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| Edition: July 2021 |
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Table of Contents
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| Letter from the Editor |
The many inequities in medicine have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. As these inequities have been spotlighted, the ACR has taken an active role in addressing the radiology community’s role in addressing these disparities. As noted by Efren Flores, MD at the annual meeting panel on health equity, “It is important that we have a commitment at all levels to change this and advance social justice. Advancing health equity is the responsibility of every specialist and radiology must play a central role.” Radiology touches every part of patient care, and radiology professionals are uniquely positioned to spearhead efforts to address health disparities and accommodate the needs of diverse populations. Reshma Jagsi, MD, presented this year’s Moreton Lecture “Exploring Gender Bias in Radiology.” She presented extensive data on the topic of gender inequities in medicine including unconscious bias, gendered expectations of society, and overt discrimination and harassment. She encouraged teams to invest in mentorship and sponsorship programs, bias training, cultural transformation initiatives, transparent criteria for hiring and promotions, promotion of work-life integration. The ACR, through the Commission for Women and Diversity, seeks to achieve a radiology profession that celebrates diversity and actively promotes the inclusion of all levels of training, practice, and leadership. To view a video with Dr. Katarzyna Macura, MD, and Johnson Lightfoote, MD, discussing the mission of the ACR Commission for Women and Diversity. Click here to view the video. In alignment with the ACR initiatives, the FRS also has established a committee for Women and Diversity chaired by Dan Broderick, MD. This committee explores activities and initiatives in Florida with the goal to grow, retain and engage membership as a key objective of increasing diversity. I encourage all interested FRS members to reach out to me Vallow.laura@mayo.edu. The ACR has recently launched the Radiology Health Equity Coalition, a community-wide effort designed to support the radiology community who aim to address health disparities in research, advocacy efforts, and recruitment. The Coalition is initially being mobilized by the ACR, the RSNA, the American Roentgen Ray Society, the ABR, and others. This network of patient-focused radiology professionals will collect and disseminate resources and best practices, advocate for and connect with patients and community members and collaborate on programs and services to empower others to act. We encourage all members of the FRS to join the ACR Radiology Health Equity Coalition. This growing network of radiology professionals is collecting, creating, and sharing resources and best practices to implement in daily practice, connect with patients and communities and collaborate on programs to empower others. Click here to join. The radiology community can serve as leaders of the charge, stressing the importance of building alliances and recognizing that the problem is deeply rooted and no small challenge. Health equity will remain a focus of ACR 2022 and beyond.
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Laura Vallow, M.D.
Secretary, FRS
Vallow.Laura@mayo.edu |
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| Meet Your 2020 – 2021 FRS Executive Committee |
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President
Douglas Hornsby, MD |
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President-Elect
Rajendra Kedar, MD, FACR |
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Treasurer
Chintan Desai, MD |
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Secretary
Laura Vallow, MD |
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| FRS President’s Message |
Dr. Pat Mergo and I have shared our term with the rest of our society through the year of the pandemic with all the changes and limitations to our personal and professional lives. As we transition to new leadership, the names change, but the infrastructure of the society remains. I want to personally thank Lorraine Roger for her support and for being the institutional memory of the FRS. Among many individuals who helped her, Dr. Michael Raskin and Dr. Phil Cook have individually been there to help guide and protect the society and have been great resources. A special thanks to Dr. Laura Vallow and Dr. Jeff Stone for assisting in my first trip to the Hill. They made the occasion less stressful and smoothed over my rough edges. In the upcoming meeting, I want to challenge all members of the Executive Committee to promise to visit at least 5 vendors during meeting breaks. While the vendors are there in their own self-interest, the financial support they provide to the society is essential in our continued success. In addition to donations to the foundation, legislative issues should be supported by contributions to RADPAC. Proudly wear your RADPAC lapel pin. The RADPAC monies with the advice of Allison Dudley are applied to the economic and legislative pressure points that further the aims of our specialty. An issue that is close to my heart is the transition of Residents and Fellows to active membership in the FRS. As a former member of the Resident and Fellows’ Section, I am proud to see the progress of former members of this group. Many have continued into the leadership of our society. I can think of several of our former Residents and Fellows who have been President and held all the major offices of the FRS and have gone on to leadership roles in other states and the ACR. The transition of leadership from our historic legacy members to graduating Residents and Fellows is a payoff of the investment of time and treasure by the FRS. The Resident and Fellows’ Section is the present and future of our society. They are at or quickly approaching a crossroad in their careers and need you. You have been there and know the ropes. The active members of the FRS have literally thousands of years of experience and can be a resource for their questions. Heck, Drs Charlie Williams and Larry Muroff together must have 100 years of knowledge between them and are always ready to assist the residents. I challenge active members to become a mentor of one or many of our residents through this time of change in their careers. They need us and we certainly need them. I look forward to seeing everyone face to face in Orlando next weekend as we celebrate our annual reunion.
