SMLMA News Briefs

Despite repeated attempts to stop it, time continues to fly, and with it your chance to RSVP for the May 9 SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception. This popular event--to be held at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville--is absolutely free for SCMA members and their spouse or guest. Cost for nonmembers is $55 per person.

To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. The event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., features CMA President Dr. Paul Phinney, a Sacramento pediatrician. He will give an informal “President’s Message” touching on what CMA is doing for you, current issues, and opportunities to get involved in SCMA and CMA. For more information, download the flyer below.

2013 SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception flyer

Garden Tour to benefit local health programs

All local physicians, along with their families and friends, are urged to attend the annual SCMA Alliance Garden Tour on May 17-18. The tour, which this year features gardens in Petaluma, raises money for local health programs. The particular focus this year is on mental health providers in Petaluma, including Committee on the Shelterless, Petaluma People Services and Hope Counseling. Donations will also be distributed to county-wide programs. Last year’s tour raised more than $50,000.

The event, which costs just $45, features self-guided tours of a half-dozen local gardens, from rural landscapes to urban topiary. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions, and talented musicians will entertain. There’s also an art raffle and a restaurant raffle for dinners at almost 20 local eating establishments. The grand prize is a dinner for two with wine pairing at the Michelin-rated Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.

To purchase tickets, visit the SCMA Alliance website at www.scmaa.org.

Dr. Rob Nied nominated as SCMA President-Elect

Dr. Rob Nied, a Santa Rosa family physician, has been nominated as SCMA President-Elect. He heads the list of nominees on this year’s SCMA election ballots, which will be mailed to all members on May 13 and are due back by May 31.

Other physicians nominated to the SCMA board of directors include Drs. Francesca Manfredi (treasurer), Regina Sullivan (secretary), Richard Powers (West County district) and Jan Sonander and Jeff Sugarman (Santa Rosa district). For a complete list of the board of directors, visit www.scma.org/about.

In addition, three physicians--Drs. Dan Lightfoot, Richard Powers and Jeff Sugarman--have been nominated as CMA delegates, and four have been nominated as alternate delegates: Drs. Francesca Manfredi, Rob Nied, Stephen Steady and Regina Sullivan.

For more information, contact Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org or 707-525-4375.

Free skin cancer screenings in Santa Rosa on May 18

Local dermatologists, along with dermatology physician assistants and nurse practitioners, are teaming up to offer free skin cancer screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Vista Health Center, 3569 Round Barn Circle, Santa Rosa. No appointment is necessary, and no treatment will be offered, but recommendations will be made for follow-up if indicated. The event is cosponsored by the Northern California Dermatology Society and the American Academy of Dermatology.

SCMA and SCMA Alliance give $28,000 in health careers scholarships

Ten local students will receive a total of $28,000 in health careers scholarships from SCMA and the SCMA Alliance over the coming year. The recipients include three students already in medical school, as well as four undergraduates and two high school students planning medical careers.

The scholarships were awarded by the SCMA/SCMAA Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which is chaired by Virginia Merwin. Other members include Dr. Elise Sullivan (co-chair), Dr. Brad Drexler, and Alliance members Salley Ebrahim, Pat Anderson, Barbara Ramsey, Joni Schmidt and Lisa Sugarman. Funds for the scholarships are raised through the Holiday Greeting Card project and other Alliance fundraisers.

Physicians converge on Capitol for CMA Leadership Conference

Five Sonoma County physicians--Drs. Peter Bretan, Brad Drexler, Phyllis Senter, Leonard Klay and Catherine Gutfreund--joined more than 400 of their colleagues from throughout the state for CMA’s annual Legislative Leadership Conference on April 16. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom told the crowd during a morning session that “the issue of healthcare is the dominant challenge we face as it relates to balancing our budget.”

Other morning speakers included CMA President Dr. Paul Phinney, Assemblymember Dr. Richard Pan and Peter Lee, who directs Covered California, the health benefit exchange mandated by the Affordable Care Act. The exchange, which is scheduled to open next January, will allow consumers to compare rates and select health insurance plans.

After lunch, attendees headed off to meet with their legislators in the Capitol, perhaps heeding Dr. Pan’s advice to “talk about what you do every day in your practice--taking care of patients.”

Resolutions needed for CMA House of Delegates by June 30

Resolutions for the CMA District 10 caucus are due by June 30. The caucus is the first stop on the way to the CMA House of Delegates, which meets this fall to consider resolutions from around the state. Submitting resolutions to the House of Delegates is the most direct way for members to influence CMA’s policies and activities, including its advocacy agenda. Resolutions can address virtually any medical practice or health-related topic, or any aspect of the policies and activities of organized medicine.

To submit a resolution, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375.

Get your 2013 Sonoma County Physician Directory!

One of the many benefits of SCMA membership is a free copy of the annual Sonoma County Physician Directory. Extra copies are a hot commodity, however, and right now is the best time to buy yours before they’re all gone.

The directory costs $30 for SCMA members or $40 for nonmember physicians, health care facilities and the general public. To order by phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. You can also purchase online at www.scma.org/directory, or you can fax or mail the order form below.

