A Message From:
Nimisha Chheda
HCMA Alliance Co-President
April 2008
On behalf of Hillsborough County Medical Association Alliance (HCMA Alliance), I invite you to join HCMA Alliance. We are charter member of FMAA and constituent member of AMAA.
The HCMA Alliance is a service organization comprised of spouses of physicians who practice and reside in Hillsborough County and who share similar problems and concerns.
Our goals are:
- to work in partnership with the Hillsborough County Medical Association,
- to promote health education and public health projects, to identify and address health-care needs and issues in the community,
- to encourage involvement in legislative education, and
- to support health-related charitable endeavors and at the same time protect the welfare of our medical community.
This year I have served as co-president and we have exciting year going. We have offered informational luncheons, health projects, and programs for health awareness in the community. We have awarded Evelyn Shaver Health Education Scholarships, educated on the legislative processes concerning medical profession, we supported the AMA/ERF, the HCMA Foundation, and community health programs which make a difference in our community.
Screen Out!: On behalf of the AMA Alliance, I request that you sign a petition, an endorsement, and letters for the Screen Out! Campaign. This campaign is a smoke free movie movement, designed to make movie companies aware of the parental concern regarding the harmful effects of smoking imagery in films rated G, PG, and PG-13 which are aimed at children.
Please visit www.screenout.org for further information, you can even sign the petition on-line. You can look us up under “success stories” on the site. We have also received an Ariel Goldman Memorial Grant from the FMA Alliance for this project and we have won the International Week of Action award for the work we did in the month of February for this project!
My letter to Editor about this movement was in Tampa Tribune on March 31st.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/31/na-letters-to-the-editor/
Walking Challenge: Make a difference in your health...one step at a time! A team of five will count your steps while doing activities and transfer them to “mark the miles” from Chicago to Washington (705 miles). Together our steps will be stronger in the Capitol. More teams are always welcome!
Breast Cancer Awareness Project: The American Cancer Society provided breast cancer detection flyers for us to distribute. We have started this project at Sears, Roebuck & Co., at the WestShore Plaza, and will continue distributing the flyers at other locations. Our story was in the Tampa Tribune’s South and Central sections on April 5th. (see photos!)
Yoga Fund Raiser: You can help by attending “Basic Yoga,” a one hour session at “Fusion Medi Spa”, every Thursday at 6:30 pm. There is a $15 fee per session. Proceeds will benefit the Evelyn Shaver Scholarship Fund.
Legislative Update: The FMA is supporting legislation to increase the Medicaid fee schedule to equal Medicare, to pass legislation to allow balance billing to HMO’s, PPO’s, and Medicare, and to get sovereign immunity for all physicians who take ER call. Dr. Homan will sponsor bills that address mental health parity and the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome births.
Evelyn Shaver Scholarships: The HCMA Alliance awards $500 “Evelyn Shaver Scholarships” to needy students enrolled in medical, nursing, or health related schools in the Tampa Bay area; a tradition since 1947. Scholarship applications are sent to USF Medical School, USF Nursing School, Erwin Technical, and Hillsborough Community College. The scholarship is named after our first President, Evelyn Shaver, honoring her for her generous work.
Holiday Sharing Gift: We ask all the members of HCMA and Alliance to consider making donations to the AMA Foundation and the Evelyn Shaver Scholarship Fund during Holidays.
Cook book: Our members have prepared a wonderful cook book which is for sale. Proceeds raise money for HCMA Alliance Foundation.
March 30th is Doctors’ Day: Doctors’ Day was created by Eudora Brown Almond of Winder, GA in 1933. The day marks the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. On March 30, 1958, the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors' Day. In 1990, Congress and the Senate approved legislation establishing National Doctors Day. The resolution, designating March 30th as National Doctors' Day, was signed by President George Bush. The first National Doctor's Day was celebrated in 1991. We honor the hard work of our doctors and celebrate with them on March 30th every year.
Walk with Miles for Moffitt: This is the first time we have arranged a walkathon with Moffitt. A portion of the registration fee will benefit the Alliance Foundation which will increase the Evelyn Shaver Scholarship Fund. We have eight training sessions which culminate to the May 10th Miles for Moffitt Race/Walk.
Charity: This year we donated toys to The SPRING during the Holiday season.
Clubs:
Walking Club: We participate in the AMA Alliances Walking Challenge. Every Saturday, beginning March 15th, we walk with the Miles for Moffitt training sessions.
Cooking Club: Valentine’s Day was the first dessert competition! Next…the appetizer competition.
Sports Club: Is also being formed.
Useful links:
http://www.fmaalliance.org
http://www.amaalliance.org
http://www.screenout.org
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Stella Novitzky and Nimisha Chheda Screen Out! Project Nov. 2007 |
Mayor Pam Iorio and Nimisha Chheda Jan 2007 Luncheon |
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Maria Leal, Cindy and Nimisha Chheda At Yoga Class 2007 |
Jayne Jensen, Mayor Pam Iorio, Nimisha Chheda, Jill Kelley and Karen Dalton On Doctor's day 2007 |
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Marina Youkim, Michelle Poklepovic, Nimisha Chheda On Doctor's Day March 2008 |
Dr. Pallavi Patel, Nimisha Chheda |
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Dr. Balis and Dr. Rakesh Kumar |
Pran Patel, Pam Arain and Jayne Jensen |
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Dr. Craig Stevens, Jayne Jensen and Nancy Stevens |
Breast Cancer Awareness project April 2008 |
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Nimisha Chheda Screen out! Project at |
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