MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Is there a family medicine issue that concerns you? Do you have a colleague who needs recognition? Consider writing a resolution!

All Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians members are invited to write and submit resolutions for consideration at the MAFP Business Meeting held on the Tuesday during the MAFP Annual Scientific Assembly. Submissions are due June 15 each year.

Writing and presenting resolutions is a great opportunity to direct MAFP policy and address issues of interest or concern to family physicians and family medicine. Resolutions can also honor outstanding individual achievement or memorialize deceased family physician leaders.

The Degree of Fellow recognizes American Academy of Family Physicians members who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues, as well as in their communities, by their service to family medicine, by their advancement of health care to the American people, and by their professional development through medical education and research. Fellows to the AAFP are recognized as champions of family medicine. They are the physicians who make family medicine the premier specialty in service to their community and profession. From a personal perspective, being a Fellow signifies not only ‘tenure’ but one’s additional work in your community, within organized medicine, within teaching, and a greater commitment to continuing professional development and/or research.

Have you met the requirements and applied to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians? Have you not yet been formally recognized by your peers as a Fellow? If yes, we encourage you to attend our Annual Meeting to take part in the Fellow Convocation Ceremony during the MAFP Membership Meeting on July 23.

If you would like to participate in the convocation or have questions, please contact Beth Embry at 601.853.3302 or by email at beth@msafp.org.

Interested in becoming a Fellow, but unsure if you've met all the requirements? Visit this link for more information.

Did you know the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has its very own podcast? Yes, you read that right! "Inside Family Medicine" is a podcast produced by the AAFP specifically for family doctors and healthcare professionals.

This podcast covers a wide range of topics pertinent to family medicine, providing valuable insights, updates on the latest medical research, and practical tips for improving patient care. Whether you're looking to stay informed about new treatment guidelines, learn about innovative practices, or hear from experts in the field, "Inside Family Medicine" has something for you.

Some podcasts include:

• Optimizing Postpartum Care | Dr. Beth Oller: Reducing Perinatal Mental Health Stigma
• Fighting For Family Medicine | Previewing the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit
• Dr. Janet Nwaukoni: From Match Day to Mentorship

Don’t miss out on this incredible resource! Follow the link below to explore the various episodes and start listening today.

The Medicare Wellness Visit (MWV) is one of the key strategies in quality care gap closure. Reimbursements for the MWV are an economic draw but the multi-step process can be burdensome, leaving room for errors. If the MWV is performed incorrectly, fees should be paid back. In Feb. 2024, The US Attorney’s Office announced payback of over $11M from Penn State Health due to errors in their MWV performance. With the pandemic behind us, many feel more audits loom ahead and Penn State Health may have shined a light on potential opportunities for investigation.

In this 45-minute non-CME webinar*, Dr. Ulmer will discuss MWV compliant completion and note potential audit pitfalls. This session is appropriate for office billing and coding staff as they can be key in aiding this process.

*This is a non-CME webinar, but an option will be given for attendees to purchase access to obtain 1.0 AAFP Prescribed Credit which equals AMA PRA Cat I CME. This also equals 1.0 AAPC CEU for certified coders.

There is no cost to attend this webinar, but registration is required.

Last week, Sharon Holmes, Outreach Coordinator for the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, spent the afternoon with Dr. Chrystal Sumrall, MAFP Treasurer, of Laurel, MS, and her team at the Hattiesburg Clinic for their Tobacco Quit Line Lunch & Learn. The program is designed to help participating clinics integrate very simple tobacco cessation steps into routine patient care. Physicians who attend receive 1 hour CME and an additional 2 hours through t2p.

Reach out to Sharon Holmes at outreach@msafp.org to schedule yours.

The Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) is excited to announce that the Nominating Committee will soon convene to review candidates for open positions on both the MAFP Board of Directors and the MAFP Foundation Board of Trustees.

Serving on these boards is a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of family medicine in Mississippi, influence key decisions, and support initiatives that enhance the professional growth of family physicians.

Interested in Serving?

We are looking for dedicated and passionate members who are eager to make a difference. If you are interested in serving on the MAFP Board of Directors or the MAFP Foundation Board of Trustees, we invite you to express your interest. Please reach out to Beth Embry at beth@msafp.org with your intention to serve, so we can present your candidacy to the Nominating Committee.

Your involvement can help shape the future of family medicine in our state. Don’t miss this chance to play a pivotal role in our organization’s mission and activities.

Join us in Sandestin, Florida July 20 - 24!

