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West Virginia Chapter News

Congratulations New Chapter Fellow

  • Ronald J Pellegrino, MD FACP

(September 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellow.Fellowship in the College is an honor.Being an FACP®is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.


2024 Chapter Excellence Award-Bronze Level Winner

(August 2024) We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Bronze Level of the 2024 Chapter Excellence Award! The award recognizes chapters that achieve basics in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet 20 Bronze criteria. Criteria include such activities as being involved in advocacy activities (if applicable), communicating with members, having a chapter/regional scientific meeting along with a planning committee, having a sound financial structure in place, recruiting and advancing members and having an awards committee that identifies candidates for local or national awards. We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.

Chapter Excellence Award


Empower Your Advocacy: Introducing Our Comprehensive Toolkit

(August 2024) We are excited to announce the launch of our AdvocacyToolkit:Using Your Voice as a Physician Advocate, a powerful resource designed to equip medical students and physicians with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective advocates for health care in their communities. This toolkit comprises five self-contained and independent modules, each presented as engaging voice-over PowerPoint presentations. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the field, these modules offer valuable insights and practical guidance.

Module Highlights

Physician as Advocate

  • Discover advocacy tips and real-life examples that showcase how physicians can use their voice to drive positive health outcomes in their communities. This module emphasizes the pivotal role of physicians in advocating for public health.

Legislative Advocacy

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process at both state and federal levels. Learn about the opportunities available for physician advocacy within this process and how to navigate the legislative landscape effectively.

Print Media Advocacy

  • Explore the various types of print media, their audiences, and their scope in the realm of advocacy. This module provides insights into crafting compelling messages that resonate with readers and drive change through traditional media channels.

Social Media Advocacy

  • Delve into the dynamic world of social media and its potential as a powerful advocacy tool. Learn about the key features of different social media platforms and how to leverage them to amplify your advocacy efforts and engage a broader audience.

Audio Media Advocacy

  • Understand the motivations and uses of audio media in advocacy. This module focuses on the unique advantages of podcasts, radio, and other audio formats, offering strategies to effectively communicate your advocacy messages through these channels.

Each module begins with a standard introduction and overview, followed by an in-depth exploration of the topic, and concludes with a concise one-page outline to reinforce key points.

Toolkit: Using Your Voice As A Physician Advocate

By integrating these modules into your advocacy efforts, you will be better equipped to influence public health policy and drive meaningful change. Empower yourself and your community with the tools and knowledge provided in our Advocacy Toolkit.

Together, let's make a difference!


State Health Advocacy August Recess Grassroots Mobilization Challenge

(August 2024) Members of Congress are returning home to their districts during the August congressional recess. During this time, ACP is calling on internal medicine physicians to engage their representatives on important issues we need Congress to act on before the end of 2024.

To incentivize participation in this grassroots mobilization, the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (ACP grassroots network) is challenging members to see which states will have the highest engagement. Advocates can score points for their states by choosing to take one or more advocacy actions identified in the campaign.

Access theNow!


Call for Spring 2025 Resolutions

(July 2024) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea youwould like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. TheACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Membersis available to download and will help, too.The Guidewas created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval is required to move resolutions forward to ACP national. Although not official ACP policy, a resolution becomes property of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at theSpring 2025 Board of Governors Meeting isSeptember 27, 2024.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.


We want to hear from you: Fall 2024 BOG Resolutions

(July 2024)The following resolutions are up for consideration at the Fall 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. We invite you to review each resolution and share your support or opposition by completing the by August 12.

  • Developing Policy to Address Consolidation in Healthcare
  • Gaining an Understanding of the 1-Year and 3-Year Mortality Rates of Patients that Have Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Stays
  • Supporting Patients’ Access to Documentation and Communications in their Preferred Language
  • Declaring Access to Equitable, Affordable Healthcare is a Human Right
  • Developing Policy on Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries in the United States
  • Revising ACP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy to Promote an Age-Friendly Professional Home and Create Engagement Opportunities for Senior and Retired Physicians
  • Advocating for Funding of a Direct Comparison of Two Highly Touted Dietary Approaches to Control Type Two Diabetes Clinical Measures and Costs

Resolutions provide our members an opportunity to focus attention at the national level on particular issues or topics that concern you and gives grassroots members a voice, allowing you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine. Involvement in the resolutions feedback process is essential for maintaining a responsive and effective professional organization that truly represents its members.

Your feedback is valuable and will be forwarded to your Governor to assist in their testimony on behalf of the chapter. Thank you for your input.

