2015 October
William Sturrock MD

If you have news or know of a MAFP Member who is making news - Please contact the MAFP office using the email link below. 
 

Contact MAFP 

Two new articles are available in the series "From the President's Pen" by MAFP President, William (Bill) Sturrock MD. 

These are intended for the lay audience and are suitable for printing and distributing to your patients.

(Dr. Sturrock is  frequently interviewed on WABI TV)
PEDIATRIC INTEGRATED CARE COLLABORATIVE (PICC)  - Application deadline extended to November 3rd
"Strengthening the Role of Primary Care in an Integrated System Serving Families with Young Children Experiencing Trauma or Chronic Stress"

More information about the Collaborative and Application - HERE

 
American Academy of Family Physicians adopts new policy that supports ending non-medical vaccination exemptions
the Governor's Summit on human trafficking -

This is not "just another" conference.
 
The goal of the Governor's Summit on Human Trafficking is to define a roadmap with the intent to develop a comprehensive state-wide response to combat human trafficking in Maine.The summit will:
  • Educate attendees on the exploitation of children and women
  • Identify labor trafficking trends in Maine
  • Offer sessions focusing on different state regions
  • Develop best practices around reporting policies and procedures
  • Define a roadmap with the intent to develop a comprehensive state-wide response to combat human trafficking in Maine
  • Encourage state and region wide networking, collaboration, and team building
  • Build capacity for victim services and programs through a comprehensive, community-driven response
THIS is YOUR call to action against injustice and exploitation.


On October 5th, the American Academy of Family Physicians released a new policy that supports ending non-medical vaccination exemptions. The policy is reprinted below.

Immunization Exemptions
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) supports immunization of infants, children, adolescents, and adults as defined by recommendations set forth in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and approved by the AAFP. With the exception of policies which allow for refusal due to a documented allergy or medical contraindication, the AAFP does not support immunization exemption policies.

AAFP joins the American Medical Association (AMA), which adopted a similar policy at its annual meeting in June.

Related Links
(Source:Immunization Action Coalition link HERE to this issue of Weekly Immunization News)

Resources to help your patients
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Please join in Congratulating Jessica Bloom-Foster MD, FAAFP
Maine Legislature Recognizes Maine Family Physician Connie Adler MD

 
AAFP Concussion Awareness Webinars Now Available On-Line-


The AAFP and the National Football League (NFL) Foundation have partnered to support a multi-pronged educational initiative. One facet of the initiative is a series of webinars on the dangers of concussions and other head injuries.

READ MORE

You can read more about the partnership and additional concussion safety resources in the July 8th Leader Voices Blog posted on AAFP.org.

Contact RaeLynn Gochnauer by email or at ext. 4475 with questions.
 
Dr. Jessica Bloom-Foster of Bangor recently attained the Degree of Fellow of the
AAFP. 

     The Degree of Fellow was established in 1971 by the Congress of Delegates as an avenue for special recognition of those members of the AAFP who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues, as well as in their communities, by their service to Family Medicine, the advancement o
f health care to the American people and by their professional development through medical education and research.
     As a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Bloom-Foster joins a group of distinguished individuals that are entitled to all the privileges, ceremony and honor bestowed by this degree. 
 
  
 
     During the final day of the legislative session, the 127th Maine Legislature recognized Connie Adler, M.D. who is retiring from Franklin Memorial Hospital after more than twenty years of service to the Frankly County community.
     Together with Tom Weigle, M.D. and Jay Naliboff, M.D., she joined what became Pine Tree Women's Care and subsequently Franklin Health Women's Care, where she has been the lead physician since 1999.  
Connie also has served on the Boards of Directors of Franklin Memorial Hospital and of the Maine Health Access Foundation.      She also has served as President of the Family Planning Association of Maine.  She is a recipient of MMA's Mary Cushman, M.D. Award recognizing her international efforts as a medical volunteer.
     Dr. Adler is a long-term member of Maine Academy of Family Physicians and we congratulate her on the occasion of her retirement and thank her for the countless hours of service to her patients and the citizens of Maine.  She will be greatly missed by her patients and professional colleagues.

 
 
Opportunities to Join the Discussion:


Knowledge, Experiences and Intentions to Use Dermoscopy among Family Physicians in the U.S.

Please help by completing this brief (10 minutes or less) to estimate the prevalence and use of dermoscopy among family physicians in the U.S.   There is convincing evidence from other countries that use of dermoscopy can increase primary care physicians' ability to diagnose skin cancers.  However, little is known about its use among U.S. primary care physicians.  This study directly addresses this gap in knowledge.
 
The survey hopes to examine knowledge, attitudes and use of dermoscopy (also known as dermatoscopy and epiluminescence microscopy) among U.S. family physicians. It is hoped that the findings will ultimately lead to improved diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with melanoma and other skin cancers.

6 for ME: Maine Takes 6 Steps to Improve Breastfeeding Infant Practices Survey


The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention invites you to participate in the 6 for ME: Maine Takes 6 Steps to Improve BreastfeedingInfant Practices Survey. The purpose of this anonymous and confidential survey is to learn more about infant feeding knowledge, beliefs and practices in Maine.
 
As a thank you for completing the survey you will be eligible to enter a drawing for free admission to the next Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics annual conference (May 2016). Instructions for entering the drawing can be found in the Survey Introduction.
 
The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Your feedback is important to us!

2016 MAFP Family Medicine Update
April 6-8, 2016 - location announced -
Ramada Inn & Conference Center, Lewiston