mecklenburg medicine january 2015

Mecklenburg MedicineA Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org

January 2015 • Vol. 45, No. 1

Mecklenburg County Medical Society • Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and EndowmentFounders of: Bioethics Resource Group, Ltd., Hospitality House of Charlotte, Teen Health Connection, N.C. MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out

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January 2015Vol. 45 No. 1

OFFICERS

PresidentSimon V. Ward III, MD

President-ElectStephen J. Ezzo, MD

SecretaryElizabeth B. Moran, MD

TreasurerScott L. Furney, MD

Immediate Past President James B. Hall, MD

BOARD MEMBERS

John R. Allbert, MDRaymond E. Brown, PAW. Frank Ingram III, MD

Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPHScott S. Lindblom, MDJohn P. McBryde, MD

Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPHRobert L. Mittl, Jr., MD

Pulak D. Patel, MDCheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS

Sherry Ward, PresidentMecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment

Sandi D. Buchanan, Executive DirectorMecklenburg County Medical Society

Michelle Conner, DDS, PresidentCharlotte Medical Society

Docia E. Hickey, MDNCMS President-Elect

Darlyne Menscer, MDNCMS Delegate to the AMA

Marcus G. Plescia, MD, Health DirectorMecklenburg County Health Department

Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP, Medical DirectorMecklenburg EMS Agency

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Executive DirectorSandi D. Buchanan

Meetings & Special EventsTrisha G. Herndon

Finance & Database Specialist Stephanie D. Smith

MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF

EditorMark E. Romanoff, MD

Managing EditorSandi D. Buchanan

Copy EditorsLee McCrackenStephanie Smith

AdvertisingMark Ethridge

[email protected]

Editorial BoardN. Neil Howell, MD

Jessica Schorr Saxe, MDSimon V. Ward III, MD

Graphic Design — Wade Baker

Mecklenburg Medicine is published 10 times per year by the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204. Opinions expressed by authors are their own, and not necessarily those of Mecklenburg Medicine or the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. Mecklenburg Medicine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Mecklenburg Medicine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Non-members may subscribe to Mecklenburg Medicine at a cost of $30 per year, or $3.50 per issue, if extra copies are available.

Classified Ads: Open to members, nonprofits and non-member individuals only; advance approval of the Managing Editor and advance payment required. Member rate is 0, non-members $20 for the first 30 words; $.75 each additional word.

Display Ads: Open to professional entities or commercial businesses. For specifications and rate information, contact Mark Ethridge at [email protected]. Acceptance of advertising for this publication in no way constitutes professional approval or endorsement of products or services advertised herein.

We welcome your comments and suggestions:Call 704-376-3688 or write Mecklenburg Medicine, c/o Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204.

1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204704-376-3688 • FAX [email protected] 2015 Mecklenburg County Medical Society

Table of Contents 5 President’s Letter: Gambling With Our Attention By Simon V. Ward III, MD

6 Feature: A Is For Advocacy By Lee McCracken

8 Feature: National Program for Physician Reentry Expands in North Carolina By Bill O’Neill

10 Feature: 2015 MCMS Board of Directors and Leadership

12 Member News

13 MMAE

14 At the Hospitals

14 National Health & Wellness Observances for January

16 kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas

16 Advertising Acknowledgements

On The Cover:MCMS Position Statement:MCMS is a physician-led organization with more than 100 years experience in making a difference in the health of our community. The Society serves all physicians and physician assistants who seek to have a forum for impactful collaborations and the implementation of programs addressing the healthcare needs for our region. Membership provides unique opportunities for networking among physicians and physician assistants, allowing for a unified voice for healthcare policy and advocacy on behalf of all Mecklenburg County residents. We are an accessible, seamless organization where one can work with colleagues to address healthcare concerns and issues.


Gambling With Our AttentionBy Simon V. Ward III, MD

D riving down its streets, it looks like just another sleepy Southern town. But Perry, Ga. is the boyhood home of Sam Nunn — a true American statesman, who has gained respect and admiration from both sides of the

aisle. Perry also is home to the Central Georgia Kennel Club dog show. Each September, dog owners from all over the Southeast bring their four-legged companions to compete in the ring.

At a recent show, among the many dogs in the ring, was a German short-haired pointer being shown by a well-dressed woman. The dog seemed especially attentive, anticipating his owner’s every command. While all the dogs were receiving treats during the course of the show, this dog’s owner was taking something out of her mouth and giving it to the dog. Later that day, we were walking our dogs outside, and I asked her what she was giving her pointer. She told me she kept cut-up pieces of hot dog in her mouth. When she gave her dog a treat, it came from her mouth, keeping him focused on her face.

On a busy night at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, it was not unusual for all the residents to be busy “in the back” with deliveries, while a number of patients gathered in triage to be evaluated. When deliveries were done, an intern would be sent up front to evaluate the patients who had come in. On arriving in triage, one of the nurse aides usually would say, “Doc, beds 1, 3 and 4 are headed to the back. Beds 2 and 6 can go home. You will have to watch bed 5 for a while.” We always checked the patients because our professors expected it, and we needed to have an exam for the chart, but it was totally unnecessary; we did exactly what the aides had described. There were no fetal monitors in triage. The ultrasound machine was locked up for the night. The aides had not examined the patient because they were not allowed to. They didn’t need to do an exam; they just looked in the patients’ eyes and listened to them speak. They knew who was in labor better than we did with exams and monitors, and they were NEVER wrong.

I was in my hometown, New Orleans, for a recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists meeting. There was a break for lunch, so I went across the street for some food. There was a franchise restaurant that sells sandwiches shaped like underwater Naval vessels — usually good food and good service. When my turn came, I gave my order in a clear voice using the accent endemic to the area. The person behind the counter had her eyes fixed on the touch screen in front of her. She never looked up. She had no idea what I looked like. She was more focused on the screen than my order, but items on the screen were touched, apparently. It was not a particularly complicated order — one sandwich and one drink. When I moved down the counter to pay, I had the wrong sandwich. Some lucky employee got a free lunch.

Walk into any library in the country (except the undergraduate library at Chapel Hill), and what do you hear? Almost nothing. What do you see? People working on projects, doing research, reading novels. Walk into any casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and what do you hear?

