Janine Scott-Lowe and her be better with almost
and professional athletes in the area. husband Randy are expecting their anything else, I think I would
second child. Janine also has started
get bored without the
Dr. and Mrs. John Ray welcome practicing at Primary Care Plus in
Fayetteville after recently leaving First variety of Family Practice.
their first child Kyndall Ashlyn. She
was born May 7, 2003 at Cape Fear Health in Raeford.
Continued next page Questions, Page 3
11
What’s New Dr. Leila Kahwati and her husband
Dr. Richard Oh have moved back to
Above, left: Dr. Pamela
Murphy’s children; Above,
From page 10 the United States from Germany. In Avani Mitra, daughter of Dr.
2002, Dr. Kahwati began a Primary Sapna Mitra and her husband,
Care Research Fellowship concurrent Nitin.
with a Preventive Medicine/Public
Health Residency and Epidemiology
MPH degree at UNC-Chapel Hill.
They just had their first child, Caroline,
born July 22, 2003, at 1:30 p.m.
She weighed 8 lbs., 13 ounces and
measured 21-1/8 inches long. They
live in Durham.
The Graduates of 1998
Dr. Shana James married in May Above, Dr. Leila Kahwati and
2002. She and her spouse Paul reside her husband, Dr. Richard Oh,
Above, Dr. Sandra Carr in Rock Hill, S.C.
with their firstborn, Caroline.
and her fiance, Al Johnson.
The Graduates of 1990
Dr. Sandra Carr is engaged to Al
Johnson. The couple celebrated
their engagement with a reception We regretfully share that Dr. Susan
at the Rainbow Room in Downtown Aycock’s husband Kenneth Charles Send us your news
Fayetteville in February. Sandra and Lennon passed away Sunday,
Al plan to marry next spring. Sandra May 25, 2003 at Columbus County
If you have news that you
also was recently named assistant Hospital in Whiteville, N.C. Susan
and Kenneth have three sons, Noah, would like published in
program director for the residency.
Jacob and Solomon Lennon. In lieu the “What’s New” column,
Dr. Sapna Mitra and her husband of flowers, the family requests that please contact Sandra Carr,
Nitin have welcomed their first child donations be sent to Bladen County MD, at (910) 678-7203 or
Avani just a few months ago. The Hospital Foundation Fund, P.O. Box sandra.carr@sr-ahec.org
couple recently bought a home in New 3098, Elizabethtown, N.C. 29377, or
Jersey. Sapna has started a new job to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Building
in New Jersey as well. Fund, 9494 Red Hill Road, Whiteville,
N.C. 28472.
12
ACGME Competencies
Main Entry: com·pe·tent
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, suitable, from Middle French &
Latin; Middle French, from Latin competent-, competens,
and improve understanding of how
from present participle of competere effective our teaching is. We are
Having requisite or adequate ability or qualities borrowing from the business world
and doing a 360-degree evaluation
— all people with whom the resident
competence. The Accreditation works (faculty, peers, nurses,
Council of Graduate Medical staff, patients) will evaluate his/her
Education (ACGME) has mandated performance. The faculty will more
that all residencies must demonstrate frequently evaluate the residents in
competence in 6 core areas to different situations (call, clinic and
By Dr. Bethany Picker continue being accredited. The chart review). The residents will be
Developing competent physicians osteopaths have issued similar responsible for documenting many of
— this is the goal of residency. It is the standards, but added a seventh the activities they are already doing
output of a successful residency. But, area that is specific to osteopathic (procedures, reading evidence-based
how do you know when you are doing manipulative therapy. medicine, etc.) Through all of these
it? Even worse, how do you identify The six broad areas are: patient activities, we will be able to document
when you are falling short? And, until care, interpersonal and communication competence by graduation.
recently, does it really matter? skills, systems-based practice, medical This task has been painful at
Of course it matters. It has always knowledge, professionalism and times, but the “no pain, no gain”
mattered. Future communities, problem-based learning. Each broad motto seems to have held true. The
patients and colleagues depend goal has several associated objectives changes should enhance resident
on residencies to adequately train that must be measured. It is quite a feedback and education, ensure that
residents and ensure they are challenge. we are using appropriate teaching
producing and graduating capable How are we doing it all? With some methods for individual residents and
physicians. Now, the difference is, difficulty. Actually, we have found that keep us in business. Plus, all of your
our future accreditation depends the new instruments we are utilizing future colleagues will definitely be
upon documentation of resident will improve feedback to the residents competent!
