The Council
7:00 PM 6. March, 2002
The Italian Epicure Restaurant
Novi, Michigan

Special Item:

Verne L. Hoshal, Jr. MD, FACS, President, recalled to the Council the presentation by Representative Paul DeWeese, MD (R-Williamston) Michigan ,House of Representatives, District # 57, on 7. October, 2001. He reported that members of the Council have submitted a donation as thanks for Rep. DeWeese'’ presentation and support if matters of interest to surgeons and their patients. He suggested members of the Council send a donation to "DeWeese for Senate, in care of 3896 North Williamston Road, Williamston, Michigan 48895.

Agenda:

1. The meeting was called to order by Verne L. Hoshal, Jr. MD, FACS, President, at 7:03PM.

2.Announcements:

Doctor Hoshal announced that reservations have been entered for Doctors Hoshal, Obeid, Lindsey, Piazza and Steffes to attend the ACS Chapter Leadership conference & Young Surgeons Representatives Meeting, May 15-18, 2002 at ACS Chicago Headquarters

Doctor Hoshal initiated review of the lists of Michigan Applicants under consideration for Fellowship in 2002 These doctors, located in one of five ACS Districts, will be interviewed during April, 2002. The Council then determined, with Doctor Britton volunteering to attend the District # 4 interviews in Marquette, that a Council member would be present during each District Interview session.

Doctor Hoshal announced that the 2002 Nominating Committee would be chaired by Andrew W. Saxe, MD, FACS and that Doctors Ledgerwood and Puls would represent the Council. Two at-large members of the Nominating Committee will be selected by the President.

3. Secretary’s Report:

Doctor Scholten called for a review of the Minutes of the 7. October, 2001 meeting. It was moved and seconded that the Minutes be approved. This motion received unanimous approval.

Doctor Scholten reported that new items in the Chapter Correspondence Binder include information from ACS Board of Governors Executive Committee Chair, J. Patrick O’Leary, MD, FACS and the 17 August, 2001 Roster of ACS Initiates.

Doctor Scholten called attention to the Proposed listing of Program Committee, Young Surgeons Issues Committee and Council meeting dates. He requested each member to review this listing, identify any potential State or National meeting conflicts and advise Mr. Plasman to make date adjustments.

4. Treasurer’s Report:

Doctor Wesen called attention to the change in the 2001 Financial Statements for the Chapters and the Trauma Committee Statement of Operations, Revenue, General noting that the ACS Trauma Management Fee, which has been budgeted at $2,156 for one month of 2001 Chapter administrative costs, now reflects the agreement of the Trauma Committee to pay for two months each year of administrative costs. The amount for the 2001 is $2,156 for the last six months of the 2000-2001 administrative contract year and $ 2,408 for the first six months of the 2001-2002 administrative contract year.

Doctor Wesen went on to present information from the Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations from the Chapter Report and the Trauma Committee Report.

5. Young Surgeons Issues Committee Forum, Friday, 10. May, 2002

Doctor Scholten, Chair, repoted that the Committee has been actively pursuing a number of subjects of importance to young surgeons. To this end, the Committee is developing a survey to be sent to all young surgeons, 45 years old or younger, to learn their interests pertaining to issues and activities which are or should be undertaken by the Chapter. This survey and invitation to attend the Young Surgeons Issues Forum will be part of the invitation to attend the Chapter’s Annual Meeting and Annual Resident Surgeons Competition.

6. Committee Reports:

    A. Program Committee
    Doctor Obeid reported that 57 Resident Abstracts were received. 40 have been selected     for presentation and that every Residency Program will have a paper presented. Doctor     Obeid went on to comment regarding the program which has been developed by Edw. J.     Rutkowski, MD, FACS, the Local Program Host.

    B. Cancer Committee
    Doctor Mikhail reported that the Michigan Cancer Consortium had developed a draft set
    of questions for primary care physicians to administer to their patients.

    C. Trauma Committee
    There was no report.

    D. MSMS
    There was no report

    E. Web Site
    There was no report

    F. Database
    There was no report

7. Governors’ Reports

Doctor Chang reported that Ms Laura Gillan Representative of the Springer-Verlag publishers had agreed to donate two copies of "Surgery: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence" textbooks for a resident raffle at the May 10, 2002, Annual Meeting Banquet. Doctor Hoshal thanked Doctor Chang for arranging this resident raffle gift.

Doctor Ledgerwood reported that as a member of the ACS Committee on Physician Health, Health Competency and Credentialing, the subject of disruptive behavior has been discussed pertaining to mandatory examinations for surgeons’ illnesses such as Hepatitis and other drug screenings. The Committee has not had a positive vote on this issue. Doctor Ledgerwood went on to report that the ACS is reviewing its several facilities, such as Murphy Auditorium and the possible sale of certain facilities is being considered.

Doctor Ledgerwood went on to comment regarding the ACS membership dues increase, the Regents determination to seek Corporation 501.C6 status, several issues of common interest to female surgeons, such as proposed policies pertaining to maternity leave with 3 months full pay as a standard for private group practices, the nursing shortage the development of the Anesthesia Assistant, which are previously identified as Corpmen, and the comparison of their function and responsibilities in comparison with CRNAs.