Noise, lots of it. Bells ringing, sirens going off. You see lights flashing. The gaming industry of America learned a long time ago that the best way to separate people from their money was distraction. Make a flashy environment, especially with lights and noise, and it is harder for people to concentrate. Gamblers should demand that casinos be as quiet as a library given it’s their hard-earned money on the line.

A cartoon in a medical journal showed two operating room techs standing in the door of the OR. In the room is an anesthesiologist focused on the large array of equipment — pulse oximeter, EKG monitors, BP graphs — next to the OR table. One tech says to the other, “I don’t have the heart to tell him that we took the patient to the PACU 20 minutes ago.”

As physicians, we need to make sure we are not distracted. Our electronic medical records are full of flashing lights and colors. We can mix and match in uncountable ways the information is entered and thrown back at us. The folks who sold us these systems talked about all the wonderful things the EMR can do. After listening to the pitch, one might assume the EMR would excise the tumor, lower the blood glucose and stop the hallucinations. The problem is that the EMR really should not “do” anything. Patients tell us their concerns. Practitioners do their best to listen and perform the appropriate evaluation, with or without technology. The medical record should reflect, as accurately as possible, what transpired.

There is no question we love our technology. The Human Genome Project was completed in April 2003, a monumental work decoding a significant portion of the DNA in the 46 chromosomes that determine what makes a human being. No doubt, as we learn more about the DNA pattern, we will find a significant number of codes specifically for humans’ love of things electronic. We never had to pass laws against reading the sports section while driving. We rarely saw someone reading the latest Patricia Cornwell novel while passing through the hospital. Now, almost everyone has their eyes focused on the gadget in their palm as they roam the halls.

The loblolly pines of Henry County, Ala., can rest easy. Paper medical records are not going to return. We should, however, always be vigilant about making sure these wonderful pieces of software do not detract from our main focus. As we enter information into these slot machines with problem lists, are we looking at our patients or the computer screen? Even with a gazillion gigabytes at our fingertips, everything we need to know about our patients is in their face, in their voice and in their eyes. Maybe we can take a lesson from a dog.

Oh, and the German short-haired pointer? A blue ribbon.

P.S. When I die, I want to go where the dogs go.

President’s Letter


Feature

A Is For AdvocacyBy Lee McCracken, Contributing Writer

I t is difficult to dispute the truth of the adage, “There is strength in numbers.” Even in the book of Ecclesiastes, scripture states, “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

Physicians unite in numbers to advocate for each other, their practices and the community in which they work. In accordance with the American Medical Association’s Declaration of Professional Responsibility, physicians have an obligation to “respect and advocate for the human rights of their patients and society, as a means to promoting good health.”

Locally, through the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, and across the state, through the North Carolina Medical Society, physician advocacy is strong and effecting positive change. The priority areas of these organizations include legislative issues, payer issues, health policy and public health.

“Physicians are busy running their offices — patients, charting and keeping up with the latest medical news — and they have family lives, too,” says Simon Ward, MD, president of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. “What we do, and what the NCMS does, is significant.”

In the Charlotte metro area, MCMS exists on behalf of thousands of physicians and helps to equip them with the tools they need to stay successful in their practices in the ever-changing health care environment. As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to unfold, education and advocacy remain essential.

“With the implementation of the ACA — the coming of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) — the need is great for physicians and physician assistants to make sure the changes are consistent with quality patient care and that the structure allows practitioners to provide that care,” says Ward. “MCMS continues to be a voice for practitioners and encourages even more to ‘join the chorus.’”

What’s Being Done?In terms of legislation at the local level, MCMS took a stand

last summer to encourage the banning of smoking in county parks. Additionally, the Society has expressed concern to city and county officials over the significant amount of diesel exhaust — due to large trucks at construction sites sitting idle with engines running — contributing to air pollution. (It’s been reported that Charlotte ranks seventh in the nation for air pollution.)

At the state level, the Society works closely with the NCMS. “In 20ll, the biggest accomplishment was the override of the governor’s veto on a malpractice bill,” explains Ward. “It was the work of medical societies all over the state, coordinated by the NCMS, and it was a serious movement and an unbelievable success.”

Stephen Ezzo, MD, MCMS president-elect, affirms, “We feel working with NCMS has a synergistic effect, as we can use their greater resources and contacts to implement change.” He adds, “This strengthens our advocacy ability.”

In addition, Ezzo says MCMS works with the NCMS “to educate local physicians about political candidates who are sympathetic to physician concerns.”

Ward describes the quality of the staff at the NCMS as “top-notch — smart and caring.” He says, “We have a very strong state organization. I’ve attended the annual meetings for two years, and I’m extremely impressed with the NCMS officers and staff. Robert Seligson is solid; he works for doctors.”

Seligson is the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the NCMS, as well as the treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He’s also the chief executive officer of the NCMS Foundation and the president of the Physician Advocacy Institute (PAI). While being very diplomatic, he has been described as a “pitbull” and does not

Physicians Advocacy InstituteThe PAI was formed out of the settlement terms from

multidistrict litigation (MDL) in 2005-2006 that focused on unfair payment practices by many of the nation’s large for-profit health insurers. It ensures that health plans that settled payment lawsuits with physicians comply with the agreements to pay doctors fairly.

“When all is said and done, physicians will have received over $500 million

in monetary relief from these settlements,” says Robert Seligson, chief executive officer.

He adds, “We will continue to work to address harmful payer practices in the courts and through legislative and regulatory initiatives. We want to help physicians immediately react to ill-conceived, cost-cutting, hassle-enhancing initiatives by the insurers.”

PAI also is developing a “Claims Data Warehouse” to help physicians analyze their own claims data within the guidelines established by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. Seligson says, “This is a massive undertaking that can help physicians not only with health insurance claims in terms of accuracy and payment, but also with many of the pay-for-performance initiatives being thrust upon them. Insurers have been analyzing physicians’ claims data for years.”

— PhysiciansAdvocacyInstitute.org

Robert Seligson, CEO


Feature

apologize for his passionate advocacy for physicians, speaking out against tort reform and Medicaid cuts. Under Seligson’s leadership, a

leadership college has been established to help physicians get involved in local politics.

