November 26th, 2010
A Message from the ASSH President
One Question
Call for Applications for US Bone and Joint Decade Grant Workshop Series
Administration Hosts Meeting with Physicians to Discuss Delivery Reforms - From AMA
A Message from the ASSH President
This week, Dr. Nagle invited AFSH President, Frederick Fakharzadeh, MD, to give an update on the Foundation. Dr. Fakharzadeh would like to thank Foundation donors for their plentiful contributions:
As we are all enjoying Thanksgiving celebrations this week, it is an especially appropriate time to thank all the generous supporters of the AFSH. Over the past several years, the AFSH has made tremendous progress, funding a wide variety of basic science and clinical research projects, as well as education and outreach programs. In 2010, the AFSH provided approximately $212,500 in funding for clinical and basic science research projects – an outstanding year. AFSH seed grants totaling approximately $390,000 that were awarded in the years 2007-2009 have led to additional funding of nearly $7.3 million from other sources, which is an incredible return.
Futhermore, special awards, such as the Andrew J. Weiland, MD and J. Leonard Goldner, MD awards foster the continuing development of researchers. Lectureships, such as the Robert E. Carroll Founders’ Lecture, and educational programs, such as the Adrian E. Flatt Residents and Fellows Conference and Sterling Bunnell Traveling Fellowship, are being endowed. Patient education is supported by grants to the ASSH website. Grants to fellows with support from the A. Lee Gordon Fund enable outreach to provide hand surgery in underserved parts of the world. And there are many other additional special awards, grants, and scholarships that have been given by the AFSH.
None of these programs would be possible without the very substantial support given to the AFSH by you, the members of the ASSH. The Foundation has been extremely fortunate to have consistent donor participation of 20-25% of the ASSH membership, a figure that compares very favorably against benchmarks for similar organizations. The response to the recently completed Future in Hand Capital Campaign was overwhelming; pledges far exceeded the initial target. Members have rallied to give to special endowed funds, getting them funded remarkably quickly.
And so it is with deep gratitude that on behalf of the AFSH, I would like to thank you all for your incredible support. Your philanthropy is the key to the extraordinary success of the Foundation. As we enter this holiday season, I hope that we can count on your continued backing to sustain these endeavors. If you would like to learn more about the AFSH, or to make a contribution, you can visit the AFSH website. Thank you and best wishes to you and your families for a very happy, healthy holiday!
Frederick F. Fakharzadeh, MD
President, AFSH
One Question
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Call for Applications for US Bone and Joint Decade Grant Workshop Series
Applications are due January 15, 2011.
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand is offering to sponsor up to two ASSH members to attend the 2011 US Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) Young Investigators Initiative and Workshop Program. This program is designed to provide early-career clinical investigators an opportunity to work with experienced researchers in our field and to assist them in securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career. This workshop series is open to promising junior faculty, senior fellows or post-doctoral researchers who wish to secure funding for hypothesis driven research. It is also open to senior fellows that are doing research and have a faculty appointment in place or confirmed.
Any ASSH active or candidate member may apply. Applications should be sent directly to the USBJD, and applicants should clearly state on their paperwork that they are an ASSH member. If selected, the Hand Society will reimburse for travel and the registration fee. For more information please visit the US Bone and Joint Decade website.
Administration Hosts Meeting with Physicians to Discuss Delivery Reforms - From AMA
Leaders of independent practice associations (IPAs), group practices and state medical and national specialty societies offered a variety of ideas and suggestions to the White House and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during a November 15 meeting about the development of innovative delivery reforms. These groups were invited by the administration to discuss reforms such as bundled payments, medical homes and accountable care organizations (ACOs). AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD and AMA Board of Trustees Chair Ardis D. Hoven, MD participated in the meeting on behalf of the AMA.
The meeting was timely since CMS is drafting a regulatory proposal on the shared savings/ACO program authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The AMA expects it to be released by the end of the year or in early 2011. CMS is also preparing its priorities for the newly launched Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) which will identify and support a variety of new innovative delivery reforms. Learn more.