KUDOS
KENTUCKY
Mary Helen Davis, MD, was recognized
for completing the Kentucky Medical
Association’s Community Connector
Leadership Program. Upon completion of this prestigious program, participants strengthen their leadership
presence in the community and are
better equipped to raise the awareness
of fellow leaders on the issues affecting
the medical profession.
MED STUDENTS
LEARN IMPORTANCE
OF ACTIVISISM
Linda H. Gleis, MD, was selected by
the Kentucky Medical Association as
the 2015 recipient of the KMA Distinguished Service Award. This award is
presented annually to a KMA member
who has provided outstanding service
to patients, organized medicine and
the community at large.
James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM,
was recognized for completing the Kentucky Medical Association’s Community
Connector Leadership Program. Upon
completion of this prestigious program,
participants strengthen their leadership
presence in the community and are better equipped to raise the awareness of
fellow leaders on the issues affecting
the medical profession.
Monica Ann Shaw, MD, MA, has received the Kentucky Medical Association’s Educational Achievement Award
for 2015. The award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding
contributions and achievements in the
area of medical education.
INDIANA
Deepak Azad, MD, MPH, FACP, was
elected as an AMA Alternate Delegate
representing the Indiana State Medical
Association.
University of Louisville medical students got a firsthand look at
health policy and advocacy during the Advanced Clinical Medicine
course directed by Heather Felton, MD. GLMS President Bob
Couch, MD, MBA, and KY Senator Ralph Alvarado, MD, attended
for the afternoon and encouraged students to have a voice early
and often.
Monalisa Tailor, MD, led the class through the topic of policy and
advocacy. She stressed the importance of physicians giving their
voice to issues and cited progressive legislation which passed in
recent years including child booster seat laws and House Bill 1. Dr.
Tailor also acted as Master of Ceremonies introducing Dr. Couch
and Dr. Alvarado.
Dr. Couch joined an interprofessional panel consisting of four other
health care professionals. Having attended numerous policy discussions in Frankfort, he was able to give the students perspective
on the relationships physicians can build with legislators. “When
we all visit on Doctor’s Day at the Capital, it can make quite an
impact on legislators to see all those white coats walking around.”
Another important victory for physicians was the recent heroin
related legislation which passed in 2015. Dr. Couch explained
the impact doctors were able to have on that decision. “Through
testimony and conversation, a compromise was reached which
included the needle exchange and Good Samaritan laws which
allow addicts to call the police for help without being prosecuted.”
Dr. Alvarado spoke before the panel, giving a brief history of how
he got involved in politics and the numerous races he attempted
before finally being elected in 2014.
GLMS accepts submissions about members who are elected
to leadership positions or receive special awards/honors. To
submit news for “Kudos,” email mckenna.byerley @glms.org.
See page 3 for additional election results. Additional Kudos for
elected positions will appear in the next issue of GLMS News.
6
Visit the Media section of www.glms.org for a full list of Kudos.
“I made a promise to my colleagues that I’d be a physician voice in
the state senate and I’ve tried really hard to do that,” Dr. Alvarado
told students. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of staying involved in organized medicine. Doctors together can get a lot
of things done. Instead of things happening to us, we can have a
seat at the table.”
GLMS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2015