Another way in which MCMS locally advocates for physicians is by working with the local chapter of the Medical Group Managers (CAMGM), headed by David White, MBA,

CMPE, which works to track issues with payers. With regard to public health, MCMS members have volunteered their time in tackling childhood obesity and clean air, as well as working to support school nurses and countywide fitness programs. Members are encouraged to give back by volunteering at community health clinics.

“Someone from the county health department attends our monthly board meetings, so we can make sure we know the issues they are facing and we can look for ways to help,” says Ward.

What Can Pracitioners Do?Circling back to “strength in numbers,” MCMS makes

it clear that physicians in Mecklenburg County have a voice. “You can be heard,” affirms Ward. “We encourage individuals or groups to tell us their concerns, their pressing issues.”

The general membership of MCMS, as well as committee involvement, is growing, but there’s an atmosphere of urgency. Whether MCMS is addressing local or state politicians, Ward says, “They might not listen to one, but they WILL listen to many.”

Ezzo adds, “We can assist practitioners with an issue they are passionate about, and we can arrange meetings with local officials. And, MCMS always is looking for more members to become involved in the advocacy process.”

As a new year begins and health care changes continue to evolve, Ward says, “Nobody seems to know how it’s all going to happen, and with a presidential election in 2016, it may get even more complicated. We MUST make sure we’re still taking care of our patients.”

MCMS held a Legislative Breakfast in 2014, and in 2015 members can take part in White Coat Wednesday in Raleigh during Open Session. Details will be distributed to MCMS members when they are available.

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“Physicians are busy running their offices — patients, charting and keeping up with the latest medical

news — and they have family lives, too.”


National Program for Physician Reentry Expands in North CarolinaBy Bill O’Neill, Reg. Director, Programs & Development, Center for Personalized Education for Physicians (CPEP)

Addressing a Pressing NeedThe national shortage of physicians, most critical in primary care, has

been well-documented. Particularly in rural or other underserved areas, the number of practicing physicians is declining as the Affordable Care Act is bringing more patients into the system.

CPEP has been working to address this problem since 2003 through its Reentry to Clinical Practice (RCP) program for physicians, physicians’ assistants and advanced practice nurses. According to Elizabeth Grace, MD, CPEP’s medical director and herself a graduate of the Duke-Watts Family Medicine Residency says, “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are very vision-driven, and the RCP program is a manifestation of our mission - helping qualified, caring physicians get back to serving the communities that need them.”

RCP in DetailCPEP’s RCP program is a clinical evaluation and educational

planning vehicle designed to facilitate a smooth, safe return to patient care, specifically for physicians who have been voluntarily out of practice for an extended period of time. Mary Minobe, CPEP’s director of education, points out, “There are a host of reasons why physicians step away from patient care — to raise a family, focus on administrative medicine or for health reasons. What we commonly hear, though, is the desire on their part to once again engage with patients … and RCP is tailored to each of their individual needs.” Minobe goes on to point out that RCP is not intended for physicians whose licenses have been suspended or revoked for disciplinary reasons, although other CPEP

programs may be able to help those individuals, as well.

Personally Tailored ProgramsNo two physicians are alike, and their needs cannot be addressed

through a “cookie cutter” approach. The RCP program begins with an evaluation of the participant’s skills as they are today and compares them to where they need to be in order to practice with safety and confidence. That evaluation leads to a personally tailored reentry plan that connects those two dots. A typical one-day evaluation may include:• Clinical interviews by specialty-matched physicians• Simulated patient cases• Documentation of simulated patient encounters• Health information review• Cognitive function screening• Written testing, depending on specialty

The individually tailored reentry plans are generally completed in the physician’s home community. While individual situations vary, the plans commonly include:• Supervised clinical experience to update technical skills/medical

knowledge• Independent practice with preceptor guidance• Training in use of contemporary medical information resources

• Incorporation of courses, online education and self-study resources• Regular reports and tracking of progress and completion

According to CPEP CEO Beth Korinek, MPH, “Physicians seeking to reenter practice need to prove to themselves and others that they can actually practice medicine in today’s rapidly evolving medical world. They also need educational support and resources to be successful, and our RCP program is here to help.”

Track Record of Success – Expanding in the Old North State

The RCP program has had a broad impact since its inception, with 150 physicians from 27 states enrolled since 2003. CPEP’s Dr. Grace notes, “If you do the math, RCP is making a significant impact. If each of those physicians sees 20 patients per day and works 40 weeks of the year, that’s 720,000 annual patient visits that would not be covered otherwise.”

Historically serving a national constituency from its headquarters in Denver, Colo., CPEP recently launched a satellite operation out of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) building in downtown Raleigh. NCMS staff has been exceptionally gracious and helpful in this effort. Stephen Keene, general counsel and deputy executive vice president of the NCMS says, “Physician recruitment and retention are serious issues in North Carolina, and we are pleased to have CPEP’s Reentry to Clinical Practice onsite to bolster these efforts.”

For more information on CPEP’s work in North Carolina, contact Bill O’Neill at [email protected] or call 919-238-6436. CPEP’s N.C. offices are located at 222 N. Person St., Raleigh, NC 27601.

A Participant’s Perspective“I thought my onsite assessment was very well-conducted,

and I agreed with the profile of strengths and weaknesses that it produced. The Education Plan that CPEP developed was quite thorough but still realistic for my specific professional objectives. I thought the preparation for practice I received, combined with CPEP’s credibility in the eyes of the Board, made it worthwhile, without question.”

CPEP Reentry Participant – Specialist Physician

Consultant Opportunities Available at CPEPCPEP is recruiting North Carolina physicians from various

specialties to serve as occasional consultants and associate medical directors (AMDs). Consulting physicians conduct structured clinical interviews with participants in order to gain insight into their knowledge, thought processes and clinical judgment. AMDs oversee the interview process and are responsible for the final assessment reports. For more information, contact Amanda Besmanoff at [email protected].

