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Councils/Committees
Sign up to Serve on a MedChi Committee.
Browse the committee listing below to find your special interest in organized medicine. Volunteer to serve on a committee. Along the way you will be networking with colleagues and helping to strengthen the organization. Even if you live far from Baltimore, you can still participate. Committee meetings offer conference call capabilities.
- Help us be Your Advocate.
- Help us be Your Resource.
- Volunteer to work on issues that affect Your Profession.
Send an email to Erin Krell with any questions and the committee you want to serve.
2009 MedChi Councils
BYLAWS COUNCIL
The Bylaws Council is made up of the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations Committee, Joseph Snyder, M.D., chair. The committee drafts amendments to the bylaws and the rules of MedChi as needed or as directed by the House of Delegates or Board of Trustees. It reviews, approves, disapproves, or alters amendments submitted to it by the component societies, council or House of Delegates. The committee reports all amendments to the bylaws of MedChi to the House of Delegates with the call to session. The committee also serves as an advisory committee on all matters pertaining to the Bylaws and Rules of MedChi. (There is a specific requirement for geographic representation.)
Chair: Joseph Snyder, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
Bylaws, Rules & Regulations Committee
Chair: Joseph Snyder, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Click here to view)
The Legislative Council is made up of the Boards and Commissions Committee, Steve Rockower, M.D., chair; the Insurance Committee, Gary W. Pushkin, M.D., chair; and the Public Health Committee, Jeffrey Kaplan, M.D., chair. The council and its committees study and decide on MedChi's position on all health-related legislation submitted to the Maryland General Assembly. The Regulatory Relations Committee is chaired by George H.A. Bone, M.D.
Chair: James J. York, M.D.
Staff: Stephanie Wisniewski, ext. 6001
Boards & Commissions Committee
Chair: Steve Rockower, M.D.
Staff: Stephanie Wisniewski, ext. 6001
Insurance Committee
Chair: Gary W. Pushkin, M.D.
Staff: Stephanie Wisniewski, ext. 6001
Public Health Committee
Chair: Jeffrey Kaplan, M.D.
Staff: Stephanie Wisniewski, ext. 6001
Regulatory Relations Committee
Chair: George H.A. Bone, M.D.
Staff: Joyce Duffy-Bilanow, ext. 3312
MEDICAL ECONOMICS COUNCIL
The Medical Economics Council provides advocacy services in both the private sector (payers) and the public sector (regulatory). The council is made up of the Payer Relations Committee, the Information Technology Committee and the Products and Services Committee.
The Payer Relations Committee, Charles Samorodin, M.D., and John A. Vitarello, Jr., co-chairs, evaluate the challenges physicians face on a day-to-day basis with insurance companies. The Payer Relations Committee works with individual carriers and the Maryland Insurance Administration to resolve these problems. The committee informs physicians and their practices of these problems through MedChi's weekly List-Serve and other written publications. The committee also educates physicians throughout the state on methods for working with the carriers.
The Information Technology Committee, Carol Emerson, M.D., and George H.A. Bone, M.D., co-chairs, monitor new information technology and its relationship to the practice of medicine in Maryland and is a resource for physician practices as they implement new information technologies.
The Products and Services Committee monitors opportunities and vendors who provide office services and equipment for the physician office.
Chair: Jos W. Zebley, III, M.D.
Staff: Darlene Fleischmann, ext. 3311
Information Technology Committee (Click here to view) Co-Chair: Carol Emerson, M.D.
Co-Chair: George H.A. Boone M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313 Payer Relations Committee
Co-Chair: Charles Samorodin, M.D.
Co-Chair: John A. Vitarello Jr.
Staff: Jama Allers, ext. 3320
Products/Services Committee
Chair: Vinu Ganti, M.D.
Staff: Gene M. Ransom, ext. 3305
MEDICAL POLICY COUNCIL
The Medical Policy Council is made up of the Disaster Preparedness Committee, the Disparities in Health Care Committee, the Committee for Ethics and Judicial Affairs, the Health Finance Committee, the Public Health Committee and the Quality Committee.
