bulletin - Allegheny County Medical Society

FEATURE (from page 31)Ralph Schmeltz, MD, was installed as the Pennsylvania MedicalSociety’s 161st president at October’s House of Delegates. Drs. CarolRose of Pittsburgh and Jonathan Rhoads of York look on.country: an enormous need for pediatric subspecialistsand a very small pool of subspecialists to draw from.This is especially true for certain subspecialties such aspediatric rheumatology and nephrology. In 2001,children’s hospital did not have sufficient staff for thesespecialties. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is uniquebecause there is no other hospital in the western Pennsylvaniaservice area that has pediatric subspecialties.• Jaan E. Siderov, MD, PMSLIC president; Timothy J.Friers, ACAS, MAAA, senior vice president, PMSLICunderwriting & policyholder services; and Lisa Klinger,PMSLIC representative, all met with the ACMS boardin 2010. PMSLIC, a medicalliability insurance company, wasformed by the Pennsylvania MedicalSociety (PAMED) in 1978 andwas acquired by NORCAL MutualInsurance Company in 2002.NORCAL is the fourth largestphysician carrier in the UnitedStates with an “A” rating. PMSLICis an endorsed vendor for ACMS.• ACMS delegates who participatedin board meetings include: Drs. H.Jordan Garber, Dwight F. Heron,Todd M. Hertzberg, Maria J.Sunseri, Robert L. Thompson, KarlE. Bushman, Jennifer L.Middleton, Robert C. Oelhaf Jr.,and David B. Palko.Legislative CommitteeACMS continues to meet with legislators, mostrecently Congressmen Jason Altmire, Tim Murphy andMike Doyle, focusing on the Medicare program andhealth care system reform legislation. The medical societyis working with Pennsylvania House Majority LeaderMike Turzai to evaluate medical policy issues, particularlyadditional professional liability reform.Bruce A. MacLeod, MD, will succeed Dr. Paré asrepresentative to the PAMPAC board. Dr. Paré willcontinue to serve as an at-large member and will chair thePAMPAC board in 2011.DelegationACMS had a full contingent of 29 physicians participatingat the 2010 House of Delegates, including anumber of medical students. The Allegheny CountyMedical Society and the Philadelphia County MedicalSociety again held a joint caucus at the House of Delegates.Several local physicians serve on the PMS Board.Representing ACMS are: Ralph Schmeltz, MD, PAMEDpresident; Bruce A. MacLeod, MD, emergency medicinetrustee; Paul W. Dishart, MD, 13th District trustee; andAdam Z. Tobias, MD, PMS resident and fellows trustee.ACMS meetings and activitiesACMS thanks the many guests who participated inthe medical society’s meetings and activities, including:• Ralph Schmeltz, MD, and Paul W. Dishart, MD;• Zeyad Schwen and Hilary Michel, medical students;More than 200 office staff and technicians participated in the Pittsburgh OphthalmologySociety’s annual meeting’s break-out sessions in March.32 Bulletin : January 2011