Feature


Care Ring’s Physicians Reach Out Program Reaches $100 Million in Donated Care, Celebrates With Donors, Patients and Sponsors

Care Ring’s Physicians Reach Out (PRO) program reached a huge milestone in 2014: $100 million in donated care for residents of Mecklenburg County. During the past year, 3,000 uninsured individuals received life-changing medical and dental care through generous volunteers in the health care community. Care Ring and SunTrust Bank, a valued corporate partner, will host an event celebrating this achievement in the near future at Zebra Restaurant. The cocktail party will celebrate PRO physicians and include major funders such as Carolinas HealthCare System, Novant Health and OrthoCarolina, along with Care Ring’s client ambassadors. Watch for invitations.

Physicians Reach Out is a nonprofit outreach program that provides primary and specialty medical and dental care to eligible uninsured residents. All PRO doctors and dentists donate their services and see PRO patients in their own offices. Office visits are at no charge and other services, such as diagnostic testing, lab services and hospitalization, are provided at a reduced cost.

For more information about Care Ring and the Physicians Reach Out program, visit www.careringnc.org.

PRO was started in 2004 by the Meckleburg County Medical Society. In 2008, leadership was transferred to Care Ring.

Charlotte AHEC Course OfferingsCharlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers

(AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.

JANUARY-APRIL 2015Continuing Medical Education (CME) 1/15-16 5th Annual Carolinas’ Sleep Symposium 20151/24 Cardiovascular Updates for Primary Care Physician 20151/31 UNC Pediatrics2/20-21 Utilization of Ultrasound in OB/GYN3/6 Obesity Summit3/18-20 39th Annual Internal Medicine Conference4/11-12 29th Annual Meeting of the Glomerular Disease Collaboration Network

For more information or to register for these courses,call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.


Officers

Simon V. Ward III, MD, PresidentBorn in New Orleans, Dr. Ward graduated from Louisiana State

School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Charity Hospital of

Louisiana. Ward practices general OB/GYN with Novant Health Rankin OB/GYN.

Stephen J. Ezzo, MD, President-ElectBorn in St. Petersburg, Fla., Dr. Ezzo graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine.

He completed his residency in Pediatrics at Carolinas Medical Center. He currently is practicing at

Novant Health Matthews Children’s Clinic and is a Physician Executive for Novant Health. Ezzo has served on the Matheson Foundation Committee and served as a delegate to the North Carolina Medical Society.

Elizabeth B. Moran, MD, SecretaryDr. Moran is a native Charlottean who earned her undergraduate degree in

biology from Duke University. She then received her medical degree from Wake Forest University School

of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Carolinas Medical Center, serving as the administrative chief her senior year. She is a Fellow of the American Congress of OB/

GYN and has been in practice at Eastover OB/GYN Associates since 2008.

Scott L. Furney, MD, TreasurerBorn in Lake Orion, Mich., Dr.

Furney completed his medical degree at the University of Michigan, where he also completed his residency and

chief resident year in internal medicine. Furney is chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center and medical director of the Faculty Physician Network. He remains clinically active, seeing both inpatients and outpatients at CMC.

James B. Hall, MD, Immediate Past-PresidentBorn in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Hall

graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and completed his internship

and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Miami Valley Hospital/Wright State University Medical School in Dayton. He then completed a gynecologic oncology fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is on the OB/GYN teaching faculty at Carolinas Medical Center and is director of gynecologic oncology at the Levine Cancer Institute. Hall has been involved with the Medical Society’s Community Intern Program since 2003 and serves as the committee’s co-chair. Hall was named a Charlotte Magazine Top Doctor in 2013.

Directors

John R. Allbert, MDBorn in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Allbert attended Texas Tech

University and obtained his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed his

residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Carolinas Medical Center and a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He now is a maternal-fetal medicine consultant with Novant Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates. He is a past president of the North Carolina Obstetrics and Gynecology Society and is the current North Carolina Vice Chair for the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

W. Frank Ingram III, MDDr. Ingram was born at Presbyterian Hospital and raised in Charlotte. He attended Davidson College, graduating

with a degree in biology. He earned his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he also completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology. Following residency training, Ingram performed an additional year of training in surgical pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since 2008, he has been a member of Presbyterian Pathology Group, serving as the medical director of the hospital’s microbiology and anatomic pathology labs.

Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPHDr. Keener is a native of Denver, Colo., but spent

most of his life in North Carolina. He graduated from Davidson College and Duke University Medical School, and

then completed a residency in family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he served as Chief Resident. He later earned an MPH in health policy and administration from the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill and completed a residency in preventive medicine. Keener is a career public health physician and serves as the medical director of the Mecklenburg County Health Department. He previously served as an ex-officio member of the Board in this capacity and as a member of the Public Health and Community Medical Preparedness Committees. He returns to the Board as an elected member.

Scott S. Lindblom, MDDr. Lindblom was born in Minneapolis, Minn. He

graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his internship, residency and served as chief

resident. He then completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Barnes/Jewish Hospital at Washington University. Lindblom has practiced at Carolinas HealthCare System since 1996 and currently practices with Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants and

Ward III

Ezzo

Furney

Hall

Allbert

Keener

Lindblom

Ingram III

Meet Your 2015 MCMS Board of Directors and Leadership

Moran

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Charlotte Medical Clinic. He is the Specialty Medical Director for Carolinas HealthCare System Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care.

John P. McBryde, MDA native Charlottean, Dr. McBryde graduated from

Davidson College, spent time overseas and then completed his medical school training at Medical University of

South Carolina in Charleston. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and completed a sports medicine fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center. He is a long-time faculty member of the Department of Emergency Medicine at CMC and also sits on the board of directors at the Heineman Foundation, where he is active in international medical outreach. McBryde was named a Charlotte Magazine Top Doctor in 2013.

Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPHDr. Mehta completed her pediatric residency at Carolinas Medical

Center in 2011 and joined CHS as a faculty pediatrician at Teen Health Connection. She now works at Carolinas

HealthCare System’s safety net pediatric practice, Myers Park Pediatrics Clinic. She trained at University of Michigan Medical School and received her MPH at Harvard School of Public Health. Mehta currently is involved in several CHS and community affiliated childhood obesity projects. She leads the 5210 Clinic at Myers Park Pediatrics, a lifestyle management clinic, and

works with the clinic Obesity QI Project to develop a standard of care in managing overweight and obese patients. She and Dr. Erin Stubbs at Myers Park Pediatrics were awarded a grant through the American Academy of Pediatrics and MetLife to work on improving physical activity in children ages 0-5 in their clinic and at several child care centers in the community. She also is working with the Child Health Committee, Healthy Weight Healthy Child Coalition, Food Policy Council, Mecklenburg County Fruit and Vegetable Coalition and the ShapeNC Community Action Council.

Robert L. Mittl, Jr., MDBorn in Illinois and raised in northern New Jersey, Dr.

Mittl graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After completing a

residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, he switched to radiology and completed his radiology residency and neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Mittl joined Charlotte Radiology in 1993 and practices as a neuroradiologist at Carolinas HealthCare System hospitals in the metro area. He is the president of Charlotte Radiology.

Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBABorn in Kodiak, Alaska, Dr. Walker-McGill graduated from

the Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine

and her fellowship in allergy-immunology at the Northwestern University School of Medicine. She received a master’s degree in business from the University of Chicago. Previously, she served on the faculty at the Northwestern School of Medicine and she currently serves on the faculty at the Wingate Graduate School of Business. Walker-McGill is a medical director at Daimler Trucks, North America, at the Mt. Holly and Gastonia facilities. She is chair of the Allergy Immunology Section of the National Medical Association and is secretary/treasurer of the North Carolina Medical Board.

Physician AssistantRepresentativeRaymond E. Brown, PAAs the first PA board member, Brown brings a wealth of

experience to the Board. He joined Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates in 1993, after practicing

general medicine for nine years. Brown has specialized in otolaryngology for the past 13 years. He is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society, president of Metrolina Association of Physician Assistants, vice-president of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants and a trustee for the North Carolina Association of Physician Assistants Endowment.

Resident RepresentativePulak D. Patel, MDDr. Patel is currently a third-year family medicine resident at

Carolinas Medical Center. She is from Lilburn, GA, and completed

her undergraduate studies at Emory University with a dual degree in biology and Spanish. She then continued

on at Emory University School of Medicine to earn her medical degree. Patel serves as president of the Carolinas Medical Center House Staff Liaison Committee and is applying for a fellowship in sports medicine.

McBryde

Mehta

Mittl

Brown

Patel

Walker-McGill

Meet Your 2015 MCMS Board of Directors and Leadership

Also serving on the Board as Ex-Officio MembersMichelle Conner, DDSPresident, Charlotte Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical SocietyDocia E. Hickey, MDNCMS President-ElectDarlyne Menscer, MDNCMS Delegate to the AMA and chair of the NCMS Committee on Medical Education Marcus Plescia, MDHealth Director, Mecklenburg County Health DepartmentDouglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEPMedical Director, Mecklenburg EMS Agency and member of the North Carolina EMS Advisory CouncilSherry WardPresident, Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment

Mecklenburg County Medical Society Executive StaffSandi D. BuchananExecutive DirectorTrisha G. HerndonMeetings and Special EventsStephanie D. SmithFinance and Database Specialist


Member News

Upcoming Meetings & EventsMeetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.

JANUARYn Thursday-Friday, Jan. 1-2

MCMS office closed – New Year’s Holiday.

n Tuesday, Jan. 6Charlotte Dental Society Board

meeting.6 p.m.

n Saturday, Jan. 10MCMS Board Meeting/

Orientation.Myers Park Country Club.7:30-11:30 a.m.

n Tuesday, Jan. 13MedLink meeting.Mecklenburg County Health

Department.8:30 a.m.

n Tuesday, Jan. 13Charlotte Dental Society

Membership meeting.Myers Park Country Club.6 p.m.

n Thursday, Jan. 15CAMGM.Myers Park Baptist Church

Cornwell Center.Noon.

n Friday, Jan. 16Child Health Committee meeting.7:30 a.m.

n Wednesday, Jan. 21MMAE Finance Committee

meeting.9 a.m.

n Wednesday, Jan. 21MMAE Board meeting.10 a.m.

n Thursday, Jan. 22March magazine deadline.

Simon V. Ward III, MD, current MCMS president and Maeve E. O’Connor, MD, 2012 MCMS president, recently graduated from the 2014 North Carolina Medical Society Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership.

Congratulations!Congratulations!

Volunteer Opportunities In Our CommunityFree Clinic of Our Towns at theAda Jenkins Center in North Mecklenburg We are a first-come first-serve free clinic.MD, PA, NP volunteers are needed. They arrive by 6 p.m. and see patients until about 8 p.m. Contact Sabrina (Bri) Niggel at 704-896-0471, ext. 116 or by email at [email protected].

Free Clinics of Our Towns Ada Jenkins Center212 Gamble St., Davidson, NC 28036

At The Ivey, our purpose is to preserve memories, independence, and quality of life for people living with memory loss.

Our professional, licensed team works closely with each of our members and you, their physicians. We help your patients and their families on a daily basis, and work with you to continue the therapies and treatments you recommend. We are able to recognize subtle behavioral changes and tailor care to each member.

Call today to learn more about how we can help your patients. 704-909-2070 | TheIvey.com

When your patients start to forget,remember The Ivey.


The 2015 Grants and Disbursements Committee of the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment (MMAE) is now accepting applications. The applications can be accessed online at mmaeonline.com. The application process, including the rules and guidelines for submitting a grant request, can

be found on the website. A hard copy of the application must be on file with the Grants and Disbursements Committee by February 28. Grants will be presented in May. If you have any questions, contact Pam Bullard, VP of Grants and Disbursements, at [email protected].

MMAE

Food Allergies: Hype or Hypersensitivity

Single Ticket = $25; Table for 8 = $185

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Phone: _______________________________________

Enclosed is $ __________ for _________ tickets

Mail form to:

MMAE Community Health ClassroomMecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204

MMAE Sponsors Community Health ClassroomFood allergies! Doesn’t it seem that these days everyone is allergic to something? There’s no doubt that the incidence of food allergy has increased; it’s estimated 15

million people in the United States suffer from some sort of food allergy. A study funded by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) found that the number of children in the country with peanut allergy more than tripled between 1997 and 2008.

