ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
JANUARY/FEBRUARY2012 Volume 42, No. 1
President’s Message
Starting A New Year by George A.W. Smith, MD
Upcoming Events February 28, 2012
General Membership Meeting 1.5 AMA Category 1 CreditsTM Offered “Risk Management” Cactus Flower 5:30 pm February 29, 2012
The Florida Health Care Law Firm Round Table Q&A ECMS Office 6:30 am-9:00 am March 24, 2012
Doctors Day Pensacola Ice Flyers Game 7:05 pm
RSVP: 478-0706
ECMSinfo@bellsouth.net Founded in 1873
As we begin another year in the Escambia County Medical Society, it is an honor to serve as your president. I would like to thank past and present members of the board who have devoted their time in serving our members and have been role models and an inspiration for me. We have a talented, hardworking board and I am looking forward to working with them. I would like to welcome Erica Laxson as executive director and to thank Holly Strickland for all she has done for our society over the past years. The year started with the inaugural banquet at the Pensacola Country Club. The theme was tropical and the menu reflected my Jamaican heritage. During the cocktail hour we were serenaded by “Pensacola Steel” as hors d’oeuvres were passed. The ceremony started with the observation of a moment of silence in memory of Dr. Michael Redmond and in honor of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. Pastor Buford Lipscomb, Senior Pastor of Liberty Church then delivered the Invocation. After the introduction of family and special guests, Dr. Brandhorst gave the outgoing president’s final remarks. She mentioned that the medical society was fiscally sound and that membership was at an all time high. The We Care Doctor of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Norman W. Haines, Jr. of Gastroenterology Associates who donated over $100,000 in medical care. Dr. John Lanza who made the presentation thanked all four area hospitals and the over 300 physicians for their support. He stated that in 2011 the Escambia County We Care program delivered over $8.5 million in uncompensated care. He once again made a plea for the continued participation of Medical Society physicians and reminded us that participants were eligible for sovereign immunity, could claim continued medical education
credits and would have their medical license Dr. George A.W. Smith renewal fee waived. Dr. Mary Jane Benson of The Surgery Group received the 2012 Presidents Award in appreciation of her time, service and care to the citizens of Escambia County. The induction of the 2012 slate of officers and presidents oath of office was administered by FMA President Dr. Miguel Machado. Highlights of my inaugural address included statistics of the aging population in the United States and its impact on our healthcare system. I also shared pictures from my recent medical mission trip to Nepal and made references to the uncertainty of our healthcare system. After dinner we danced to the music of “SoulBiz” It was a wonderful evening and we have our sponsors to thank for this. They were Ballinger Publishing, Baptist Healthcare, Covenant Hospice, Emerald Coast Hospice, Escambia Community Clinics Inc., The West Florida Area Health Education Center, O’Sullivan Creel, Regions Bank, Sacred Heart Health System, Saltmarsh Cleaveland and Gund, University Partners and Virginia College. With the festivities over it is now time to get down to the business of the Medical Society. The legislative session is now in full swing and there are several bills that are being followed closely by the FMA including sovereign immunity for emergency care and multiple bills pertaining to the prescribing of controlled substances. We have several interesting topics and events lined up for this year; Changes in Pain Management Laws and Risk management, to name a few. I am open to your ideas and suggestion to increase membership and to make our Society more relevant for you, and I look forward to your participation.