Joshua C. Ranum, MD, F바카라 사리트, 바카라 사리트 Governor
Greetings colleagues!
April is a busy month in the 바카라 사리트 world. Thanks to all of you who participated in this year's IM Meeting in New Orleans both in person and virtually. I was pleased with the attendance from our chapter. Just a reminder that the last day to access your recordings or to extend your access is Tuesday, May 6.
One of my biggest thrills as a governor is to see people become more excited about the 바카라 사리트 and become more engaged with the chapter. I connected with newer members at the annual meeting and look forward to their upcoming contributions to the chapter. Stay tuned - we've got even more things planned in the coming months.
Congratulations to new Fellow Dr. Erik Heitkamp who participated in the Convocation in New Orleans!
Congratulations are also in order for student member Nicole Virgin who had an excellent poster presentation in New Orleans. She also met several residency program faculty to help guide her applications. Another great reason to attend 바카라 사리트 meetings.
바카라 사리트's annual Leadership Day was held this last week in Washington, DC. North Dakota had strong participation this year. Drs. Fadel Nammour, Leesha Heitkamp, Dre Steinwehr, and Josh Ranum attended. This was Leesha's and Dre's first time attending, and they were a little surprised at “how the sausage is made” but both left with a desire to continue advocating for their patients and their profession.
There were three key points discussed with over 400 members of Congress by delegates from all 50 states during Leadership Day.
- Protecting Medicaid. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is tasked with finding $880 billion of savings over the next decade and Medicaid is the largest program they oversee. The 바카라 사리트 wanted us to inform our representatives that cuts to Medicaid could have dire consequences for our patients. It's very likely that funding will be reduced but we don't want the proverbial rug pulled out from under the 100,000 North Dakotans insured through this program. No one wants to go back to much higher numbers of uninsured patients.
- Protecting public health, research, and workforce programs. The investments our government have made in these programs are in jeopardy through either grant recissions (taking back what's already been authorized) or nonrenewal. This creates tremendous uncertainty among researchers and we'll see the public health consequences shortly.
- Medicare physician payment reform. Yes, it's still an issue. Physician payment is the only component that does not get a raise. We've taken a 33% pay cut (after inflation adjustments) since 2001 including a 2.83% cut this year. HR 879 would retroactively eliminate the 2.83% cut and provide a 2% increase albeit only for the remainder of 2025 and then we get to start the fight all over again.
The 바카라 사리트 Leadership Day website contains much better summaries of the relevant issues:
No, that is not Dre's rental car on the left.
We've got several things in the works. Stay tuned for additional Virtual Doctor's Lounge topics, a well-being survey to help us plan events, information about the annual meeting, and an upcoming announcement about elections to choose the next chapter governor.
Save the date! 2025 North Dakota Chapter Scientific Meeting
The annual North Dakota Chapter Scientific Meeting will be at the Delta Fargo on Friday, October 3, 2025.
The 2025 resident poster competition and Doctor's Dilemma competition will be on Tuesday, September 30. Medical student posters will be presented virtually on Thursday, October 2.
If you are interested in volunteering as a poster judge, please sign up .
Call for Award Nominations
Do you have a mentor, colleague, or peer deserving recognition?
The North Dakota Chapter Awards Committee would appreciate your assistance in recognizing our chapter members that have made outstanding contributions in the practice of medicine, research, public service, leadership, and medical volunteerism.
The recipients will be honored during the North Dakota Chapter Scientific Meeting, October 3, 2025.
Please review the list of chapter awards below and submit your nomination to Carla Beach Chapter Staff. If possible, please include the nominee's CV.
Laureate Award
The Laureate Award is designed to honor those Fellows and Masters of the College who have demonstrated, by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, and research, and service to their community, their chapter, and the 바카라 사리트.
Fostering Diversity Award
The award is given to an individual with outstanding accomplishments in advancing diversity in clinical medicine or research, and/or access to care in relation to diverse populations. “Diverse populations” are understood to include: 1) economically or socially disadvantaged patient populations, for example, minorities, immigrant groups, or the homeless; and 2) groups underrepresented in the healthcare workforce.
Volunteerism & Community Service Award
The award is given to an individual who has distinguished themselves in voluntary service in the area of medicine. Recipients of this award have distinguished themselves as true humanitarians to be honored for their voluntary contributions in medicine. Nominees could be non-physicians.
Woman Physician of the Year
Honors an outstanding woman physician with a distinguished career in areas of exceptional patient care, medical education and/or research.