Unfortunately, along with this increased number of food allergies comes an increase in misinformation about exactly what is a food allergy — the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. One can hardly open a magazine without reading about some newly discovered allergy producing food. Celebrities endorse diets that eliminate one food or another that contain “toxins.” One national advocate for a gluten-free diet conducts a day-long training session for $1,000 and certifies graduates as “gluten counselors.” Did you know that a whole host of unproven and unreliable food allergy testing exists? These bogus tests run the gamut from muscle testing to hair analysis.

The Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment (MMAE) wants you to know the facts about food allergy, which is why we have dedicated this year’s MMAE Community Health Classroom to the topic of food allergies.

We invite you to join us for a lively program and panel discussion.

FOOD ALLERGIES:Hype or HypersensitivityMyers Park Country Club • Thursday, Feb.19 • 9-11 a.m.

Registration is $25 per person, and we’ll start the day with a delicious breakfast buffet that includes gluten-free selections.

Three area physicians, John Klimas, MD; J. Gray Norris, MD; and Emily W. Langley, MD, all board-certified allergists from the Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center, will conduct a panel discussion.

Among the topics covered will be:

Most Common Food AllergiesFood Allergy SymptomsOral Allergy Syndrome vs. Food AllergyPeanut AllergyPeanut Allergy — Management/DesensitizationGluten-Free DietsGMO’s — Why the Fuss?These experts in food allergy have completed a residency in Internal Medicine and/or Pediatrics plus a two- to three-year fellowship in allergy/immunology. In addition to their training, they have passed the American Board of Allergy/Immunology certification exam.

Tickets for Food Allergy: Hype or Hypersensitivity are $25 per person; a reserved table for 8 can be purchased for $185. Online ticket sales are available at www.MMAEclassroom.com or www.mmaeonline.com.

This is sure to be a popular program, so don’t hesitate; enroll in MMAE’s Community Health Classroom today!


At the Hospitals

n Novant Health Presbyterian MedicalCenter Receives National RecognitionNovant Health Presbyterian

Medical Center is one of 44 hospitals nationwide recognized for meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care by The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP).

The ACS NSQIP recognizes a select group of hospitals for achieving exemplary outcomes and commended Presbyterian Medical Center for its care of surgical patients in eight clinical areas: mortality, pneumonia, kidney failure, cardiac incidents, surgical site infections, unplanned intubation, ventilator greater than 48 hours and urinary tract infection. Presbyterian Medical Center achieved the meritorious distinction based on its outstanding composite quality score in these eight categories.

“This program is only one of many initiatives Novant Health has introduced to improve patient care and safety,” says Will Walker, MD, FACS, who coordinates the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center ACS NSQIP program. “This high level of performance achieved at the national level shows how teamwork between nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare team can significantly improve patient care.”

The ACS NSQIP is a major program of the American College of Surgeons and the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures the care of surgical patients. By sharing best practices between hospitals, the program aims to help all hospitals improve the care of surgical patients. In 2006, Presbyterian Medical Center was the first community hospital in North Carolina to join the ACS NSQIP program.

n Matthews Hematology OncologyAssociates Joins Novant HealthOn December 10, Matthews

Hematology Oncology Associates joined Novant Health, becoming Novant Health

Cancer Specialists. Novant Health Cancer Specialists

patients will have access to cancer services and all their health information will be available in MyChart, Novant Health’s online portal. MyChart allows patients to view their medical records, email their doctor and schedule appointments. Physicians will also be able to log in and have a full understanding of a patient’s medical history and easily make referrals.

Alfred Newman, MD, Lance Lassiter, MD, Nusrat Chaudhary, MD, and Adam Kuykendal, MD, practice at Novant Health Cancer Specialists. The address remains the same at 1700 Matthews Township Parkway. You can refer a patient through Dimensions or by calling 704-841-8151.

n Novant Health Physician PracticesReceive State RecognitionNovant Health Eastover Pediatrics

and Novant Health Midtown OB/GYN were two of the three outpatient clinics recently named by the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBC) as inaugural recipients of the Mother-Baby Friendly Clinic Award.

This competitive award signifies excellence in support for breastfeeding families. Awardees must:• Complete advanced education in

lactation support• Provide quality patient education to

ensure that mothers achieve their infant feeding goals

• Eliminate all advertising from infantformula manufacturers

• Ensure their patients have access tobreastfeeding support in the communityCriteria for the award are closely based

on the “Baby-Friendly USA Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria,” and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s “Clinical Protocol #14: Breastfeeding-Friendly Physician’s Office: Optimizing Care for Infants and Children.”

According to Emily Taylor, past-chair of the NCBC, “We created this award so that families in North Carolina know where to turn for evidence-based, high-quality breastfeeding support. We congratulate the inaugural award winners.”

Breastfeeding is widely recognized for

improving health outcomes for mothers and babies. “Creating a practice that is welcoming to breastfeeding families is a vital way of promoting an activity that makes a huge difference in the health of our community,” says Michael Giftos, MD, pediatrician with Eastover Pediatrics.

Research shows that a mother’s decision to breastfeed can be greatly influenced by the opinion and support of the healthcare providers she encounters while she is pregnant. “Our office enthusiastically supports and promotes breastfeeding through the combination of an environment conducive to breastfeeding and education of our physicians, office staff and families,” says Heather White, MD, obstetrician with Midtown OB/GYN.

n Novant Health Offers Free AdvanceDirective Information Sessions forCancer PatientsNovant Health Cancer Care is piloting a

free legal clinic for Novant Health cancer patients. Partnering with the Charlotte School of Law and lawyers from the Charlotte offices of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, patients can receive information about the importance of completing an advance directive.

Every month, Novant Health Cancer Care offers information sessions about Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Wills, as well as a scheduled date to complete these documents with the help of a law student. To connect your patients to these free legal services, call 704-384-5223.