(NOTE: Proposed resolutions should be considered confidential information and are intended to be viewed by ACP members only. Under no circumstances should proposed resolutions be shared with the news media or social networking media, nor should they be shared with other individuals and organizations. Proposed resolutions do not represent ACP policy.)


Happy Anniversary to our Chapter Members!

Chapter Anniversary Banner

5 Years

  • Asif Rahman, MD FACP
  • Andrea Lauffer, MD FACP
  • Joan Renee Allman, DO
  • Jamie C Latos, DO
  • Sunil Darshan Paudel, MD
  • Preston Seaberg, MD FACP
  • Murad Kheetan, MBBS
  • Charles Mupamombe, MD FACP
  • Melinda N Cooper, MD

10 Years

  • Ezedeen Hamad, MD
  • Jonathan E Stanley, DO
  • Nelson Lee Smith, DO
  • Kelley M Gannon, MD
  • Sathyanarayana Machani, MBBS FACP
  • Rita H Hawarny, MD
  • Kamran Sajid Zahid, MD FACP
  • Caroline A Armstrong, DO
  • Troy M Krupica, MD FACP
  • Tara Rickard, MD FACP
  • Roselyne M Knopf, MD
  • Arshad Kamal, MBBS FACP

15 Years

  • David C Tingler, MD
  • Christopher A Daniel, DO FACP
  • Shannon L Browning, MD
  • Kristen L Helmick, MD FACP

20 Years

  • Zeid J Khitan, MD FACP
  • Bethany S Pellegrino, MD FACP
  • Nancy B Norton, MD
  • Mary Davidson Warden, MD FACP
  • Dragana Orlovic, MD

(May 2024) Your ACP Chapter thanks you for your continued Membership and all you do every day to serve your patients and support the future of internal medicine. We’re proud that you’ve chosen us as your professional home, and we’re committed to remaining by your side—advocating for and supporting your professional journey.


BOR Action on Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions

(May 2024) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you would like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit the advocacy section of your ACP chapter website for more information on how to propose a resolution.


Member Feedback is Requested on Spring 2024 Resolutions

(February 2024) Twenty-one (21) resolutions will be considered at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting. With the exception of Resolution 9-S24, which will not be debated because this resolution is slated for adoption as a reaffirmation, please review each resolution and then indicate your support or opposition by completing theby the deadline your ACP Chapter Governor has requested or by midnight March 13, whichever comes first.

Your comments will be forwarded to your Governor to be used as part of his/her testimony on behalf of the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Giampietro, BOG Administrator, atchapter@acpmembership.org. Thank you for your input.

(NOTE: Proposed resolutions should be considered confidential information and are intended to be viewed by ACP members only. Under no circumstances should proposed resolutions be shared with the news media or social networking media, nor should they be shared with other individuals and organizations. Proposed resolutions do not represent ACP policy.)


Call for Fall 2024 Resolutions

(February 2024) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The just released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is now available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval is required to move resolutions forward to ACP national. Although not official ACP policy, a resolution becomes property of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Fall 2024 Board of Governors Meeting isMarch 29, 2024.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.


BOR Action on Fall 2023 BOG Resolutions

(December 2023) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you would like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit the advocacy section of your ACP chapter website for more information on how to propose a resolution.


Congratulations New Chapter Fellows

  • Khawaja O Omar, MD FACP

(November 2023) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.


2023 Chapter Excellence Award – Silver Winner

Chapter Excellence Award Bronze We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Silver Level of the 2023 Chapter Excellence Award! Only 11 chapters received the Silver Award. The award recognizes chapters that achieve excellence in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet nineteen Bronze criteria and seventeen Silver criteria. Criteria include such activities as undertaking efforts to increase advocacy efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to increase visibility of the ACP, holding competitions for members, providing chapter financial reports to members, having Medical Student and Resident/Fellow members on the Governor's Advisory council, retaining transitional and unpaid members, giving awards to chapter members.

We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.


We Request Your Feedback on the Proposed Fall 2023 Board of Governors Resolutions

(August 2023) We would like to request your feedback regarding resolutions that will be considered at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting. With the exception of Resolution 3-F23 which was accepted as a reaffirmation and will not be debated, please review the balance of the slate and then indicate your support or opposition by completing the resolutions electronic response form by August 30th.

After considering the intent of each resolution and how it fits with the College’s Mission and Goals, please provide your feedback on each resolution and indicate your support or opposition by completing the electronic response form by August 30. Your input will be used as part of testimony on behalf of the chapter.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to provide comments regarding these resolutions. By providing your feedback on the Board of Governors resolutions, you have helped to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.


