LEXINGTON MEDICAL SOCIETY
October 2021 e-Newsletter

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Lexington, KY 40503
PH: (859) 278-0569 FAX: (859) 277-3919
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
James Borders, MD
LMS President 2021
Questions about Pandemic Mandates
James Borders, MD
Governor Beshear believes in mandating facemasks for indoor public settings in response to current COVID numbers. Early into the pandemic, faced with a public health crisis for which there was no effective medical therapy or prevention, he imposed restrictions on businesses and personal behaviors to which American society was unaccustomed. All of this was in attempt to “flatten the curve” of rising cases to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by a flood of COVID patients. At the time, vaccines were unavailable, and the prospect of having an effective and safe one seemed to be a distant dream.   
 
For the better part of a year, effective and safe COVID vaccination has been available. Despite the availability of several excellent ones and recent full authorization of Pfizer’s version, a surprising percentage of Americans are declining to take them.  Influenza vaccination is commonly mandated for healthcare settings with the potential of causing rare but severe reactions including Guillain-Barre syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or anaphylaxis, but there seems to be no public outcry against requiring it. What is so different about the COVID-19 vaccines?
 
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Join Us Via Zoom for the
LMS/KMA 10th District Meeting
2021 KMA Annual Meeting Review
By Emily Schott, KMA, Director of Communications
The 2021 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Medical Association, “Better Together” Transforming the Landscape of Care,” emphasized the importance of physicians working together, even while apart.
 
The virtual meeting, held throughout the month of August, gave members the opportunity to participate in events from the comfort and safety of their home communities, while continuing to care for patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 250 physicians participated in education sessions, elections, and the Association’s first virtual House of Delegates meeting, which determines KMA policy.
 
Throughout the month, attendees heard from a dynamic array of speakers through virtual education sessions, including:
 
Mark Burns, M.D., Infectious Disease Specialist, Assistant Professor, UofL Health, who discussed Kentucky’s current COVID-19 status and vaccine acceptance rate. This session was moderated by KMA Budget Committee Chair and former Kentucky Department for Public Health Infectious Disease Branch Manager David Bensema, M.D., MBA, FACP.
 
Mickey Trockel, M.D., PhD, Stanford WellMD Program, who discussed Stanford’s approach to physician well-being, including development of foundational programs, culture transformation, rapid iterative experimentation, and sustainability. This included identification of drivers of burnout or professional fulfillment and how to develop, evaluate, and apply innovative interventions to improve them.
  
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Mental Health Resiliency - Tips for UK Medical Students
Sandra Hough, Ph.D & Steven Smith, Ph.D.
The Woodland Group
Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and to bounce back from difficult life events. Research has shown that while some people are naturally more resilient than others, resilience can be learned and practiced. Increasing our resilience acts as a buffer during challenging times, enabling us to cope with stress more effectively.
 
Whether you're going through a tough time now or you want to be prepared for the next one, here are 10 strategies you can utilize to foster greater resilience.
 
1) Develop a strong social network. Isolation is not your friend because we are wired for social connection. It’s very important to nurture and develop connections with others. Those social bonds provide a source of support, helping to protect us from slipping into anxiety or depression during challenging times. Accepting help and support from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens resilience.
 
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