Report from the CMS Board of Directors - July 30, 2021
Dear Colleague: 

I was honored to serve as board chair of today’s CMS Board of Directors meeting at the request of CMS President Sami Diab, MD, as the board continued strong work on behalf of Colorado physicians. 

Our top priority as a society is to ensure every member’s voice is heard. As you know, the Colorado Medical Society represents more than 7,000 physicians and medical students across the state, representing physicians at all stages of their careers, all specialties, practice types, ages, ethnic and gender identities, and personal perspectives. We want to be sure all members can fully engage in CMS and the work that we do to improve the profession. 

To achieve this, we contracted with the Nova Collective to examine current processes of member engagement and recommend strategies to ensure ALL physicians feel welcome and professionally represented. At today’s meeting, the Nova Collective discussed a thorough set of recommendations, and will work with us to begin enacting them immediately. 

The board heard a legislative update from Kim Warner, MD, chair of the Council on Legislation, and Patrick Pevoto, MD, chair of the nonpartisan Colorado Medical Society Political Action Committee (COMPAC). For 2022, our COMPAC fund is short $34,000. To continue the vital advocacy work that benefits all of us, the COMPAC Board of Directors challenges all physicians and friends of medicine to donate to COMPAC and the Small Donor Committee today. Once you donate, please encourage a colleague to give and you’ll be entered into a raffle for two great prizes. This work is critical; we need your participation. 

Additionally, we: 

  • Voted in support of the position of the American Medical Association to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers. 
  • Approved the appointment of Omar Mubarak, MD, MBA, managing physician of Vascular Institute of the Rockies, to serve as chair for the newly formed Independent Physician Task Force. 
  • Approved the appointment of Alwin Steinmann, MD, FACP, chief of academic medicine and DIO of Saint Joseph Hospital, to serve as chair for the newly formed Employed Physician Task Force. 
  • Heard an update from CMS CEO Bryan Campbell, FAAMSE, and congratulated him on his recent inauguration as president of the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE). 
  • Heard a report on the American Medical Association from CMS AMA Delegation Chair Lee Morgan, MD. 
  • Welcomed new board members Rachelle Klammer, MD (District VI), and Jimmy Rager (Medical Student Component), and heard reports from all board members about work happening in their region. 
  • Welcomed CMS’s new Director of Finance Marna Steuart, CPA, CFE. 
  • Approved the latest financial statements. 

I invite you to join me at the 151st Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting on Sept. 17. Keeping in mind changing public health recommendations, we are planning an in-person gathering at Wings Over the Rockies in Denver, as well as an interactive virtual experience. Registration opens very soon. 

Thank you for your commitment to your patients and our profession. I look forward to our continued work together. 

Mark B. Johnson, MD, MPH 
Colorado Medical Society President-elect