2005 AMCLC Chapter Leaders' Workshop


This year's Chapter Leaders' Workshop, held during the ACR Annual Meeting and Chapter Leaders Conference, was the most successful yet with more than 50 participants. It was designed to provide chapter leaders with the necessary tools to effectively lead an ACR chapter. N. Reed Dunnick, MD, opened the session by discussing the structure and functions of the Michigan Radiological Society, including information on chapter missions, resources, succession planning, rewards of participation, and the high importance of communication.

Chapters Participating in the Workshop

Jay R. Parikh, MD, Washington State Radiological Society, Chapter Meetings: Improving Attendance Through Quality Programming. Faced with decreasing meeting attendance and repetitive programs, Parikh discussed continual collegial relationships with academic community and other radiological organizations such as PNWRS. He also spoke on improving communications with members, delivering quality educational programs, and forging a stronger chapter relationship with the ACR.

John T. Renz, MD, Alabama Academy of Radiology, Chapter Meetings: Increasing Member Attendance and Participation. Renz shared how the Alabama chapter surveyed membership to determine what types of programs were desired and formed a CME/Education Committee. The chapter is searching for a CME co-sponsor for the chapter. The AAR also is forming alliances with other organizations to produce combined meetings and to pool resources and is holding chapter meetings throughout the state to ensure convenience of location. Renz also discussed how the chapter is promoting resident/fellow involvement in the meetings.

Lara Knowles, Virginia Chapter, American College of Radiology, Chapter Meetings: Securing Vendor Support. Involving vendors in the meetings allows them the opportunity to display their products and gives members the opportunity to see the latest technologies. Knowles shared examples of exhibitor sponsorship categories and benefits. One positive outcome of this project is that exhibitor sponsorship fees cover meeting expenses, allowing the elimination of attendee registration fees.

Karsten Konderding, MD, and Lara Knowles, Virginia Chapter, American College of Radiology, Government Relations: Hosting a Chapter Lobby Day and Forming a State PAC. The speakers pointed out that it is essential for chapters to participate in legislative discussionsinvolving health care and to host an annual lobby day, allowing radiologists to visit the general assembly and put a face on the organization. Konderding and Knowles emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement and discussed the planning processes and costs involved in hosting a lobby day and forming a state PAC.

David A. Desrochers, MD, North Carolina Radiological Society, Communications: Starting a Chapter Newsletter. Desrochers shared his insight into finding a printer experienced in publishing newsletters and offered advice on dealing with printers. Desrochers also discussed how to format a newsletter, the editor's responsibilities, and what costs to expect when producing a chapter newsletter.

H. Alexander Munitz, MD, Maryland Radiological Society, Government Relations: Serving Your Members Through Political Activism. Munitz told attendees that the MRS leadership realized the society and its members are best served by political activism. As a result, the MRS has concentrated on forging relationships with the state legislature in order to advance radiology's agenda, especially on 2 key areas: malpractice reform (the MRS was instrumental in achieving a clause prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to radiologists who practice breast imaging) and self-referral.

Robert Acherman, JD, and Roger H. Thomas, MD, California Radiological Society, Government Relations: Lobbying at the State Level. The speakers shared their experience with both internal and external processes for lobbying and reminded attendees of the importance of knowing the legislative process and the best opportunities to stop or amend a bill.

Clydie de Brux, South Carolina Radiological Society, Membership: Creation of a Chapter Advisory Board. To ensure good attendance at chapter meetings, de Brux suggested including representatives from each practice within the state.

Raymond E. Bertino, MD, Illinois Radiological Society, Membership: Providing Resources to Members in Training. Bertino discussed how the Illinois chapter developed a nonclinical CD-ROM to be distributed to the residency program.

Max P. Rosen, MD, Joshua L. Rosebrook, MD, and Maryellen Sun, MD, Massachusetts Radiological Society, Membership: Starting, Maintaining and Growing a Resident and Fellow Section. The speakers detailed the MRS' successful 3-pronged approach to creating, developing, and maintaining interest in the RFS. Their formula centers on an initial social event, a yearly leadership dinner, and a spring forum.

Celebrating 30 years

The Alabama Academy of Radiology (AAR) held its annual meeting in March and celebrated its 30th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, Ruth D. Snow, MD, introduced the new AAR logo.

Award Ceremony

Bibb Allen, Jr, MD, received the AAR's prestigious Silver Medal Award for outstanding deeds and service and meritorious contributions to the practice of medicine and the specialty of radiology. Allen has been a member of Birmingham Radiological Group since 1990 and has held the position of program director of diagnostic radiology residency at the Baptist Medical Centers since 1992. Allen has been active with local, state, and national associations, serving in many capacities with the ACR as a member of the Task Force on Continuing Competence, Commission on Economics Committee, Coding and Nomenclature Committee, and the ACR Council Steering Committee, and as chair of the Network of Carrier Advisory Committee Representatives for Diagnostic Radiology. He also has served the AAR as councilor to the ACR and as president, as well as the Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee representative for diagnostic radiology, a position he still holds today.