Dear Colleague,
I invite you to take part in the 2009 North Carolina Medical Society Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 30-November 1 at the Raleigh Marriott City Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is the first time in nearly 50 years that the meeting has been held in our state’s capital, which is also home to the NCMS headquarters. The staff of the Medical Society look forward to hosting you in their own wonderful city.
This year’s meeting may also stand out in your mind for another reason: it happens to fall during Halloween weekend. The Medical Society, therefore, has adopted a decidedly eerie theme for this meeting, Succeeding in Frightening Times. All of the policy discussions and continuing medical education sessions, such as the “Medical Staff BOOt Camp” and “Dispelling the Horror of HIT,” are dedicated to helping physicians and their patients thrive in what can be a scary period within health care. But the meeting is also fully embracing the fun of Halloween, with several family friendly events planned, including trick-or-treating and a “kids’ night out.” We encourage you to bring your entire family and to enjoy the amenities that Raleigh has to offer.
The meeting officially kicks off with a Halloween-themed “Wicked Welcome Reception” on Friday, October 30th. Following Saturday’s House of Delegates and reference committee sessions, the NCMSPAC will host a forum on health system reform. United States Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan have been invited to continue a dialogue with the medical profession about both the long- and short-term impact of health system reform efforts. This will be a “can’t miss” session for anyone concerned about the effect of reform legislation on their practice and patients. All attendees are then invited to the President’s Inauguration and Reception in honor of Douglas D. Sheets, MD, who will be inducted as the Society’s 156th President that evening.
All of the details you need to participate in this year’s meeting can be accessed online at www.ncmedsoc.org/annualmeeting. I encourage you to face these frightening times head on, armed with the skills you need and the health policy in place to affect serious change, all of which can be pursued during the 2009 NCMS Annual Meeting weekend. I look forward to seeing you there.
Albert J. Osbahr, MD
President, North Carolina Medical Society
