Friday, November 13, 2009

Thank You For Your Support at the White Coat Rally!

Thank you the countless advocates who penned letters, wrote emails, and called on our state legislators and media outlets to fight the proposed 3% physician tax. On October 20, MSMS hosted a White Coat Rally in Lansing consisting of close to 1000 people. The Kent County contingent of 80 was comprised of physicians, alliance members, physician assistants, residents, medical students, and supporters. Thank you for rescheduling patients, forgoing potential revenue, and sacrificing time out of your busy schedule to participate! Even if you did not take these tangible measures, your membership in the state and county medical societies helps send a cohesive message.




Thank you for renewing your membership. Our physician community was successful in presenting a message en masse to preserve patient access to care in Michigan. At the most basic level we entered this profession to help people. It is frustrating to see the discriminatory, band-aid approach by which our state legislators are attempting to fund the budget. As we reflect on the changing climate of health care, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve patients--both in the local, clinical sense, as well as in the organized, collective sense.


-Kent County Medical Society Board of Directors



Thursday, November 12, 2009

Congratulations Dr. Peterson

The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) announced today that 13 physicians, a medical group manager and a member of the MSMS Alliance are being recognized by their peers with MSMS Community Service Awards for their various volunteer efforts. 

Categories for nomination include volunteer medical service, overseas missionary work and volunteer health education projects, among other community service efforts.  Awardees were nominated by their peers on the county level.

Kent County Medical Society


Thomas H. Peterson, MD, a Kent County pediatrician, received an MSMS Community Service Award for his work to improving and promoting healthy lifestyles.  He is chair and founder of Tobacco Free Partners.  Doctor Peterson was the president of Kent County Medical Society in 2008 and was the recipient of the National Community Activist Award from the American Legacy Foundation in the same year.  He now serves as medical director for Helen Devos Children’s Hospital.  In this role, he leads initiatives in quality improvement, patient safety, childhood obesity, health promotion and tobacco control.  He also works as medical director for Healthier Communities at Spectrum Health.

Welcome New Members!