The Disaster Preparedness Committee, Mahmood Jaberi, M.D., chair, studies the role of MedChi in disaster preparedness for the State of Maryland in order to develop recommendations for preparing Maryland physicians and other practitioners for public health disasters, including terrorist actions, and for utilizing MedChi and other professional organizations toward that end and coordinating physician efforts with voluntary professional agencies.
The Disparities in Health Care Committee, Dianna Abney, M.D., chair, focuses on issues related to the IOM report on disparities in the delivery of health care to citizens of Maryland. It has also developed an educational component for medical staff meetings.
Committee for Ethics and Judicial Affairs, Thomas E. Allen, M.D., chair, considers questions of medical ethics, especially as they relate to social policy issues, interprofessional relations, hospital relations, confidentiality, advertising, communications with the media, fees and charges, record practice matters and professional rights and responsibilities.
The Public Health Committee, Jeffrey Kaplan, M.D., chair, identifies public health issues of importance and work with MedChi to develop policies and activities that address these issues, in order to enhance the health status of our community. Areas of current concern are access to care, environmental issues, Maternal and Child Health, health promotion and diseases prevention and communicable diseases.
The Quality Committee, Ron Orleans, M.D., chair, learns the needs of community practitioners to help them improve delivery of care in their office.
Chair: Mollyann G. March, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
Disaster Preparedness Committee
Chair: Mahmood Jaberi, M.D.
Staff: Joyce Duffy-Bilanow, ext. 3312
Disparities in Health Care Committee
Chair: Dianna Abney, M.D.
Staff: Meena Abraham, ext. 3336
Committee on Ethics and Judicial Affairs (Click here to view)
Chair: Thomas E. Allen, M.D.
Staff: Joyce Duffy-Bilanow, ext. 3312
Health Finance Committee (Click here to view)
Chair: Benjamin Z. Stallings, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
Public Health Committee
Chair: Jeffrey Kaplan, M.D.
Staff: Meena Abraham, ext. 3336
Maternal & Child Health Subcommittee
Chair: Lillian Blackmon, M.D.
Staff: Meena Abraham, ext. 3336
Prescription & Non-Prescription Drugs w/ Possible Abuse Potential Subcommittee
Chair: Marcia D. Wolf, M.D.
Staff: Meena Abraham, ext. 3336
Quality Committee (Click here to view)
Chair: Ronald J. Orleans, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
OPERATIONS COUNCIL
The Operations Council oversees and advises on issues related to the operations of MedChi.
The Continuing Medical Education Review Committee (CMERC), Ambadas Pathak, M.D., chair, provides oversight, review and direction for the MedChi Accredited Provider Programs, which in turn is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). It provides accreditation, accreditation maintenance, program development and assistance for continuing medical education programs of various organizations in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
The Committee On Scientific Activities (COSA), Steven F. Crawford, M.D., chair, provides oversight, evaluation and content validation for the jointly sponsored and directly sponsored CME programs of MedChi. MedChi is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The committee reviews all applications for jointly sponsored or directly sponsored CME programs and reviews all submissions for the Maryland Medical Convention.
The Finance Committee, Harbhajan S. Ajrawat, M.D., chair, advises and counsels the Board of Trustees regarding MedChi's financial investment program and develops a budget for the organization. The chairperson of the committee shall be the treasurer of MedChi.
The Membership Committee, David Hexter, M.D., and Shannon P. Pryor, M.D., co-chairs, focus on issues related to recruiting and retaining MedChi members.
The Performing Arts Medicine Committee, Alan J. Sweatman, M.D., chair, was formed in the early 1980's to provide a forum where the medical and performing arts communities can formulate a comprehensive approach to injury prevention and treatment and to the education of the performing artist. Committee members include physicians, performing artists, teachers, physical therapists and other helping professionals.
