The ACR Resident and Fellow Section

RFS Executive Committee Meeting Minutes: June 14, 2005

Member Participants

Jesse Davila, M.D., Immediate Past-Chair
Sanjay K. Shetty, M.D., Chair
Gregory Galdino, M.D., Vice Chair
Aradhana Venkatesan, M.D., ACGME RRC Representative
Dan Entrinkin, M.D., Chair RFS Membeship Subcommittee

Amy Kirby, M.D., Secretary

Kelly Foster, ACR staff

Geoff Wile, M.D., AMA Representative

MaryEllen Sun, M.D., A3CR2 Representative

Trina Madison, ACR staff

Unable to Attend

Richard B Gunderman MD, PhD

Joshua H Petit MD, ARRO Representative Introduction

(The meeting convened at 7 pm CST.)

2005 Elected RFS Officers

Chair: Sanjay Shetty, M.D. (MGH)
Vice Chair: Greg Galdino, M.D. (UCSF)
Secretary: Amy Kirby, M.D. (OU)
AMA: Geoff Wile, M.D. (Wake Forest)
A3CR2: MaryEllen Sun, M.D. (MGH)

Topics of Discussion
Aunt Minnie discussion forum update
The goal of this project is to generate interest and discussion on controversial socioeconomic, governmental, and educational topics that might affect residents. By doing this, it was hoped to foster more interest and involvement in not only the RFS, but the ACR and the JACR as well, by those residents who are not currently involved.

The consensus of the RFS EC was that more residents currently access Aunt Minnie than the ACR RFS website, particularly residents who not yet members of the ACR. Therefore, it would be best in terms of recruitment to use Aunt Minnie as the means for creation of an ACR website discussion forum. A long term goal is to eventually have a RFS residents forum on the ACR website. A letter will be drafted by Dan Entrikin to the Harvey Neiman and other members of the ACR leadership expressing these ideas for feedback.

The problems with the current residents section on the ACR website were discussed as well, and these issues are hoped to be rectified in the near future. There is a need to make the website easier to navigate, and more user friendly in order for residents to easily access items of interest. Greg Galdino has had an interest in helping the website team with this endeavor, and this will be addressed with Nancy Cook. This is especially pertinent if the goal on the AuntMinnie discussion forum is to attract more residents and refer them to the ACR website.

Three potential articles for discussion are to be submitted to the discussion forum, dealing with Self Referral, Tort Reform and an introduction to the ACR. The timeframe for this is to be underway is hopefully July, but will depend on the decided vehicle of communication.

Membership Committee update
Several items will be discussed at the next Membership Committee meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, the 16th of June, 8pm CST.

AFIP housing issues-Ginnie Scroggins is going to spearhead this project. The goal is to create a database of housing available during the AFIP course as well as general information including general housing information, descriptions, locations and ratings by residents. General information, including safety issues, etc. will be included in this database
Chapter Development Project-Great job to last years committee who worked so hard on this booklet for newly forming chapters. Any additions or revisions will be discussed if needed at the membership committee meeting.
Introduction flyers sent out by the ACR-Adding more information
Chapter RFS leader database creation for purposes of contacting each program.
Testimonial Video-The video, which will be used at AFIP and possibly at the RSNA reception, is in the process of being edited. The idea is to limit it to 20 minutes, and promote the overall main ideas and thoughts that were expressed by those who participated in the testimonials, without being redundant in order maximize viewer interest. 30 residents from 15 states participated in the project, and Dan Entrikin continues to work with the editing crew on this project. Potential for travel reimbursement to view the final copy was discussed and will be brought up to the ACR administration. Ideas for additional features of the video, including pictures from the meeting and the Capitol Hill visits were also discussed.

(Dan Entrikin will report back to the EC, and the minutes will be available for review.)

