Hutcheson voted to SCMA resident
physician seat
by Cindy
AbolePublic Relations
For the past several years, dermatology resident Angela Hutcheson’s role was one of student, physician and advocate for her patients while training at MUSC. As of April, her duties grew to encompass a larger scope and mission representing issues held by the state’s resident physicians as a newly elected trustee with the South Carolina Medical Association.
Angela HutchesonThe yearlong term allows Hutcheson to provide leadership and representation of health and medical issues affecting South Carolina’s resident physicians. Hutcheson is among three members representing medical students, young physicians and resident fellows with SCMA and 18 total members who form the SCMA’s House of Delegates. The group works closely with the General Assembly regarding legislation and collaboration of statewide public health and medical profession issues. She will also extend her role and responsibilities to the American Medical Association.
“I’m very pleased to be elected to this role,” said Hutcheson, a third-year dermatology chief resident and 2001 MUSC alumna. “I’ve wanted to find some way to always be involved in advocacy and professional medicine. I hope that I can encourage other residents to become more involved in the process.”
Efforts to establish a resident physician presence with SCMA was initiated in 2000 as MUSC and other graduate residency programs in the state and across the nation embraced changes with resident duty hours and changes to graduate medical education. With more than 6,700 physician members, SCMA is widely considered South Carolina’s voice for the medical profession.
“Because of these and other changes, the SCMA feels it is essential to have resident physicians on the Board of Trustees,” said Todd Atwater, chief executive officer, South Carolina Medical Association. “In terms of the full career of a physician, residency is a short time but very intense and dramatic in how physicians will practice. We must continuously receive input from this vital station in a physician’s career.”
Seeds for this collaboration were sowed by MUSC physician advocates Kelby Hutcheson, M.D., an anesthesia resident, and David Fairbrother, M.D., a pediatric cardiology fellow. Both were active participants in organized medicine throughout their medical education. Kelby, who is the husband of the SCMA’s newest trustee, served as a non-voting guest on the SCMA House of Delegates. Supporters rallied the SCMA for a formal seat and voice on the board representing the state’s resident physicians. It was approved by the General Assembly this past spring.
“Angela’s presence on the board sets a new precedent,” said Fairbrother. “She provides a passionate voice representing residents and fellows on various issues through this position.”
Currently, Hutcheson sees her role as a shared responsibility to residents and fellows around the state, SCMA trustees, and patients.
She’s eager about exploring current SCMA issues including prompt payment legislation for Medicare and Medicaid; physician’s access of care and patient safety; and continuing support for tort reform and the Medical Malpractice Reform Bill (passed by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Mark Sanford this past spring). Prior to her election to the board, Hutcheson actively rallied support among colleagues to send e-mails and make phone calls to delegates and representatives prompting the bill’s passage.
“With so many changes in medicine and issues, it prompts a need for action and advocacy to protect patients,” Hutcheson said. During her tenure, she hopes to encourage more residents to become involved in the process. “I realize it's very hard for resident physicians to be involved in advocacy and medical issues. Our schedules just don’t allow us much time. But it is very important that we find the time.”
On other resident-related issues, Hutcheson will study debt relief and student loan repayment. Throughout their education, medical students can amass more than $100,000 in loan debt. Hutcheson hopes to work with the state association and legislature to consider loan forgiveness programs and statewide practice programs in underserved areas. As one of a handful of women on the board, Hutcheson also hopes to promote more women in active leadership roles within the organization.
“This is a fantastic time for Angela and South Carolina resident physicians,” said Franklin Medio, Ph.D., associate dean for Graduate Medical Education and ACGME-designated Institutional Official. “All of the work Angela, Kelby, David and others have done to meet the demands of their educational programs, while giving their time, efforts and energies in supportive and leadership roles within these physician organizations is a testament to their dedication to their profession and the patients that they serve. I applaud each of them for getting involved.”
At MUSC, all residents receive memberships to SCMA and the Southern Medical Association throughout the duration of their training. According to Medio, memberships in these professional organizations are part of providing resident physicians with a full spectrum of all graduate medical education training components found in today’s medical practice.
For now, Hutcheson will maintain an open door policy for residents to communicate issues. It’s something she’s done as chairman of SCMA’s resident-fellows section.
“I knew that once I became a physician, I wanted to stay involved,” Hutcheson said. “I realize that my role affects today’s physicians and those that come after me. I’m confident that my attitude and compassion for this role will continue to help physicians improve health care for the people in South Carolina.”
SCMA Officers 2005 - 2006
President: Gerald A. Wilson, M.D.—Columbia
Chairman of the Board: Richard A. Schmitt, M.D.— —Myrtle Beach
Immediate Past President: John P. Evans, M.D.— Greenville
Vice Chairman of the Board: Gregory Tarasidis, M.D.,—Greenwood
President-Elect: Jerry R. Powell, M.D.—Anderson
Speaker of the House: Andrew J. Pate, M.D.—Mount Pleasant
Secretary: Oswald L. Mikell, M.D.—Bluffton
Vice Speaker of the House: Patrick J. Kelly, M.D.— Charleston
Treasurer: John G. Black, M.D.—Lexington
Executive Committee Member-At-Large: Gary A. Delaney, M.D.—Orangeburg
SCMA Trustees 2005 - 2006
First District: H. Timberlake Pearce Jr., M.D., Trustee
First District (Metropolitan): Thaddeus Bell, M.D., Trustee,
Second District: Dale R. Gordineer, M.D., Trustee,
Second District (Metropolitan): Vincent J. Degenhart, M.D., Trustee
Third District: Gregory Tarasidis, M.D., Trustee
Fourth District: Marshall L. Meadors III, M.D., Trustee
Fourth District (Metropolitan): Bruce A. Snyder, M.D., Trustee
Fifth District: Tallulah F. Holmstrom, M.D., Trustee
Fifth District: Terry L. Dodge, M.D., Trustee
Sixth District: Richard A. Schmitt, M.D., Trustee
Sixth District (Metropolitan): William Dean Lorenz, M.D., Trustee
Seventh District: James Roper Ingram, M.D., Trustee,
Eighth District: Gary A. Delaney, M.D., Trustee
Ninth District: Kenneth F. Hill, M.D., Trustee
Ninth District (Metropolitan): Timothy S. Llewelyn, M.D., Trustee
Young Physicians Section: Jennifer R. Root, M.D., Trustee
Resident Physicians Section: Angela Hutcheson, M.D., Trustee,
Medical Student Section: D. Ben Walker, Trustee.
Friday, June 17, 2005
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