The Publications Committee, Bruce M. Smoller, M.D., editor, is the editorial board of MedChi's clinical publication Maryland Medicine.
Chair: Audrey P. Corson, M.D.
Staff: Debbie Sciabarassi, ext. 3303
CME Review Committee (CMERC)
Chair: Ambadas Pathak, M.D.
Staff: Frank C. Berry, ext. 3307
Finance Committee
Chair: Treasurer - Harbhajan S. Ajrawat, M.D.
Staff: Carl Graham, ext. 3326
Membership Committee
Co-Chair: David Hexter, M.D.
Co-Chair: Shannon P. Pryor, M.D.
Staff: Sue Brunt, ext. 3321
Performing Arts Medicine Committee
Chair: Alan J. Sweatman, M.D.
Staff: Diana Palewicz, ext. 3309
Personnel & Compensation Committee
Chair: Treasurer - Harbhajan S. Ajrawat, M.D.
Staff: Debbie Sciabarrasi, ext. 3303
Publications Committee
Editor: Bruce M. Smoller, M.D.
Maryland Medicine, The Maryland Medical Journal
Staff: Susan D'Antoni, 301-921-4300
Committee on Scientific Activities (COSA)
Chair: Steven F. Crawford, M.D.
Staff: Frank C. Berry, ext. 3307
TASK FORCES & AD HOC COMMITTEES
Medical Society Structure and Staffing
Chair: H. Russell Wright, Jr., M.D.
Staff: Debbie Sciabarrasi, ext. 3303
Communications/Public Relations
Chair: Bruce Smoller, M.D.
Staff: Debbie Sciabarrasi, ext. 3303
Membership, Fund Raising, Development Planning Chair: Murray Kalish, M.D.
Staff: Gene M. Ransom, ext. 3305 Staff: Lisa Williams
Governance, Committee, Organization Planning Co-Chair: Ronald Sroka, M.D.
Co-Chair: Bruce Smoller, M.D.
Staff: Debbie Sciabarrasi, ext. 3303 Staff: Neilson Andrews, ext. 3317
Legislative Advocacy Planning Chair: David Hexter, M.D.
Staff: Stephen H. Johnson, ext. 3313
Staff: Susan D'Antoni, 301-921-4300 Staff: Mary Morin, 410-544-0312
SUBSIDIARIES
MMPAC
Chair: Joseph Snyder, M.D.
Staff: Stephanie Wisniewski, ext. 6001
MedChi Agency
Chair: J. Richard Lilly, M.D.
Staff: Ron Fisher, ext. 4424
Alliance
Co-Chair: Michele Kalish
Co-Chair: Adriana Zarbin
Staff: Gene M. Ransom, ext. 3305
MEDCHI CENTER FOR A HEALTHY MARYLAND
Formerly the MedChi Foundation was established in 1976 as an affiliate of MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society to promote and support the medical society's charitable, public health and educational activities. These activities help fulfill the medical society's mission to serve as the state's foremost advocate for physicians their patients and the public health. Additionally, the Center is working with the Alliance to MedChi to collaborate on activities that promote the goals of both organizations and in support of MedChi.
President: Allan D. Jensen, M.D.
Staff: Meena Abraham, ext. 3336
Physician Health Committee
Chair: Stanley Platman, M.D.
Staff: Michael Llufrio, ext. 5412
SECTIONS
Medical Students
Chair: Steve Yang
Staff: Russ Kujan, ext. 3322
Residents & Fellows
Chair: Rana R. Yehia, M.D.
Staff: Russ Kujan, ext. 3322
Young Physicians
Co-Chair: Michele Manahan, M.D.
Co-Chair: Rob Thomsen, M.D. Staff: Sue Brunt, ext. 3321
IMG
Chair: V. Raul Felipa, M.D.
Staff: Neilson Andrews, ext. 3317
If you wish to write, call, fax or e-mail any of the MedChi leadership, please direct your communication to Erin Krell, or call MedChi at 410-539-0872.