NATIONAL HEALTH& WELLNESS

OBSERVANCESJANUARY 2015

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Glaucoma Awareness Month

National Birth Defects Prevention Month

National Blood Donor Month

Thyroid Awareness Month


At the Hospitals

n Paper on First-in-World ProcedureAccepted for PublicationCourtney Stephenson, DO, FACOG,

director of the Charlotte Fetal Care Center and associate director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Carolinas HealthCare System, along with David Iannitti, MD, chief of HPB surgery, authored a paper that was accepted for publication by the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Journal.

The paper, entitled “Microwave Ablation for Twin-Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence: A Novel Application of Technology,” details how the two physicians were the first in the world to successfully treat a twin reversal arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence pregnancy by using microwave ablation.

The condition involves a healthy fetus that is vascularly attached to a mass with no heart. This mass “steals” blood from the healthy baby and ultimately can cause its demise. They presented at the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society meeting in Israel in 2013 and received overwhelming praise and acceptance of their work. “Centers globally acknowledge we are changing the future of fetal intervention with the intrauterine use of this device,” says Stephenson. “They are now discussing using the microwave to ablate fetal tumors and other vascular conditions.”

Recently, surgeons from Texas Children’s Hospital asked Stephenson to teach them how to use the device on one of their patients. After discussing the case, both Stephenson and the team from Houston decided it would be best to have the surgery performed at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Charlotte Fetal Care Center. The surgery was successful, reinforcing the Center’s leadership in the field of fetal medicine.

n Hematology/OncologyFellowship Awarded to Levine Cancer InstituteCarolinas HealthCare System’s Levine

Cancer Institute recently was awarded a

Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, effective July 2015, to train future leaders in the fields of hematology and oncology. This is the only hematology/oncology fellowship currently available in the greater Charlotte region, and will give aspiring hematologists and medical oncologists the opportunity to train under nationally recognized physicians who sub-specialize in treating aggressive types of blood cancer and blood disorders.

The three-year fellowship, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), has been established under the leadership of Jimmy Hwang, MD, hematologist and

medical oncologist at the Institute, and will provide nine fellows with intensive training in preparation for a career in oncology research and/or practice. The program will train participants on how to administer and integrate high-quality oncologic and hematologic care for patients involving multiple disciplines, including radiation oncology and genetics.

The Institute’s hematology/oncology department is led by clinicians who are enrolling patients in several national clinical trials that test breakthrough treatments and novel therapies. The department opened the region’s first and only adult blood and marrow transplant unit in January 2014, and continues to evolve to meet the increased needs of patients.

n Grant to Help Study Nutrition for Spinal Cord Injury PatientsJesse A. Lieberman, MD, MSPH, attending

physician at Carolinas Rehabilitation, has been awarded a grant worth nearly $1 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study nutrition education for individuals with spinal cord

injuries (SCI) related to eating behaviors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.

The purpose of the research component of the $940K award is to investigate the affect of additional nutrition education on knowledge, diet quality, adiposity and metabolic CVD risk over a five-year period. The

study will include additional nutrition education for individuals with acute SCI in acute rehab and for individuals with chronic SCI living in the community. In addition to identifying if nutrition education is beneficial, the study aims to identify the best environment to administer additional nutrition education, with the goal of reducing CVD in the chronic SCI population.

At Carolinas Rehabilitation and Carolinas Medical Center, Lieberman, who has chronic SCI himself, helps treat patients with SCI and other disabilities, working with them to improve their mobility and health.

n Grant to Address Narcotic Prescription AbuseCarolinas HealthCare System’s Rachel

Seymour, PhD, associate director of orthopedic clinical research, and Joseph Hsu, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center and the Carolinas Trauma Network Research Center of Excellence, recently were awarded a $400,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund research aimed at reducing prescriptions for narcotics.

The two-year study, “Prescription Reporting with Immediate Medication Utilization Mapping (PRIMUM),” is one of two awards given nationally and is aimed at reducing narcotic abuse, misuse and diversion in a high-risk population. To implement the initiative, Seymour and Hsu, principal investigators on the study, will lead a multidisciplinary team comprising staff from Carolinas HealthCare System’s Orthopaedic Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Information Services departments, the Carolinas Trauma Network, and the Carolinas Poison Center, along with System administrators.

The study will evaluate prescribing behavior with the goal of ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates throughout the System by providing immediate feedback to prescribers on prescription narcotic use in potentially high-risk patients. The initiative aims to curb prescriptions made for opioids and prescriptions that pair opioids with other controlled substances, as well as reduce the number of prescriptions given from multiple prescribers.

Jesse A. Lieberman, MD, MSPH

Jimmy Hwang, MD


Independent Physicians of the Carolinas, Inc. has transitioned into the kure Network, a clinically integrated virtual healthcare system comprised of independent physicians and designated health services, and will operate as kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas. More information on the kure Network can be obtained at www.kurenetwork.com. Membership information can be obtained by contacting the VP of Business Development, Tom Daily, at [email protected] or the Network Liaison, Sherie Bradshaw, at [email protected]. Physician meetings will be scheduled in January and will be communicated via email when dates and locations are determined. To ensure you are contacted, email your contact information to Tom or Sherie at the addresses seen above.

Matthews Internal Medicine has received Level 3 as a patient-centered medical home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This acknowledgment is for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships. NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane says, “Recognition shows that Matthews Internal Medicine has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.” Read the full story at www.matthewsinternalmedicine.com.

Aamer Quereshi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, vice president of Mecklenburg Heart Specialists, recently passed the American Board of Internal Medicine certification exam in cardiovascular medicine.

Darlington Hart, MD, announced his return to the practice of internal medicine at Cornerstone Medical at 7704 England St. in Charlotte.

Oncology Specialists of Charlotte, PA, is opening a satellite office in Pineville to better serve its south Charlotte patients. Opening Tuesday, January 6, patients

can be seen at 7108 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 102, Charlotte. The phone number is unchanged at 704-342-1900. For patient scheduling, call 704-342-9577.

Sensenbrenner Primary Care at 8821 Blakeney Professional Drive currently is enrolling patients in clinical trials who have one of the following conditions: hyperlipidemia, COPD, chronic constipation or renal disease. For more information, call 704-887-1101.

Darst Dermatology has a new satellite office in Indian Land, S.C. The address is 6237 Carolina Commons Drive, Suite 101, in the Novant Health Indian Land Primary Care Building. The phone number is 704-325-5415. Patients can be seen there on Tuesday afternoons.