Congratulations Dr. Lauffer on Fellowship

  • Andrea Lauffer, MD FACP

(July 2023) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellow. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.


Call for Spring 2024 BOG Resolutions

(July 2023) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The recently released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Membersis now available to download and will help, too.The Guidewas created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval to move resolutions forward to ACP national is required. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Spring 2024 Board of Governors Meeting isOctober 16, 2023.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.


BOR Action on Spring 2023 BOG Resolutions

(June 2023) summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actionson resolutions debated at theSpring 2023 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.


Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship

(March 2023) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the ܼˮ̳. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.

Andrea Stark, DO FACP

Sarah Hadique, MD FACP

Ankush Asija, MD FACP

Michael P Iannetti, MD FACP

Jack L Kinder, Jr, MD FACP

Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!


Chapter Speakers at Internal Medicine Meeting 2023

(March 2023) We would like to draw your attention to our Internal Medicine Meeting 2023 local speakers.

Josephine Reece West Virginia Panel Volunteering = Personal Satisfaction and Professional Growth Friday, April 28, 2023
Michael Stevens West Virginia Meet the Professor Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Thursday, April 27, 2023

If you’re attending IMM23, please join us at West Virginia Chapter and Alumni Social Hour—8:00-10:00 p.m., Amplified Ale Works Kitchen and Beer Garden, 1429 Island Ave, San Diego, CA.


Call for Fall 2023 Resolutions

(February 2023) Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.

Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. The just released ACP Board of Governors Resolutions Guide for ACP Members is now available to download and will help, too. The Guide was created to provide members a short overview of the resolutions process essentials and highlights critical ACP online resources you must use.

Once drafted, members must submit resolutions to their Governor and/or chapter council. Chapter council approval to move resolutions forward to ACP national is required. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves forwarding it to national. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Fall 2023 Board of Governors Meeting is March 30, 2023.

Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.


Healing By Sharing Competition

(January 2023)The Chapter is announcing our first “Healing by Sharing” competition. There are two components to this competition

Component One | A narrative writing competition

Stories are a wonderful way to not only connect but also one of the strategies to heal in medicine. We invite you to share a story or a narrative piece that reflects on your personal experience in medicine. This can be a story of difficulty, failure, healing, achievement, or anything that touched you in your medicine journey.

We will have a friendly competition and the best narrative piece will get a prize, a certificate, and a chance to share their story on ResetMD podcast. Your story will be highlighted on the website as well.

Rules of the competition: Deadline for submission is January 31, 2023. Please send your submission to Amna Anees

  • Eligibility to participate requires being a member of the WV Chapter of ACP, including student, resident, and fellow memberships.
  • The narrative piece should be no longer than 750 words.
  • The piece should be well formatted and edited at the time of submission.
  • The narrative piece will uphold HIPAA regulations.
  • The narrative piece will not include any discriminatory language.
  • It will be an original piece of writing.
  • After submission, our judges will review the submissions to decide on a winner which will be announced on March 15, 2023.

Component Two | A photography/art competition

While some people express themselves through writing, others use art (painting or photography to tell their stories. We invite you to share a photograph or original piece of art that reflects on your personal experience in medicine. We will have a friendly competition and the best photograph or art piece will get a prize, a certificate as well as a chance to display their art on the website. Rules of the competition: ~Deadline for submission is January 31, 2023. Please send your submission to Amna Anees

  • Eligibility to participate requires being a member of the WV Chapter of ACP, including student, resident, and fellow memberships.
  • The piece should be well formatted and edited at the time of submission.
  • Submitted art will uphold HIPAA regulations.
  • It will be an original piece of art or an original photo.
  • After submission, our judges will review the submissions to decide on a winner which will be announced on March 15, 2023.

For any further information or questions about either the narrative writing or art competition, please contact Amna Anees


Board of Regents Action on Fall 2022 BOG Resolutions

(November 2022) A summary of Board of Regents (BOR) actions on resolutions debated at theFall 2022 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting is now available. Resolutions initiated by ACP members and endorsed by a chapter council and the BOG become ACP policy when adopted by the BOR.

If you have an idea you'd like to suggest to ACP, consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or local ACP chapter. Visit your ACP chapter website for more information on how to contact your Governor or chapter staff about proposing a resolution.


Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship

(November 2022) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the ܼˮ̳. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.

  • Ziad Dimachkie, MD FACP
  • Nick D Mains, DO FACP
  • Charles Mupamombe, MD FACP
  • Shanojan Thiyagalingam, MD FACP
  • Sarah J Wescott, DO FACP

Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!