PRESENT:
Lee R. Britton, MD
Eric A. Brown, MD
John C. Eggenberger, MD
Duane T. Freier, MD
Verne L. Hoshal, JR, MD
Frederick Ilgenfritz, MD
Anna M. Ledgerwood, MD
Larry R. Lloyd, MD
Farouck N. Obeid, MD
Mark W. Puls, MD
James E. Reif, MD
Krishna K. Sawhney, MD
Andrew W.Saxe, MD
Donald J. Scholten, MD
Allen Silbergleit, MD
Yvan J. Silva, MD
Cheryl A. Wesen, MD
Seth W. Wolk, MD

ALSO PRESENT:
Sarah I. Cressman, Interim Chapter Administrator
James Thompson, MD, President, American College of Surgeons

ABSENT:
Alfred Chang, MD
James Gruenberg, MD
Michael D. Khoury, MD
Eduardo M. Phillips, MD
Paul A. Taheri, MD

1. CALL TO ORDER. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Duane T. Freier, MD, President.

2. INTRODUCTION. Doctor Freier introduced James Thompson, President of the American College of Surgeons to the Council and welcomed him to Michigan.

3. MINUTES. Doctor Freier presented the minutes of the March 8, 2000, meeting.

MOTION: To approve the minutes of the March 8, 2000, meeting.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

4. SECRETARY'S REPORT / ISSUES COMMITTEE REPORT. Doctor Obeid reviewed the website progress and thanked Doctor Eggenberger for his contributions. The Council was encouraged to provide information to Doctor Eggenberger for placement on the website. Doctor Obeid advised that he, Doctor Puls, and F. B. "Tom" Plasman will be working with the membership database and the American College of Surgeons to make all necessary updates to the current database. The Council strongly encouraged that the website be used for membership application and provide the ability for changes in information to be made. Doctor Obeid reviewed the Day in Surgery, and explained that Doctors Ledgerwood and Lloyd took Representatives around and introduced them to both trauma and surgery. The Representatives spent much time with residents, which gave ideal opportunities for issues to be discussed. Doctor Ledgerwood commented on how smoothly everything went and that the program was very good.

   Doctor Obeid brought up the issue of the collection of dues money. The Council suggested that the Chapter research the possibility of having the state chapter dues billed with the American College dues.

MOTION: To Accept the Secretary's Report.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

5. TREASURER'S REPORT. Doctor Hoshal reviewed the financial report provided by PSG staff. He explained that many expenses would be incurred after this meeting. He also reviewed the annual budget and he commented that MCACS is in good financial condition.

6. PROGRAM COMMITTEE. Doctor Saxe briefly reviewed the program agenda and other general information. Credit was given to the MCACS chapter administrative support on the conference preparation. Council members recommended that we invite local arrangement physicians and spouses to the Council dinner.

7. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Committee recommended that Krishna K. Sawhney, MD continues as Governor and that Alfred Chang, MD be added as Governor to take the place of Lee Britton, MD. These recommendations will be forwarded to the ACS.

MOTION: To accept the nominations for Governor for 2000-2001.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

The Committee also recommended that Verne L. Hoshal, Jr., MD, be nominated as president elect, and Cheryl A. Wesen, MD, as treasurer. Nominations for Councilors were Mark W. Puls, MD and Seth W. Wolk, MD.

MOTION: To endorse the above slate to the general membership at the business meeting.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

8. CANCER LIASION. Doctor Freier reported that the American College elected Raouf A. Mikhail, MD, as the new Cancer Liaison to replace Alfred Chang, MD.

9. TRAUMA COMMITTEE. Doctor Scholten advised that the Gaylord Trauma Symposium will be presented next week. He was enthusiastic to report that the symposium has received its best response in years, then gave a brief review of some of its highlights. He commented that this is a very active political year for trauma developments.

MOTION: To approve the Trauma Committee Report.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

10. GOVERNOR'S REPORT. Doctor Ledgerwood asked Council members about their feelings on the ACS Physician Health Committee's desire to draw blood samples of surgeons to determine the percentage of those surgeons who are HIV positive. The majority of the Council Members responded that they would voluntarily have a blood test as long as the result was kept anonymous.

    Doctor Ledgerwood also indicated that this chapter is considered to be very active in its communications to the ACS office.

    Doctor Britton indicated that 21 chapter representatives are women physicians. He noted that the ACS membership is 80% men and only 20% women. The ACS has asked that local chapters make provisionjs to send members to specialty meetings. Doctor Freier informed Council members that Doctor Britton will be stepping down as Governor, but will continue as editor of the Chapter Newsletter.

    Doctor Sawhney commented how many surgeons give away their time free and without recording or receiving any recognition. He expressed that he wishes to research how a surgeon's time is spent. There is currently no data about this. He suggested a pilot study to see what is being done and where to go to get the information. He advised that the Washington staff is having a hard time pushing bills for surgeons without that information.

    Doctor Lloyd discussed his attendance at the Spring ACS meeting. He noted that some of the discussions involved competency testing, how competency is determined and questions such as should all surgeons go through testing as do pilots.

11. YOUNG SURGEONS. Doctor Reif attended the Young Surgeons meeting on April 1st in Chicago. He discussed the topics and emphasized the importance of meeting with other Young Surgeons.

12. BYLAWS. Doctor Britton presented multiple changes to the ByLaws. These included eliminating male only verbiage; changing membership to the Council to include Assoc. of Women Surgeons representatives, Young Surgeons, and the Webmaster; and other changes recommended by his ByLaws committee members.

    Discussion was prolonged by some disagreements about voting priviledges and other problems.

    Doctor Freier indicated that it was impossible to come to an agreement and suggested to postpone action until the bylaws can be reorganized and distributed, one change at a time, to the Council and then to the membership for final approval next year.

MOTION: That voting on Bylaws be Postponed until the 2001 annual meeting.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

13. DONATION OF $1,000 TO ACS SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND. Council members agreed that they have always given $500 more than the $1000 requested. Doctor Legerwood recommended acceptance.

MOTION: That the MCACS give a $1,500 donation to the ACS Scholarship Endowment Fund.
     Seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

14. NEW BUSINESS. Doctor Saxe told the Council that Doctor Thompson is revising his presentation tomorrow and will speak more at the luncheon than in the morning breakfast session.
    Doctor Freier noted that this is Doctor Ilgenfritz's last meeting with the Council and thanked him for all his work over the past three years.

15. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

These minutes were drafted by Sarah I. Cressman, reviewed and approved by Duane T. Freier, MD President.