Carolina Family Healthcare in Ballantyne welcomes new provider Maureen Scott, APN-BC. Scott is an RN and has a master’s degree in

nursing. She has more than 20 years of experience as an adult nurse practitioner. She also has been accepted into the Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona. Joining medical director, Dino Kanelos, MD, Scott sees patients 13 years and older during clinic hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

V Pain Clinic is the only practice in Charlotte area offering Coolief, cooled radio frequency ablation procedures. For more information about Coolief, visit www.mycoolief.com and watch the video about one of our successes: Real stories — Mabel Hennessy. Coolief RF is a non-invasive, outpatient treatment option for those suffering from chronic back pain. This advanced procedure uses cooled radiofrequency energy to safely target the sensory nerves causing pain. RF energy heats and cools the tissue at the site of pain. Coolief circulates water through the device while heating nerve tissue to create a treatment area that is larger than conventional RF treatments. This combination targets the pain-causing nerves without excessive heating, leading to pain relief.

Welcome New Members:

C. Thomas Humphries, MD joined Asthma & Allergy Specialists, PA. Offices are located in south Charlotte in the Arboretum area, north Charlotte in the University area, Steele Creek, Matthews and Monroe.

Also joining is Robert Wozniak, MD, with Lancaster Endocrinology. Offices are located in the Ballantyne area in Charlotte and in Rock Hill, S.C.

kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas

Advertising Acknowledgements

The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.

Alexander Youth Network ............................................3

Brackett Flagship Properties ..........................................7

Carolinas HealthCare System .....................................19

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates ...........18

Charlotte Radiology .......................................................3

Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center .............................3

kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas ...... 9, 18

LabCorp ........................................................................20

Novant Health .................................................................2

Parsec Financial ............................................................17

The Ivey ........................................................................12

Darlington Hart, MD

Maureen Scott, APN-BC


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Introducing Our Newest Providers

Leighanne H. Dorton, MD• ComprehensiveOtolaryngology

• AllergyTreatment• Voice&SwallowingDisorders• SinusDisease

Salisbury office

Wei Huang, MD, PhD• ComprehensiveOphthalmology

• GlaucomaSpecialist

Huntersville, University & Statesville offices

Elliot C. McKee, MD• ComprehensivePediatricOphthalmology

• Pediatric&AdultStrabismus

Belmont, SouthPark and Statesville offices

Call 704.295.3100 to schedule your referral today.

WE JUST MAKE SENSE. GOODSENSES.COM 704.295.3100 800.654.3368

More than 25 locations across the Carolinas704-512-3963

Levine CanCer instituteWorld-class cancer care close to home.

see Dr. Kim’s full story at CarolinasHealthCare.org/CancerCare

every patient is unique. i learned this early in my careerfrom a patient wearing a silly hat and a determined smile.Her odds were not good; all the data pointed to badnews. But her spirit and attitude showed me so muchmore than her statistical odds. What she taught me hasstayed with me through every patient interaction since.she is strong today. and i am a better doctor for knowingher. at Levine Cancer institute, we always remember thatevery patient has her own story.

She walked into my office wearinga huge Dr. Seuss hat and saidshe was going to beat cancer.

LCI_Awareness_DrKim_MeckMedicine.indd 1 10/3/2014 7:15:56 AM

More than 25 locations across the Carolinas 704-512-3963

Levine CanCer instituteWorld-class cancer care close to home.

see Dr. Kim’s full story at CarolinasHealthCare.org/CancerCare

every patient is unique. i learned this early in my career from a patient wearing a silly hat and a determined smile. Her odds were not good; all the data pointed to bad news. But her spirit and attitude showed me so much more than her statistical odds. What she taught me has stayed with me through every patient interaction since. she is strong today. and i am a better doctor for knowing her. at Levine Cancer institute, we always remember that every patient has her own story.

She walked into my office wearing a huge Dr. Seuss hat and said she was going to beat cancer.

LCI_Awareness_DrKim_MeckMedicine.indd 1 10/3/2014 7:15:56 AM


Mecklenburg CountyMedical Society1112 Harding Place, #200Charlotte, NC 28204

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

MCMS Mission:To unite, serve and represent ourmembers as advocates for our patients,for the health of the community andfor the profession of medicine.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCHARLOTTE, N.C.PERMIT NO. 1494

PATIENT SERVICE CENTERS… for all of your laboratory testing needs

Ballantyne 15830 John Delaney Drive Charlotte, NC 704-540-0251Billingsley** 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 200A Charlotte, NC 704-332-6904Carmel** 5633 Blakeney Park Drive, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 704-542-7061Cabarrus 478 Copperfield Blvd. Concord, NC 704-795-2710Charlotte** 1718 E. 4th Street Charlotte, NC 704-372-6609Gastonia Stat Lab 660 Summitt Crossing, Suite 206 Gastonia, NC 704-854-9497Huntersville 14330 Oakhill Park Lane Huntersville, NC 704-948-8101Huntersville** 10030 Gilead Road, Suite B100 Huntersville, NC 704-875-9130Lake Norman 134 Medical Park Drive, Suite 102 Mooresville, NC 704-799-6230Matthews 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, Suite 1147 Matthews, NC 704-849-0154Northridge* 5031-G West W.T. Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC 704-598-6266Pineville 10410 Park Road, Suite 450 Pineville, NC 704-341-1145Randolph** 1928 Randolph Road, Suite 109 Charlotte, NC 704-334-2629Rock Hill 2460 India Hook Road, Suite 101 Rock Hill, SC 803-328-1724Salisbury** 611 Mocksville Avenue Salisbury, NC 704-637-1676Salisbury 612 Mocksville Avenue Salisbury, NC 704-637-1987Salisbury* 514 Corporate Road Salisbury, NC 704-221-4407Shelby 809 N. Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 704-480-7004Statesville** 1710-A Davie Avenue Statesville, NC 704-878-0948University** 10320 Mallard Creek Road Charlotte, NC 704-549-8647

*Drug Screens only **Blood Draws only

LabCorpLaboratory Corporation of America

mecklenburg medicine january 2015

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