June/July 2010, Volume 11.0
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From the Desk of....
Christopher Casscells, M.D.
President of the Board of Directors |
As many of you know, the Delaware Academy of Medicine has gone through a significant period of transition over the last few years. We have moved from our historic Lovering Avenue Delaware Bank Building to the epicenter of healthcare – Christiana Care Health System's Ammon Center on the Christiana Hospital Campus. We have refocused our mission, transitioned our paper-based library system largely to the Internet, and merged our collection with Christiana Care, forming the Lewis B. Flinn Medical Library.
Going forward, it is clear that the paradigm of healthcare delivery will change dramatically. While the direction that takes remains to be seen, it is imperative that the Academy remain sensitive to and current on the changing needs of our constituents.
To that end, the Academy recently revised its membership structure (see Membership article) to reach a more diverse audience and to better suit individual needs. We hope you take advantage of the new structure, as well as the valuable networking and educational opportunities that support our efforts toward the promotion of public health.
Editor's note: “From the Desk of…” is a new section where Board President Dr. Christopher Casscells and Executive Director Tim Gibbs will periodically articulate vision and respond to current issues.
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Membership Changes and Expanded Services
Omar Khan, MD
Chair of Membership |
Across the nation memberships in organizations not directly related to one's specialty are falling. The Delaware Academy of Medicine, however, still has a valuable role to play in the education and networking of physicians and other health care professionals.
To address changing needs, the Academy has reformulated its membership model to focus less on a “one size fits all” approach, and more on a menu of services designed to suit individual, physician and practices needs.
Members now pay a $25 basic membership fee and have the ability to choose from options such as library services, information access, technology support, and online registration for events. High quality lectures and other beneficial educational services for continuing medical education will remain standard.
“It's like buying a laptop,” says membership chairman Omar Khan, M.D. “The cost for the hardware or computer itself is nominal. What you really pay for are the programs and services that you use.”
Memberships now open to APN, MPH, PharmD, and more
Reducing the cost of membership also makes it affordable to a larger constituency and allows us to reach more health care professionals including those in nursing, allied health and public health.
“One of the Academy's strengths is bringing together physicians of diverse specialties in a nonpartisan way. By opening membership up to other colleagues, we hope they will access these opportunities and contribute their own ideas to the Academy,” says Dr. Khan.
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles about new services that will be available with your Academy membership. Subsequent articles will zero in on specifics as they become available.
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Academy returns history and archives
items to the Medical Society of Delaware |
“A little piece of history” found its way home this June when the Academy returned several historical artifacts to the Medical Society of Delaware.
The items, safeguarded by the Academy since 2001, include rare books, ceramics, papers, medical instruments, and artwork. Most notable for its historical significance is the human body scroll which the Academy restored and has had display in Christiana Care's Lewis B. Flinn Library.
Archivist Christopher Shea painstakingly de-accessioned the items from the Academy collection in preparation for their transfer to the Medical Society, now located on W. Chestnut Hill Road in Newark, Del. (the former MBNA Bowman Center) .
“We have been honored to maintain, preserve, and in the case of the body scroll restore, these critical items of medical history for the Medical Society,” says Tim Gibbs, the Academy's executive director. “We look forward to seeing them on display in the Medical Society's new location where they can be enjoyed for many years to come.”
If you have items of historic significance to the practice of medicine, dentistry, and nursing in Delaware please consider contributing them to our collection, or arranging for a special display of the items in the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center. Contact 302-733-3919.
People are talking about
the Delaware Academy of Medicine...
“The incredibly important help [The Academy] has given our Update in Cardiology over the last two years…especially in CVENT online registration and payment , has been invaluable. There is no one else who can do this in our community and you have done it very reliably and flexibly.”
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– Andrew J. Doorey, MD, FACC, FACP, clinical professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and program director, Update in Cardiology. |
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“By utilizing the Academy WEBEX System we will be able to reach out to nurses at 12 other institutions. This venue allows our Magnet institution to share an interactive educational presentation with a much larger audience.”
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– Thea Eckman, BSN, RN, BC, CCRN, CVCCC staff development specialist, Christiana Care Health System, on using WEBEX to broadcast a Healthy Work Environments webcast May 5 th for Christiana Care Health System Nurse Educators and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses |
GOING GREEN – SAVING GREEN$
The Delaware Academy of Medicine has adopted this new e-newsletter strategy to help manage
our costs, and minimize the environment impact of thousands of newsletters that end up in the trash or
in recycling bins.
We hope you enjoy this new format and welcome your input.
Please consider passing this webpage on to your co-workers and friends, or have them email us and we’ll
add them to our list.
Tim Gibbs, Executive Director
Delaware Academy of Medicine
Stanton Campus of Christiana Care
John H. Ammon Medical Education Center
4765 Ogletown-Stanton Road
Suite L10
Newark, Delaware 19713
302-733-3919
"To enhance the well being of the community through education and the promotion of public health"
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