Publicizing AMCLC meeting
Sanjay, at the AUR meeting in Montreal, discussed with the A3CR2 section the possibility of using the members as a contact for getting the AMCLC powerpoint to each program for use and promotion of the ACR in hopes of fostering involvement and interest with the RFS. This method of communicating with residents will be particularly valuable as it enables the RFS to reach residents at their home programs, even if they have never been able to attend the ACR annual meeting or affiliated meetings (eg AUR, RSNA) where material about the ACR RFS is otherwise available. Gregs Chapter Representative List may be useful as well. RFS E news will include the AMCLC PowerPoint in the topics of interest

RFS E-news
Projected date (Amy Kirby) is by the end of the month.
The topics to be included:

Self Referral making headlines (links to articles in recent publications)
PowerPoint available and Chapter Development booklets to those interested
MRI Project
Committee/Commissions available positions
Upcoming AuntMinnie discussion forum overview
AMA resolution 228
Record involvement by residents with RADPAC this year at the AMCLC, with RADPAC overview

MRI Project
Meeting included Dr Neiman who voiced concerns that current project wasn't meeting needs. Options for the projects submission discussed, with concerns for transfer of cases submitted with the current submission process and the potential for a new one. Questions raised as to proprietary rights of the cases submitted. (Will they become the property of ACR, and can they be used for other publication by the submitting author?)

Individual Updates

Sanjay
Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Imaging Policy
Working primarily with the governmental relations, and 75% devoted to policy at this time
CSC headed up by Dr Blumberg, who is interested in continuing to promote resident involvement, and in particular more radiation oncology residents. Hopefully hopes to bring more participation through the ARRO.
Sponsorship also addressed, specifically funding in regards to additional/new residents to the Annual Meeting
Greg - Commission/Committee appointments
Two people are keeping their appointments from last year
Greg has several positions available, and suggested that the appointments be assigned to the Vice Chair each year, to hopefully streamline the process.
Each appointment will be for one year, with the potential to renew if they so choose.
List will be sent to Amy Kirby to present in the E-news for those who wish to get involved.
Geoff - AMA interim meeting
Geoff plans to represent the ACR position in regards to resolution 228.
Update will be sent after the meeting in regards to the outcome and discussion regarding the bill and any other pertinent issues. The meeting is this week.

AMA Resolution 228
The resolution, brought forth by several specialty groups, misrepresents both the the perspective and intent of the ACR in regards to quality imaging and standard requirements. As the current resolution stands, the consensus of the RFS executive council is to not support the bill. The wording needs to be drastically revised, so that the AMA is not favoring these specialty groups that are bringing the resolution to the floor. Geoff will update the EC once he returns from the meeting. Other related issues raised were the need for an effective public relations campaign, promoting the need for quality standards in imaging

Long Term Projects
Work with the Council in regards to dates for the meetings so that they don't present such a conflict with oral boards, as this is likely to be a deterrent to involvement by residents in future meetings. The meeting dates are set for the next three years. CSC-RFS collaborative effort to send out letters to chapters to foster involvement and hopefully gain a focal contact person within each program Overnight coverage in the ER: survey needs to be done to address the issues. Things such as attending availability and access to back up will be addressed. RRC may in the future ask residents to submit case log to better evaluate what is being taught at each program. The requirements for MRI are a cause of concern to the smaller programs, who may not be able to fulfill the requirements due to lack of resources. A collective letter from the RFS may be beneficial to state the general consensus of the residents in regards to the issues. Increasing the number of residents as councilors was raised, and how to facilitate this at a state level was discussed. The residents being counted towards a state's total membership may serve as leverage, and facilitate involvement on this level.

Action Items:

Draft a letter to ACR leadership regarding AuntMinnie Discussion Forum re: our ideas and concerns
RFS E-news
Meet with Nancy Cook in regards to the RSNA Event and planning as well as the gifts for the attendees, and in regards to the website revisions (Greg Galdino)
Fill commission and committee appointments
Continue working on the MRI project in regards to platform and submission processes. The next step will be building the database.