The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal May 2020 Final 2 | Page 19

trustees in a specific district to submit a
“corrective action plan” providing a one-
year period in which to cure a deficiency in
membership numbers that would otherwise
result in the loss of one or more trustees in
that district. The proposed amendment was
sent to the membership on March 8, 2019,
more than 45 days prior to the Board of
Trustees meeting.
9.
Hawkins. AMS legal counsel present were David Ivers
and Charles Hicks. Guests present were Drs. Parker
Jenkins and Laurie Barber.
Chairman Danny Wilkerson, MD called the meeting
to order, reminded members of the AMS conflict of in-
terest policy, guests and new trustees were introduced,
and the following business was received and transacted:
1.
Upon motion, the Bylaws Committee will
review and consider a recommendation to
allow districts that have had a drop in mem-
bership to have one year to regain the mem-
bership before losing a trustee.
10. David Wroten and Scott Smith discussed the
2019 Legislative Session and discussed the
issues AMS would be working on during the
2019 legislative session. Board members
were encouraged to get involved and re-
spond to calls for action.
11. Board members were encouraged to attend
the Annual Membership Meeting on April 26,
2019 in Little Rock.
12. Dr. Danny Wilkerson, chairman, asked
Board members to contact him should they
have any suggestions for when AMS Board
of Trustees meetings should be held. The
Board typically meets four times a year on a
Wednesday and/or Friday.
• April 26, 2019, Board of Trustees Meeting
• June 17, 2019 Executive Committee Meet-
ing
2.
Mr. Wroten, AMS EVP, presented the membership
report, budget report, and a summary of findings
from a leadership focus group.
4. Dr. Parker Jenkins was elected to fill the unexpired
term of Dr. Julie McNeil in District 4. The term ends
May 2020.
5. Dr. Josh Chance was elected to fill the unexpired
term of Dr. Kristen Lienhart in District 8. The term
ends May 2020.
6.
The following Board members were elected to fill
unexpired terms on the Finance and Audit Com-
mittee:
a. Dr. Michael Hickman – Replacing Kristin Lien-
hart, MD, term expires December 31, 2022
14. The final letter in response to a CMS request
for feedback on the Open Payments Pro-
gram reporting requirements was provided
for information.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
Chairman Danny Wilkerson, MD called the meeting
to order, reminded members of the AMS conflict of inter-
est policy, and the following business was received and
transacted:
1. Dr. Brad Bibb, Chairman of the AMS Finance and
Auditing Committee, presented the 2020 proposed
budget in Executive Session. The Board approved
the budget recommendations. The Board also
approved the recommendation to move from a
monthly publication of the Journal to a bi-monthly.
2. The Board approved the minutes of the following
meetings:
• June 17, 2019 Executive Committee Meeting
• July 24, 2019 Board of Trustees Meeting
3. David Wroten presented the membership report,
budget report, communication efforts accomplish-
ments, and the PRSA Award for the AMS Newslet-
ter for information.
4. Dr. Dennis Yelvington reported on the State Med-
ical Organizations meeting held prior to the Board
meeting. Representatives from different specialty
groups met and heard a report on past legislative
battles fought by AMS. Dr. Yelvington plans on the
groups working together in the future to better influ-
ence and educate legislators on healthcare issues.
5. Stacy Jones, Ariel Strategic Communications, gave
a report on the recent focus groups that met in cen-
tral and NW AR with both AMS members & non-
members. The lessons learned from this project
provide information that will assist in membership
growth and improved communications for AMS.
6. Dr. Wilkerson discussed the concerns of sub-
stance abuse problems in the state. Wilkerson will
appoint a task force to develop a plan for AMS
to become more active in helping fight this major
health care crisis.
7. Dr. Appathurai Balamurugan updated the Board
on health care concerns related to more hospital-
izations and deaths related to vaping especially in
teenagers and young adults.
8. Dr. Bradley Bibb asked Board members to join
ARKMED PAC and support AMS advocacy efforts.
The goal is to have 100% Board participation. 
b. Dr. Shannon Swift – Replacing Robert Breving,
MD, term expires December 31, 2020
c. Dr. Appathurai Balamurugan – Replacing Rob-
ert Gullett, MD, term expires December 31,
2021
July 24, 2019
Volume 116 • Number 10
Dr. Steve Magie discussed efforts by the Arkansas
Ophthalmological Society to overturn Act 579 by
submitting a referendum to the voters. The Board
unanimously voted to support their efforts.
3.
13. Highlights of AMA Interim Meeting were pro-
vided for information.
The Arkansas Medical Society Board of Trustees met at
4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at the Chenal
Country Club located at 10 Chenal Club Blvd. in Little
Rock. Members attending the meeting were Drs. Wil-
liam Ackerman, Lee Archer, Appathurai Balamurugan,
Bradley Bibb, Sam Bledsoe, Willard Burks, Kay Chandler,
George Conner, Kathleen Connery, William Dedman,
James DeRossitt, Gina Drobena, Dirk Haselow, Michael
Hickman, James Hunt, Jim Ingram, Joseph Miller, Darrell
Over, Naveen Patil, Chad Rodgers, Jeremy Saul, Alan
Schumacher, Shannon Swift, Nisha Viswanathan, Toby
Vancil, Nannette Vowell, Randy Walker, Donya Watson,
Gary Wheeler, Danny Wilkerson, Ngozidilenna Wilkins,
Dennis Yelvington, Robert Zimmerman, and Stacy Zim-
merman. AMS past presidents present were Drs. G.
Edward Bryant, Amy Cahill, Lloyd Langston, Stephen
Magie, Gene Shelby, Steven Strode, and Alan Wilson.
AMS staff present were Kay Waldo, David Wroten, Billie
Jean Davenport, Alanna Scheffer, Scott Smith, and Laura
The Board approved the minutes of the following
meetings:
Redding, Carolyn Reeves, Shane Smith, Shannon Swift,
Toby Vancil, Nisha Viswanathan, Nannette Vowell, Ran-
dy Walker, Donya Watson, Danny Wilkerson, Dennis
Yelvington, and Stacy Zimmerman. AMS past presidents
present were Drs. Omar Atiq, G. Edward Bryant, Larry
Lawson, Stephen Magie, Gene Shelby, and Alan Wilson.
AMS staff present were David Wroten, Kay Waldo, Scott
Smith, Billie Jean Davenport, Alanna Scheffer, Laura
Hawkins, and Laura Haywood. AMS legal counsel pres-
ent were Mike Mitchell and David Ivers. Guests present
were UAMS student Ashlyn Abbott.
7. The Board adopted amendments to the District
Trustee Election Policy and the Board of Trustee
Meetings Policy.
8. The report of the AMA Annual 2019 meeting was
provided for information.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
November 6, 2019
The Arkansas Medical Society Board of Trustees met at
4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2019, at the Chenal
Country Club located in Little Rock. Members attending
the meeting were Drs. William Ackerman, Appathurai
Balamurugan, Seth Barnes, Bradley Bibb, Dale Blasier,
Willard Burks, Josh Chance, Kay Chandler, George Con-
ner, William Dedman, James DeRossitt, Gina Drobena,
Matt Haustein, James Hunt, Parker Jenkins, Joseph
Miller, Darrell Over, Tim Paden, Naveen Patil, William
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
MAy 2020 • 259