In this quarter's president's letter, NCMS President Claire Murphy, MD, gives an update on the latest projects NCMS has been advancing on behalf of physician members, despite of and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCMS Board of Directors also has big plans for the future, including pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion training at the end of the month, more member engagement events, and more. Read more here.

Do you want to lead NCMS through the future rather than just participate? We want you to engage, and now is your chance! Apply to be a member of the NCMS Board of Directors. Do not just travel to new heights with us, launch us there! 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 six 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 nocomedsoc@gmail.com.

Paige Brophy, new NCMS executive director, hit the ground running mid-September to learn NCMS priorities and goals, begin meeting with NCMS leaders, and organize a board meeting and the 2020 Legislative Night. She is eager to work with physicians in northern Colorado to positively impact health care in our region. Read her first executive report here.

NCMS’s 2020 Legislative Night held on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 6-8 p.m. will not be one to remember just because it was the NCMS’s first virtual Legislative Night event, it will be remembered because important conversations were had that will continue to protect physicians not only in Weld and Larimer counties but in the state of Colorado. This report gives you top five observations from our moderator, top takeaways from this year's topics, and ways to be engaged in advocacy. Read the Legislative Night report here.

Physicians have a role in promoting voting to patients and staff to increase representation among all voter groups -- particularly those who are traditionally underrepresented. VoteHealth2020 presents a toolkit for practices and providers that includes printable flyers, stickers and general information on voting in Colorado. Access it here. Don't forget to register and vote as well; doctors historically vote less than the general population and other professionals.

Ballots in Colorado mailed to registered voters starting last week. View endorsements from the Colorado Medical Political Action Committee (COMPAC) here. Northern Colorado physicians interviewed and recommended endorsements for all northern Colorado candidates. NCMS encourages you to contribute to COMPAC -- the nonpartisan political action committee of CMS -- and the Small Donor Committee -- which works to elect candidates who support medicine’s efforts to preserve Colorado’s stable tort environment -- at cms.org/contribute.

Banner Health has put out a call for submissions of writings, poems and artwork for the first edition of NOCO Front Lines. This opportunity is open to anyone who works in Banner NOCO facilities. Deadline: Nov. 1. Send questions or submissions to suzanne.simmons@bannerhealth.com.

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.

October book club: Join us in reading and discussing A Man Called Ove

NCMS launched a Physicians' Book Club this summer to engage northern Colorado physicians in a sphere outside of medicine, work toward greater wellness and build community. Start reading today and join us for our next virtual discussion on Monday, Oct. 26, 7-8 p.m., during which NCMS President-elect Ted Norman, MD, will lead us in dialogue about the book A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. "With over two million copies sold, Fredrik Backman’s novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review). Look for connection information in your email or sign up to receive notices about upcoming book clubs through this Google form. Questions? Contact paige@nocomedsoc.org.

Join health care providers from across Colorado to explore the convergence of substance use disorder and the COVID-19 pandemic. Local and national experts will discuss issues related to racial inequality in health care, the methamphetamine and fentanyl epidemics, reproductive health considerations for women with substance use disorder, and the impacts of COVID-19 on substance use disorder, including self-care for frontline workers. This activity is certified for up to 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Please register for this Zoom webinar here. For more information, please contact info@corxconsortium.org.

The Colorado Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Medical Symposium: Health Impacts of Oil and Gas Development in Colorado will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MST virtually. This CME event will include 14 presentations on a wide variety of topics related to oil and gas operations and their impact on health. Find more information and the accreditation statement here. Register here.

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