The Mission of the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Surgeons is to be an effective voice for surgeons and to advance the highest standards of ethical patient care through education, mentorship, fellowship, and advocacy. To Serve - as effective advocates for our patients and the integrity of patient-surgeon relationship. To Promote - the health and safety of our patients, their families, our neighbors, and our communities. To Foster - collegiality, fellowship, mentorship, and continuing medical/surgical education among our colleagues. To Conserve - our resources of time, talent, and treasure.

Dear Colleagues:

Healthcare is changing in Alabama and around the country and so is your organization.  Our annual meeting in June was conducted under a revised format.  Dr. Kirby Bland and Dr. Mary Hawn were our program co-chairs.  The topics were relevant and practical.  Examples include Blue Cross’ initiative to increase payment for emergency services, Maintenance of Certification, Accountable Care Organizations and multiple clinical topics.  It was an excellent meeting.  A more complete summary is found in the chapter newsletter.

This past year Dr. Charles Rodning organized the first “Meet the Legislators Day.”  Those of us attending met with Dr. R. Bob Mullins, Jr., the Medicaid Commissioner, and multiple legislators.  They appeared to be interested in our views from the trenches and have a serious desire to see that Alabamians have access to quality healthcare.  They are also concerned about unintended consequences of any legislation they pass.  Communication between surgeons and legislators can benefit both groups.

Ms. Lisa Beard joined the chapter as our Executive Director.  The annual meeting ran so smoothly that her behind the scenes efforts were hard to see.  Ms. Beard is initiating a chapter newsletter and has made the chapter website more user-friendly and informative. 

I have several requests of the members.   First and foremost, as always, is your participation.  We have had dedicated participation in the past but today’s environment requires even more.  We will need to interact with our lawmakers, our third party payors and our patients with regard to what is needed and what is not needed for good health.

Next, encourage your colleagues who are not members to join and participate.  Any organization we interact with will want to know what percentage of Allabama’s surgeons are active members. 

Finally, we need to be able to contact you by e-mail.  A few years ago, communicating with both e-mail and postal mail was commonplace.  Today, more and more organizations are only communicating with e-mail.  We can be more efficient with your dues dollars and notify you of significant events in a more timely way if we have this tool.  If we do not already have your e-mail address, please send your e-mail address to Ms. Lisa Beard at: alcollegesurgeons@yahoo.com.

Below are several dates to place on your calendar:

97th Annual ACS Clinical Congress
San Francisco
October 23-27, 2011

Meet the Legislators Day
Montgomery, Alabama
March 8, 2012

AL & MS ACS Annual Meeting
Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort
June 14-16, 2012

(The Grand Hotel was unavailable for June 2012 but we will continue to be considered as a future meeting site.)

I look forward to serving as the President of Alabama ACS this year and welcome your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Willett, M.D., FACS
President
Alabama College of Surgeons