Registration is now open for MAFP's 75th Annual Scientific Assembly, scheduled for July 20-24, 2024, at Sandestin Resort in Destin, Florida! We expect more than 140 family physicians to attend and we hope you are one of them! Registration links are below.

Our theme for this year’s meeting is "Celebrating 75 Years: A Diamond Legacy in Family Medicine. 

CME Topics Include:

• New Drug Update Part One — C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, BCPS, GASHP, FAPha
• New Drug Update Part Two — C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, BCPS, GASHP, FAPha
• Shedding Light on Type 2 Diabetes: weight Management, Co-morbidities, & Future Breakthroughs — Spaker TBA
• AAFP Update — Dr. John Meigs, AAFP Past President
• Navigating Narcolepsy in Family Medicine: Patient-Centered Strategies to Optimize the Experience and Outcomes of Treatment — Michael J. Thorpy, MD
• Breaking Down Best Practices in Obesity Care: A Learning Lab for Applying Evidence in the Real World — Chuck Vega, MD, FAAFP, and Donna H. Ryan, MD
• Calling Primary Care Partners to Action in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Shortening the Time to Diagnosis for Improved Patient Outcomes — Theodore P. Abraham, MD, FACC
• Elevating Patient Care: Early Detection and Evidence-based Pharmacotherapy for Postpartum Depression in Primary Care — Sarah Nagle-Yang, MD
• Cases in the Community: Optimizing Treatment and Considering Weight Management as a Primary Goal in People with Type 2 Diabetes — Javier Morales, MD, FACP, FACE
• Why We Get Sick: The Role of Metabolism in Health — Benjamin T. Bikman, PhD
• ABFM Update — Ashley Webb, MSM
• Treatment of Obesity for Primary Care: From Diagnosis to Care Management Unlock the Power to Transform Lives — Elizabeth Bauer
• Moving the Needle in Older Adults: A Provider Townhall to Enhance Vaccine Uptake — Speaker TBA
• KSA: Care of Children — Drs. Lee Greer, Jennifer Gholson, and John Mitchell

Social Events Include:

• Yoga
• MAFP Family Fun Night at the Diamond
• Sunrise Devotionals
• Golf Tournament
• Family Crab Hunt
• Loot and Scoot in Exhibit Hall
• Spouse and Kids Bingo
• Raffle Items
• Split the Pot Fundraiser
• 80 Exhibitors

Our room block is filling up - have you made plans to attend?

We are please to have Dr. Javier Morales joining us for Annual Meeting where he will discuss Cases in the Community: Optimizing Treatment and Considering Weight Management as a Primary Goal in People with Type 2 Diabetes.

After Dr. Morales' presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Apply current evidence-based guideline recommendations that prioritize weight loss as a treatment target in PwT2DM
• Intensify treatment in a timely manner consistent with current guideline recommendations and clinical evidence to help PwT2DM achieve personalized glycemic and weight loss goals
• Utilize shared decision-making to develop individualized management plans for PwT2DM and overweight/obesity that considers personal preferences, needs, and goals

Javier Morales, MD, FACP, FACE, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and Vice President at Advanced Internal Medicine Group in East Hills, New York. He earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and North Shore University Hospital, serving as Chief Medical Resident. Dr. Morales is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is active in clinical research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting at medical forums. He is dedicated to modern Internal Medicine and the education of healthcare professionals and students.

Another legislative session has come and gone, as lawmakers officially adjourned Sine Die on Tuesday, May 14, while Governor Tate Reeves finished action on the last bills of the session on the 13th.

Notable events during the 2024 Session effecting family physicians in Mississippi include defeating HB1490, The Scope of Practice Bill, and advancing HB1725, Medicaid Expansion, all the way to conference. While expansion didn't occur, we will continue our efforts next session. We appreciate everyone who responded to our calls to action and contacted your legislators on behalf of these bills.

While a special session is not anticipated, our partners at The Clay Firm will be prepared if Gov. Reeves decides to call one.

It's time to nominate a fellow family physician for the MAFP's annual awards, including Family Physician of the Year, Humanitarian Award, Military Award, New Physician of the Year, and the Patterson Award. To nominate a member, please review the criteria for each award and complete the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is June 1 each year. Online Nominating Form - (only takes 2 minutes).

Mississippi has the 4^th highest incidence of laryngeal cancer in the U.S. Early symptoms are often attributed to other common symptoms of a cold, sore throat or benign neck mass. Primary care physicians are the front line of early cancer detection. Become an expert at spotting the early signs of laryngeal and other head and neck cancers and help us intervene early and save lives.