Roanoke Valley Academy of Medicine

Welcome...

Hello again from the Roanoke Valley Academy of Medicine.

The weather may not be cooperating, but spring is here and we are working on several events to get everyone out for an evening or two of fun. The RAMA Roanoke Book and Author event will be April 12, with authors Debra Dean (MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD), Hallie Ephron (COME AND FIND ME), John Hart (IRON HOUSE). On April 28 the second Music for Medicine event, featuring The English Channel, will be held at Sundara in Boones Mill. May 21 we will have the MSV President Dr. Russell Libby here to meet with us. Please make plans to attend and support these events.

Dr. Mark Watts was honored with the American Red Cross Medical Hero award at the “Celebration of Heroes” event. He was recognized for his efforts in establishing Project Access which provides medical care for the working uninsured residents of the Roanoke Valley. As echoed by others honored during the event, Dr. Watts stated he was no hero; he was just doing what he does everyday. Maybe so, but if there were more of us doing what he does everyday, we would be living in a much better world.

On the legislative front, Gov. McDonnell signed the Lyme disease bill on March 13. The bill was opposed by the MSV, and there was no shortage of facts and data provided to the legislators. This bill is a good example of how policy can be made based more on emotion than sound data and expertise from the very people involved. Please see the MSV website for more information, including the specifics of the bill. Prescription drug abuse is again being discussed. Bills have been introduced that would address required education for prescribing narcotics and providing pain management. The MSV worked closely with Sen. Phil Puckett in efforts to avoid legislating this but instead having MSV work to provide the desired education and use of the prescription monitoring program. The prescription monitoring program recently was given attention in the local paper, and there will be another drug take back program in April.

Medicaid expansion continues to get significant attention and is now becoming a convoluted process. In the simplest of terms, Gov. McDonnell was opposed to expansion, but the general assembly established a commission that will set guidelines for Medicaid reform that will have to be made before Medicaid expansion can occur. Sounds simple enough, but politics is never that simple so there will be continued debate over this topic. The white coats on call days were in January and February. If you have not joined us for this, please consider doing so next year. It is a very valuable experience and goes a long way to helping understand what other members of RVAM and MSV are there doing for all of us throughout the year. It is also a unique insight into the policy making process at the state level, as well as a great opportunity to meet our local representatives. Pictures from, both our sessions are posted on the RVAM Facebook page. tTe MSV website has more details of legislative events.

It promises to be a busy year for RVAM, and MSV. I have been asked to serve as associate to the Board of Directors, and on the governance task force, so it is certainly keeping me busy. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns I can be of help with in either capacity. As always, come join us for our events, your support is welcomed and needed, and you may even find you enjoy an evening with others in the medical community.

Trevar Chapmon

News

Board Meeting Dates
Dues
Annual dues notices are being mailed in the near future.
The Lifetime Achievement Award
6 September 2011

News from MSV