In this quarter's president's letter, NCMS President Claire Murphy, MD, gives a year in review and discusses the many accomplishments NCMS was able to make. She takes a look into the future as she announces the 2021 Virtual Education Series. Read more here.

As NCMS continues into 2021, opportunities for our members to connect and be plugged into new resources remains a top priority. On behalf of NCMS, the education committee is pleased to announce the 2021 NCMS Virtual Education series beginning in March 2021. Starting March 18th, every third Thursday of each month, NCMS will virtually host a 60-90 minute education event, bringing new resources and scope on medicine. Each event will have have the opportunity for CME credit. The final virtual education series event will take place December 16th, 2021.

Topics are vastly diverse, and include a session on vaping & THC use, treating LGBTQR patients, nutrition, current trends for women in medicine and MORE.

Speakers will be joining NCMS members from all over the country, including Carl Streed, MD from Boston University School of Medicine and Zhaoping Li, MD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine.

Registration will open in February for our first education event on March 18th, and announcements of all topics in the 2021 Education Series will be released to our members in our weekly emails. Be sure to check out our events page on our website for more information and to see what we have currently have scheduled. This will continue to be updated with speakers, links to register, etc.

Paige Brophy is excited about everything NCMS was able to accomplish in 2020 and looks forward to the anticipated growth of the society in 2021. She addresses the launch of the new podcast, stethoSCOPE, while divulging exciting details of other virtual ways members can get involved in 2021. Read the executive report here.

2021 Annual Meeting: What to expect when attending this virtual event

Have you heard of Zoom fatigue? Well, if you haven't heard of the "term" we are sure that you have felt it. Between connecting with patients, colleagues, family and friends via Zoom, a virtual event that requires you to get on Zoom may not sound like the most appealing thing in the world. We know that, and that is why our virtual event will be different. Although you will have to connect via Zoom, the level of connection you feel will jump through the computer screen in so many ways. You will interact with our keynote speaker Dr. Sylk Sotto, find ways to share what you are most excited for in 2021 while enjoying our virtual catering service with our partner restaurant, the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant. Your registration for the 2021 Annual meeting comes with a margarita, chips and salsa and a meal from the Rio valid for pickup to enjoy at our virtual table. To learn more about all the surprises in our 2021 Annual Meeting and to register, please click here.

Reminder to fill out COVID-19 Vaccine survey for independent physicians

NCMS is working on making sure we have the best, most up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and the disbursement of it for our independent physicians. Weld and Larimer County released a survey December 17th for all independent physicians to fill out so they can properly gather information for the disbursement of the vaccine. During the week of December 28th both Larimer and Weld County Health Department announced that they are currently compiling survey results to begin distribution of the vaccine. They are working with partners such as UCHealth, SCL Health and Banner. Those that have filled out the survey should expect to hear from the Weld & Larimer County Health Department the week of January 4th to start the process of scheduling the vaccine. If you have not filled out the survey yet, you can do so here. If you have specific questions, please email paige@nocomedsoc.org.

The Colorado Medical Society launched a COVID-19 vaccine awareness campaign, #CMSWhatsYourWhy. This webpage houses vaccine information and encourages physicians to share their "why" for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. NCMS President-elect Ted Norman, MD was excited to share his "why" for getting the COVID-19 vaccine, community immunity. Learn more here and share your "why" today!

The Colorado Medical Society has teamed up with ActionPPE.org to give Colorado physicians access to medical-grade PPE supplies. All items are already in a warehouse in the United States, and orders ship quickly and directly to your office. View product details and certificates for KN95 or disposable tri-fold masks, disposable gowns, face shields, nitrile gloves and hand sanitizer at actionppe.org/3/cms/, place your order, and share this link with your colleagues. Use discount code cms-save5 for 5 percent off all orders through the link above.

January book club: Join us in reading and discussing The Red Garden

We've all said it, there are many things we are ready to move on from as we begin 2021, BUT, the Physicians' Book Club is not one of them. Join your NoCO physician colleagues for a virtual discussion on a great read to ring in the new year, The Red Garden, a novel by Alice Hoffman.

This book club meeting will be moderated by Sean Pauzauskie, MD to discuss the luminous and haunting world of Blackwell, Massachusetts, capturing the unexpected turns in its history and in our own lives. In exquisite prose, Hoffman offers a transforming glimpse of small-town America, presenting us with some three hundred years of passion, dark secrets, loyalty, and redemption.

Have you signed up to receive book club emails? Submit your email here.

Questions? Contact paige@nocomedsoc.org.

Join us in our virtual blood drive with our partners Vitalant and UCHealth. The need for blood donation is more important now than it ever has been. NCMS is excited to host this virtual event in cooperation with our 2021 Annual Meeting as a "community spirit week". To learn more and sign up, please visit our website.

Are you hoping to be a part of driving the NCMS mission? NCMS is looking for new Board of Directors members and inaugural Champion Group members.

A champion group is a committee made up of NCMS Board members and members who focus on governing a specific passion point in the NCMS strategic plan, working directly with NCMS staff. This is a great place to begin your involvement, offering flexibility in your schedule. To learn more and to begin your experience, click here.

Now is the time to lean in with NCMS as we grow together and encourage a healthier medical profession in Weld and Larimer counties. The board meets seven times per year and sets the course for the society through short-term projects and long-term goals. All input is needed and welcome from physician members in a variety of practice settings. Attend a board meeting to see how we function or ask a current board member about his or her experience. Paige, our executive director can help set this up. Please contact her at paige@nocomedsoc.org. Are you ready to start the process now? Complete this form to submit your name for consideration and why you want to volunteer, then email your CV to paige@nocomedsoc.org.

We welcome our new members to NCMS, the largest component chapter of the Colorado Medical Society. Your membership connects you to your colleagues and a host of benefits through NCMS and CMS. Go to www.nocomedsoc.org or www.cms.org to learn more. Encourage a non-member colleague to join at members.cms.org/join.

Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities here or by contacting nocomedsoc@gmail.com.

Northern Colorado Medical Society | www.nocomedsoc.org