From the March 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Funding for research and graduate medical education is threatened. Administrative costs are rising. Migration to EHR platforms has been difficult and uneven. Uncertain payment reforms make it difficult to plan. Until recently, changes in the ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification Program have been the focal point of member dissatisfaction. Modifications announced the week of February 2 will help us rebalance the conversation with ABIM. Lastly, there is increasing concern that patient-physician shared decision-making may be subjugated to third party overrule.

Our members are very committed to their patients, but often find they can’t provide the level of care they’d prefer due to the environment they find themselves working in. Although the uncertainty level is high, I’m confident we’ll get through this.


HCBN: As president, what has been your platform focus for the organization?
PO: I have had a few. The first was to establish a culture of ideas and a supportive environment where issues can be discussed freely and debated openly. I’ve also tried to create a seamless leadership transition to keep us focused on the mission as dictated by the Board of Trustees.

A great portion of my time has focused on member value particularly in relation to the younger generation. This includes improving mentoring programs and advocating for research funding and educational opportunities.

No question that the Maintenance of Certification issues have occupied a large proportion of my time. I have also worked hard to maintain and enhance our relationships with other professional societies. Modernizing guidelines and re-organizing the processes for internal document production are other areas in which I have spent time. I have also maintained my clinical practice and research efforts over this past year and feel it has helped me to represent the interests of the membership in very real terms, including when advocating at the federal or state level.

HCBN: Is there any big news in the last 12 months either within the organization or within cardiology that you are particularly excited about?
PO: I was pleased to hear the President mention the release of funding for precision medicine during his SOTU address. On behalf of the ACC, I participated in a roundtable discussion in July 2014 with members of Congress and other members of the biomedical community, focused on obstacles to the delivery of precision medicine in the 21st century and how they could be overcome.

March 2015 Magazine

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