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Doug Hornsby, MD
President, FRS
doughornsby@msn.com |
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Past President
Patricia Mergo, MD, FACR |
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Legal Counsel
Michael M. Raskin, M.D., J.D., FACR |
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| FRBMA President’s Message |
Against All Odds: A Chat With Dr. Charlie Williams (Part 2)
Career Highlights
Dr. Williams worked at Radiology Associates of Tallahassee from 1974 – 2018 in a career that spanned 44 years. Dr. Williams served in many leadership positions with Radiology Associates including three different terms as President of the group. In his second year with the group, he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Radiology and served in that position for 12 years. Beginning in the early 1980s, Dr. Williams began devoting much of his personal time to participating in a variety of medical, business, and volunteer organizations. The bulk of his time was devoted to ACR and FRS where he held positions on various Committees, Boards, Task Forces, and Advisory Boards. In total, he has participated on over two dozen committees. Dr. Williams tells me he is most proud of his role with the ACR Intersociety Commission on Radiology Assistant where he helped develop and define the Registered Radiology Assistant.
Like most radiologists, Dr. Williams loved his job and he was always glad to help the group in any way we needed him. Unlike most radiologists, he also liked the business side of radiology and the opportunity to share his wisdom with those around him. He was in his element at our company Board meetings. Dr. Williams was usually the last one to weigh in on a topic. He liked to hear all sides of an issue before he shared his thoughts. When he really wanted us to pay attention, he would stand up and pace around the boardroom while he summarized every position. He would then offer some middle ground that would bring everyone together.
There are dozens of accomplishments I could mention about Dr. Williams but there is one that truly shows the skills he had in bringing people together. In 1986, Tallahassee did not have an MRI. Two competing hospitals, two competing neurology groups, and our radiology group were all considering investing in an MRI. Dr. Williams along with other partners in our group proposed to form a joint venture and invest in a single MRI. Although these disparate businesses competed with each other in other parts of their business, in MRI they came together to jointly provide this service to our medical community. That joint venture stayed together for twenty years.
Highlights of our Conversation
Dr. Williams, what advice do you have for radiology administrators and physician leaders?
- Get involved locally and nationally so you will always have a voice.
- Networking is extremely important and participation in organizations like the Florida Radiological Society and the FRBMA are an essential element of that networking.
- Don’t just network but work towards building lifelong friendships.
- Do all your work before a board meeting, not during. Never call for a vote in a meeting where you don’t know the outcome.
- It takes a while for decision-makers to warm up to new ideas. Bring them along slowly and make it their idea if possible.
- If you’re ten steps ahead, you’re a leader! If you’re 100 yards ahead you’re a target!
- Drive a car you don’t have to wash all the time.
Dr. Williams, any regrets?
Not being able to share the experience of receiving the ACR gold medal with my friend and mentor, Dr. Edward B. Singleton, Department of Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Williams, what worries do you have about the future of radiology?