There was also discussion pertaining to the efforts to identify a protocol to credential surgeons performing operations in Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

Doctor Ledgerwood also commented regarding the number of surgeons practicing in rural America who attend and would like to attend the ACS educational meetings. There is a $5,000 grant available to rural surgeons to help defray cost of "substitute surgeon" during the time of the ACS programs and cost of travel and lodging. Discussion ensued.

Doctor Sawhney, a member of the ACS SocioEconomic Committee reported pertaining to the Corporate change in tax status to 50l.C6 and the formation of a ACS. Political Action Committee. Doctor Sawhney outlined the political activity changes that will be available for the Society to organize and develop and the political benefits this C6 tax status can bring to the Society. Doctor Sawhney reported that there is considerable concern regarding the absence of recognition of the very considerable volunteer activity of Michigan surgeons and Surgeons practicing in America. There is no note of their significant contributions to patient care and to the development and improvement of the education and system of surgery. He stated that the Day In Surgery" program being planned by the Young Surgeons Issues Committee should cause some
recognition of the voluntary services of surgeons. Doctor Sawhney also commented regarding the importance of the HIPAA regulations and the impact of the guidelines on the practice of surgery. Discussion ensued. It was noted that the Program Committee has scheduled a speaker during the Saturday, May 11, 2002 Annual Meeting.

Doctor Hoshal thanked the Governors for their reports.

8. New Business:

ACS BULLETIN Article: "The Acs Chapters: Where do we go form here:"

Doctor Hoshal initiated discussion pertaining to this article. It was determined that this matter be an agenda item during the Wednesday, May 8, 2002 meeting at The Shanty Creek Resort.

Doctor Hoshal referred to the ACS "Guidelines for collaboration of industry and surgical organizations in support of research and continuing education". Doctor Hoshal called attention to the Schering Oncology Biotech February 6, 2002 letter to Doctor Obeid, MD, FACS, Program Chair pertaining to the sponsoring of a speaker at the Chapter’s annual meeting. The letter also included the offer of a specific speaker on a specific topic and the possibility of a Schering unrestricted educational grant to support the meeting. It was noted that the letter implies that this educational grant support would be for the meeting where the specific topic and speaker would be on the agenda. Discussion ensued.

Doctor Silbergleit pointed out that only the Continuing Medical Education credit hours granting authority can Sponsor a meeting. A pharmaceutical company can support a meeting only by means of an unrestricted educational grant.

There was discussion pertaining to CME program philosophy as it pertains to corporations providing unrestricted educational grants, whereby there also would be a recommendation of specific speaker or speakers for the program. This is in distinction to the present MCACS program philosophy whereby the Program Committee has complete control over the recommendation and selection of educational program topics and speakers.

It was determined that the Chapter must be have the complete responsibility to identify presentation topics and to identify and select speakers for the topics. The Chapter can not accept offers of support by whatever means, including unrestricted educational grants, when there is an implied or explicit concurrent requirement for the Chapter to select a specific presentation topic and presentation speaker.

In consideration of the February 6, 2002 Schering communication, that the Chapter could accept the unrestricted educational grant, however, could not accept the designation of a specific topic and speaker.

Doctor Hoshal then initiated discussion pertaining to the Chapters 50th Anniversary Celebration, to be May 15-17, 2003 at The Grand Traverse Resort. He stated that the present membership of the 50th Anniversery Committee is Doctors Hoshal, Obeid, Saxe and Rutkowski. Doctor Hoshal asked for members of the Council to volunteer to
join this committee. Doctor Silbergleit volunteered to be a member.

Doctor Hoshal reported that a number of Chapters which have celebrated their 50th or similar anniversary have been contacted to learn of their events and activities. These have been reviewed by the Committee. Many ideas have been considered, such as the establishment of a Chapter Foundation a vehicle raffle to initiate the foundation to raise funds for special speakers, educational programs, traveling residency fellowship programs, etc.

There was also discussion pertaining to the possible presentation of original papers by prior Frederick A. Coller Winners now in practice in Michigan, special invited guests, such as Mrs. Irene Walt and members of the Coller family. Discussion ensued.

Doctor Sawhney complemented the 50th Anniversary Committee on their work and stated that if a Chapter Foundation is created, he would donate $5,000 to the Foundation

Doctor Hoshal called attention to the Summary of Current Michigan Legislative Issues document from the MSMS Government Relations Dept. It was requested that this report be included on future agendas.

Doctor Hoshal reported that the Chapter has been contacted by the ACS Washington Office Division of Advocacy and Health Posicy regarding the 2002 Chapter Visit Program. Discussion ensued regarding the possible dates for the visit. It was noted that the Chapter participated in a Washington Visit in 2001. Doctors Wesen, Obeid, Lindsey and Hoshal indicated an interesting in participating in the 2002 Program.

9. Old Business:

There was no Old Business to be brought before the Council.

10. Adjournment:

There being no further business to be brought before the Council, Doctor Hoshal adjourned the meeting at 8:54 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Donald J. Scholten, MD, FACS
Secretary