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In this Issue:
- Governor's Message
- Donate to the Vermont Flood Response and Recovery Fund
- Health and Public Policy Committee
- Register for the 2023 Vermont Chapter Meeting
- Call for Abstracts for the Vermont Chapter 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting
- Spotlight on a New Fellow
- Feedback Needed on the Proposed Fall 2023 Board of Governors Resolutions
- Call for Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions
- Social Media Manager Needed
Priscilla W. Carr, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Governor's Message
Greetings!
August is here, and another beautiful Vermont summer will start to slip away. It's been a difficult summer in my corner of Vermont, and I suspect for many of you elsewhere in the state. I live and work in the Barre-Montpelier area, and as I'm sure everyone is aware, this area was devastated by flooding on July 10. In the weeks since, I've walked through downtown streets covered with debris and rubbish as beloved local businesses struggle to find a way forward. I've talked with patients who have lost their homes, their belongings, their vehicles, and their jobs. It has been heartbreaking to bear witness to the destruction.
And yet, there has been one bright spot. There have been armies of volunteers who have showed up to help. In Montpelier, the local non-profit, Montpelier Alive coordinated a tremendous grass roots response. Within days they were organizing volunteers, matching those with needs with those who are able to help, as well as raising money. I had the privilege of helping at a medical tent and watching the scores of volunteers come though that system (frequently returning covered in mud). On a quieter moment I asked about the numbers: on day 10 they estimated that 1600 volunteers had been deployed to 600 locations. This was a grassroots effort in a city of approximately 8000, and it was local people who made this happen, before FEMA had much of a presence and before the MARC (multiple agency response centers) had been stood up.
There is tremendous work still to be done, and the financial repercussions for local institutions cannot be understated. Yet watching this response gives me hope, and serves a powerful reminder about the strength of Vermont communities, the power of showing up, and importance of participation to support the institutions that we hold dear.
I hope that you will join the Vermont ACP for an event this fall. The Health and Public Policy Committee will be meeting August 17. Our annual chapter scientific meeting will happen September 29 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. I hope to see many of you then.
With gratitude,
Priscilla Carr MD, FACP
Donate to the Vermont Flood Response and Recovery Fund
Health and Public Policy Committee
The next ACP Health Policy and Advocacy Committee meeting is Thursday, August 17th, 12:00-1:00. We are a newly formed group of physicians organizing projects and proposals to advance public health policies for our chapter. Current projects address tobacco use, gender affirming care, and climate health. New members and ideas are welcome. Please email Tess Morrison for further information or for the zoom link for the August 17 meeting.
Register for the 2023 Vermont Chapter Meeting
The chapter's annual scientific meeting will be held on September 29, 2023 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. Register Now
Call for Abstracts for the Vermont Chapter 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting
We will host an in person Medical Student and Resident/Fellow abstract competition in conjunction with the 2023 Vermont ACP Chapter Scientific Meeting on September 29, 2023. The submission deadline for abstracts is August 18, 2023. For further questions contact Caitlin Greenberg
Spotlight on a New Fellow
Congratulations to Hibba-Tul- Rehman, MBBS MD FACP on election to fellowship July 1, 2023! Hibba shared this introduction:
I am a medical oncologist with clinical expertise in sarcoma, melanoma and lung cancer. My research interests are focused in two areas:
1. Understanding the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis (to learn strategies to inhibit the pathogenic pathways involved in this process) and
2. Improving the quality of life and functional status of my cancer patients.
During the second year of my fellowship training, I was able to secure a grant to study peptide substrates for selective enzyme inhibition of chimeric protein DnaJ-PKA c which is a recurrent abnormality in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC). During initial years of my job, I was involved in care of breast cancer patients as well, which introduced me to the neuromuscular studies that Dr. Michael Toth and Dr. Kim Dittus were conducting to understand and improve musculoskeletal health in this patient population. This experience led me to develop an investigator initiated trial for lung cancer patients, which focuses on prevention of muscle mass & function loss, by incorporating an exercise program.
My patients are my passion and I hope that I can make a difference in their lives, and provide comfort during their tough journey of cancer treatment.
Feedback Needed on the Proposed Fall 2023 Board of Governors Resolutions
We would like to request your feedback regarding resolutions that will be considered at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting. You can view links to the slate of resolutions and indicate your support or opposition by completing the resolutions electronic response form Please comment by August 30th.
Call for Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions
Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council. The deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors Meeting is October 16, 2023. For further information see the Chapter website or contact Priscilla Carr
Social Media Manager Needed
The Vermont Chapter is looking for a member willing to manage our Twitter account and social media. Anyone interested should contact Mark Pasanen or Priscilla Carr