September 2023

From the Executive Director: Pleased to meet you!

Dear DMS members, partners, & friends:

Fall is in the air ... Here's hoping that summer is wrapping up beautifully for you.

As I transition into the role of Executive Director, excitement about new ideas -- your ideas -- are top of the list.

How can the Denver Medical Society better serve you? What can we bring you that no one else is bringing you? As they say in the startup world, what are your "pain points?" Let's re-imagine together what DMS can mean for physicians and the greater healthcare community in Denver and beyond.

My email is vcastleberry@denvermedsociety.org and my personal cell phone is 303-717-9320. Reach out to me any time. I will be getting out to meet you in the coming months to hear about your ideas and experiences.

P.S. - Save the date! DMS Annual Meeting Dinner, Saturday, November 18, 2023 at the History Colorado Museum. Details to come.

And Denver Zoo Lights for you and family! Save the date: Dec. 10, 2023

Best regards,

Virginia (Ginny) Castleberry Learn more about me

The beautiful Glenmoor Country Club was a splashing success for our summer pool/BBQ party in August. More pics below.

Save the date! Saturday, 7pm, November 18, 2023

DMS Annual Meeting at History Colorado Center

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 7 - 9 pm for this exciting event, co-hosted with Aurora Adams County Medical Society.

Tour the beautiful History Colorado Museum, enjoy a delicious meal, meet your local physicians, and raise a glass of bubbly for our 50-year practice docs!

Registration link and details to come.

Sponsored by: COPIC and Colorado Retina Associates

Support Physicians by supporting your Societies!

Combined DMS/CMS dues are due Dec. 31, 2023. Group bills were sent via regular mail. Individual invoices went out by email. Please return your payment as soon as possible before Dec. 31 so you do not experience any interruption in your member benefits! Individuals can remit payment through your individualized email sent Aug. 30 from Colorado Medical Society, or by check to the Colorado Medical Society office, PO Box 17550, Denver, CO 80217. Please indicate the member's name and/or CMS member number on the check. Questions? Respond to this email. Thank you! Renewal link in QR code:

In Memoriam

Past DMS President

Donald Parsons MD, February 25,1941-August 8, 2023

On August 8, 2023, Summit County lost a pillar, leader, mentor, father, and icon. Don died in his home of natural causes at the age of 82. He had an esteemed 30-year medical career as a general surgeon with Colorado Kaiser Permanente, with expertise in public health, health care policy, nutrition, preventive medicine, and medical ethics.

He was a graduate of Stanford University, and the University of Rochester medical school. He spent two years in the Peace Corps in Somalia. He is survived by his three children, Chris Parsons, Jeff Parsons, and Amy Wineland.; and four grandchildren Abigail and Tobias Wineland and Madelyn and Sophia Parsons.

Dr Parson's accomplishments are too numerous to fit on this page, so please click on the link below for his full obituary.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday September l7th, 2023 at the Summit County Sr. and Community Center from 24pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Summit Community Care Clinic.

-- excerpt from the Summit Daily.

Our Sponsor:

SB23-144: Colorado leads in protecting pain patients and their providers

On May 4, Governor Polis signed S.B. 144 making Colorado one of the first states to restore provider discretion in opioid prescribing for chronic pain.

Under the new law, providers cannot be subject to discipline solely for prescribing opioid doses that fall outside numeric thresholds recommended in guidelines. Nor can clinicians be forced to taper opioid doses in stable, compliant patients.

These changes were needed to safeguard patients from discrimination and tapering practices that increase their risks of suicide and overdose and can destabilize their health and lives.

The new law also protects patients from discrimination at clinics and pharmacies.

Click here to learn more

AMA resources for physicians + practice managers

CONFERENCE

American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH)

Oct. 11-13 | Palm Desert, California

Co-sponsored by the AMA, Stanford Medicine and Mayo Clinic, ACPH is the premier U.S. conference on physician health and well-being. Don’t miss this chance to network with peers, make key connections, and help build a workplace for the future. Registration discounts for AMA members, residents, students, and groups. CME available. Learn more.

RESOURCES

Practice Guide: Integrated behavioral health care for older adults

Provides primary care practices with actionable, evidence-based guidance on the nuances of integrated behavioral health care for adults over the age of 65. Learn more.

RESEARCH

Clinician Well-Being Assessment and Interventions in Joint Commission–Accredited Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers

This study determines the proportion of hospitals and FQHCs that are measuring and taking system actions. Learn more.

Aurora-Adams, Arapahoe-Douglas-Elbert, Denver and Foothills Medical Societies Glenmoor CC Pool Party and BBQ - August 7, 2023

Pool toys abound for a splashing good time

Great big THANK YOU to Kendall and CRA for sponsoring!

Kids and grandkids had a blast and chowed on burgers and ice cream