Corporatization of medicine and radiology is real and making inroads in market share. The younger generations value quality of life and are less interested in the burdens of managing a private practice. Private practices must work hard at showing the long-term benefit of keeping their independence.
Final Thoughts
If you know Dr. Williams, you know his friendships last a lifetime. Nowhere is it more evident than one of his earliest mentors, Dr. James Paulk. After I turned off my recorder Dr. Williams told me one last story. The story started in the 1940s when Dr. Williams was called Pedro by his friends and family. Dr. Paulk, a practicing physician at the time, visited the Williams’ farm frequently as that’s where he purchased his fruits and vegetables. Dr. Paulk always took the time to talk with young Pedro. He encouraged him and mentored him. Dr. William looked up to Dr. Paulk and it was during these visits that his goal of becoming a doctor was formed. Dr. Williams said he did not realize how much the relationship impacted him until forty years later when Dr. Paulk visited the TMH radiology department. Dr. Paulk was now in his eighties and his wife was an inpatient at TMH. Dr. Paulk knew Pedro was working at TMH as a radiologist and felt that he wanted to say hello. When they saw each other they did not speak but embraced in a wordless hug and silently shared the memories that impacted both their lives.
Dr. Williams, thank you for all that you have done for the radiology specialty and our practice in Tallahassee. You have touched many lives and I am proud to call you a friend.
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John Detelich, CPA, MBA, CEO
President, FRBMA
jdetelich@radassociates.com |
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| Legislative Update |
July 1st the Governor received 94 bills on the last day of June. Of importance was the PIP bill (SB 74) which would have gotten rid of no-fault auto insurance in the state of Florida. The Governor vetoed the bill over concerns it would raise driver’s rates. The med pay language was not included in the bill and this was a win for the House of Medicine.
The Physician Assistant’s bill (HB 431) was also signed on June 29th and it became law upon signature. Current law allows one physician to supervise four PAs and this number has now been increased to one physician to supervise ten PAs. The provision in the statute of the location of the supervising physician was left unchanged. The original bill was proposing autonomous practice. This compromise was considered a win as well.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming summer FRS conference.
All of my best, |
Thanks, and stay well,
Alison Dudley, FRS Lobbyist
AlisonDudley@dudleyandassociates.com |
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| 2021 Annual Meeting of the FRS & FRBMA |
| Please join the Florida Radiological Society and the Florida Radiology Business Management Association for the 2021 Annual Meeting at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, July 16-18, 2021. The meeting will focus on “Excelling in an Everchanging Paradigm” and will feature lectures by faculty who are leaders in the practice of radiology. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando, Florida. |
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| Job Posting Opportunities |
Florida Radiological Society is pleased to introduce the opportunity for interested parties to advertise for potential jobs in our monthly FRS Ebrief bulletin.
Advertisement pricing is as follows:
Ebrief Job Posting pricing:
3 months ($100 monthly)
6 months ($90 monthly)
12 months ($80 monthly)
Please contact Lorraine Roger, our Society Administrator for further information on how to advertise in our monthly publication.
Phone: (813) 806-1070
Fax: (813) 806-1071
Email: lroger@flrad.org
We feel that this will provide a valuable service to both our members and our Florida community of Radiology.
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Thank you for your interest!
Patricia Mergo, MD, FACR |
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| Become a PAC Member Today |
Attention FRBMA Members! Please support the cause. We encourage you to be PAC members and supporters; you do not have to belong to the FRS. Donations can be made online through our PAC website www.FLRADPAC.org. Thank you for your donation.
It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger at lroger@flrad.org or contact Alison Dudley at alisondudley@dudleyandassociates.com for more information. |
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Telephone (813) 806-1070 • Fax (813) 806-1071
5620 W. Sligh Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33634 |
| The E-Brief is an exclusive member benefit of Florida Radiological Society, delivering monthly member, chapter and industry news. Please do not reply to this automatic e-mail. For comments or questions about the E-Brief, please contact lroger@flrad.org. |
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