Sonoma County Physician Directory order form

Leadership Academy heads to Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas

The annual California Health Care Leadership Academy will be held May 31 through June 2 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Presented by CMA, the California Medical Group Management Association and the CMA Foundation, “Increasing the Odds of Success” will cover a variety of issues to help physicians succeed in the rapidly changing health care landscape.

Hear from the experts and leaders of change and attend a comprehensive slate of practice management seminars and workshops to position your practice for success. For details, contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org, or visit www.cmanet.org.

MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Healdsburg-based Alliance Medical Center has received a $60,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente to expand the medical center’s clinic in Windsor. The clinic is the town’s sole provider of primary care and pediatric services. Expansion plans include six new exam rooms, an additional medical provider and access to dental screenings.

Santa Rosa Cardiovascular Imaging, which is affiliated with Northern California Medical Associates, has received a three-year accreditation in adult transthoracic echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

RESOURCES

The latest Medscape Physician Compensation Report finds that orthopedic surgeons were the top-earning specialists nationwide in 2012, with an average annual compensation of $405,000, more than twice as much as psychiatrists, internists, family physicians and pediatricians. The annual survey found that compensation for almost all physicians continued to increase in 2012, with average earnings around the country well in excess of $200,000. To view the complete survey findings, visit www.medscape.com.

The 25th annual Conference on Physician Well-Being will be held in Riverside on May 22. Endorsed by CMA , the conference focuses on legal issues, new drug testing technologies and managing co-occurring disorders. The conference qualifies for 7 hours of Category 1 credit and costs $300. To register, visit www.rcmanet.org/events or contact Tamme Perdue at 951-686-3342 or tperdue@rcmanet.org.

Physicians and office staff of a certain age are encouraged to sign up for the Sonoma Wine Country Senior Games, open to all athletes 50 years and up. The Games, now in their third year, feature competition in 17 different types of sports, from tennis and golf to square dancing and horseshoes. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and administered by the Council on Aging, the Games run from May 30 to June 9 at venues around the county. To register, visit www.winecountrygames.com.

A conference on Integrating Mind-Body Medicine into Clinical Practice will be held in San Francisco Oct. 5-9. Sponsored by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, the conference offers a maximum of 31 Category 1 credits. The focus is on medical techniques to address stress, anxiety, trauma, insomnia and chronic illness. To register, visit www.cmbm.org.

The following CMA webinars are scheduled for April. Webinars begin at 12:15 p.m. and run until 1:15 or later. To register, visit www.cmanet.org. Seminars are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person.

• Prescribing and referring for Medi-Cal patients (May 1)

• Time management (May 8)

• Enforcement provisions of the Medical Practice Act (May 15)

• Essentials for ICD-10-CM (May 16, 23 and 30)

• Documentation and coding auditing (May 22)

• Estate planning after the fiscal cliff (May 29)

CLASSIFIEDS

Psychiatrist wanted

A staff psychiatrist at Sonoma Developmental Center participates in the multidisciplinary team process for the management of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sonoma Developmental Center is operated by the State of California, Department of Developmental Services, and provides long-term residential services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The psychiatrist performs psychiatric evaluations, participates in the multidisciplinary team meetings and provides recommendations to the primary care physicians in the psychiatric medication management of complex behavioral problems. The psychiatrist is also available via email and pager for consultation with primary care physicians for urgent clinical issues.

SALARY RANGE: $18,146 to $22,377 per month

Applications may be downloaded from the California Department of Human Resources website at www.calhr.ca.gov. Applications MUST be filed in person or by mail with: Sonoma Developmental Center, Human Resources Examination Department, 15000 Arnold Drive, PO Box 1493, Eldridge, CA 95431. For more details, contact Dr. Michael Wymore at 707-938-6566.

Family physicians needed

Family medicine positions available with Annadel Medical Group in Sonoma County. Contact James.DeVore@stjoe.org.

Medical office space for lease, Santa Rosa

Newly remodeled medical office with exam rooms available for clinician to see patients. Located on N. Dutton Ave. near West College. Parking, reception area, utilities included. For details, visit www.facebook.com/SantaRosaSportsAndFamilyMedicine. Contact Len at 707-529-8081 or len@srsportsmed.com.

Urodynamic monitor for sale

Urodynamic monitor--$2900. Like new. Bard 4-channel urodynamic monitor with extra supplies. I left private practice and joined a large group and no longer need this monitor. It is in great condition and was hardly used. I am in the Santa Rosa area but can arrange delivery to other Bay Area locations. Contact Janet at 650-814-7155 or janetpulskamp@comcast.net.

SCMA members get free classifieds!

SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Linda McLaughlin at Linda@scma.org or 707-525-4359.

APPLICANTS

Hope Becklund, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, UC Davis 1994

Kate Feibusch, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, UC San Francisco 1996

Patrick Flynn, MD, Family Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, Georgetown Univ 1993

Louise Forrest, MD, Psychiatry*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, UC San Francisco 2003

Julie Ann Phenco, MD, Psychiatry*, 3554 Roundbarn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ East Ramon Magsaysay

Steven Pyke, MD, Family Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, Univ Pittsburgh 1992

Tabitha Washington, MD, Anesthesiology*, Pain Medicine*, 3559 Roundbarn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Colorado 2002

Rukiye Yoltar, MD, Internal Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, Hacettepe Univ 1982

* = board certified; italics = special medical interest

ABOUT SCMA

The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association.