Pat Lowry
Part of SR-AHEC’s Foundation
Pat Lowry began working at rock has sat on Pat’s desk for 28
FAHEC on January 5, 1976, when years, commemorating both the birth
the Family Medicine Center was only of the Family Medicine Center and
a dream and a set of blueprints! Two the beginning of Pat’s long career
months later, when the foundation was at FAHEC.
dug and trucks arrived with building
materials for the center, Pat collected
a rock that she still has today. Serving Continued on page 14 Pat Lowry with her “special” rock.
as a paperweight, the fist-sized white
13
Family Practice Trends
From page 9 of Teachers of Family Medicine,
for family practice, recent studies is engaged in a comprehensive
Specialty choice is often shaped conducted by the University of Arizona
by experiences during medical school. evaluation of the strategic direction
compared a number of variables for of family medicine. As part of the
While many of today’s students are the 12 medical schools with the largest
being offered a primary care clinical ongoing Future of Family Medicine
increase in production of graduates (FFM) project to ascertain future
experience early in their medical to family practice with the 12 medical
education, they also are being health care and technology needs of
schools with the largest decrease patients, the AAFP is addressing the
exposed to medical school cultures in family physician production
that actively discourage careers in decline in medical student interest in
during 1998-2000. Analyses were primary care. FFM initiatives include
primary care. In addition, despite also conducted of graduate survey
overall satisfaction with their work, developing an open-source electronic
data collected by the Association health record system, providing a
family medicine faculty report an of American Medical Colleges for
increasing amount of time spent in future oriented residency curriculum
these 24 medical schools. Results of and continuing to provide physicians
providing direct patient care and the studies indicate that a negative
less time in teaching and advising with educational resources designed
medical school culture, low perceived to meet the individual needs of life-
medical students. The expectations prestige of the specialty, interactions
of this environment coupled with long learners throughout their careers.
with dissatisfied faculty role models
perceived issues of inadequate and concerns about the breadth
prestige, declining reimbursement of knowledge required of a family
and demanding lifestyles may result physician all play a pivotal role in
in medical school experiences that whether medical students pursue a
cause students to choose subspecialty family practice residency.
careers over primary care. As a result of these findings, the
Outlook for Family Practice AAFP Commission on Resident and
Medical student membership in Student Issues in conjunction with the
the American Academy of Family Commission on Education, the Society
Physicians (AAFP) approaches of Teachers of Family Medicine, the
20,000. In 2003, 17,823 members Association of Departments of Family
are in Liaison Committee on Medical Medicine and the Association of
Education (LCME)-accredited Family Practice Residency Directors
Pat found this special rock when
U.S. medical schools, while 1,792 are developing several initiatives the Family Medicine Center was
members are in American Osteopathic to be implemented next academic being built.
Association (AOA)-approved colleges year. These efforts are directed at
of osteopathic medicine. Thus, nearly ensuring the admission of medical
one-third of all students in LCME-
accredited U.S. medical schools are
students most likely to choose family
medicine, strengthening curricula to
Lowry
members of the American Academy of prepare students for careers in family From page 12
Family Physicians. Third-year students practice, assisting faculty in their work
who are members of the AAFP total Pat and her pet rock may be the
as mentors and role models, and
5,976 compared with 5,411 graduating only remaining witnesses to all the
encouraging support of legislative
seniors. The predictive value of this changes her job has undergone
mandates to produce adequate
information in forecasting future trends during her 28 years at FAHEC (now
numbers of family physicians to meet
in family medicine must be considered SR-AHEC). She has done everything
the needs of our country.
cautiously, however. Inexpensive from teaching coding to residents to
In addition, the American Academy
membership and the benefit of an helping graduates set up their medical
of Family Physicians, together with the
enormously popular journal (American offices. Today Pat handles in-patient
American Board of Family Practice,
Family Physician) among medical insurance, but she still needs a
the Association of Departments of
students may indeed be attracting good paperweight. And she has one
Family Medicine, the Association of
student members with little interest in — vintage 1976.
Family Practice Residency Directors,
a primary care career. the North American Primary Care
In an effort to understand this Research Group and the Society
trend of declining residency fill rates
14
Congratulations, Grads ...
Let’s Party!
Scenes from the 2003 graduation celebration.
