May 2009
From Your President:
My name is Blanca Crespo and I have taken up the challenge to preside over the Hillsborough County Medical Association Alliance (HCMA Alliance) for the 2009-2010 year period. I am married to Dr. Israel Crespo, a private practice gastroenterologist in Tampa since 1995. We have two children, Jose and Marko ages 22 and 19, respectively. Many of you understandably do not know me yet, I became a member of the AMA Alliance just over 15 months ago but since my first meeting I have been very excited with the potential and promise of this organization. When I was first approached about assuming a leadership role in this organization I felt a little overwhelmed but I decided this was a challenge worth taking.
As you know this year and the coming years are going to be full of changes in the healthcare arena. More than ever we need to stay together and carry on the agenda of the AMA. And for that purpose I would like to personally invite all of the physician’s spouses to become members of the Alliance and help me and the other members of the Alliance to carry on these goals.
The rewards of these efforts to achieve our goals can be enormous. Health prevention and health education will be two of the important issues that we will continue to pursue. These could be tools to reduce the cost of the non-insure population, patients that our spouses see on daily basis in the emergency room and other settings. Seeing the faces of the children, the elderly, and the less fortunate from our community benefit from our efforts, I assure you, will be our most dear reward.
Other efforts will be continue and hopefully enhance, such as opening our homes to new physicians coming to the area and hosting the Doctor’s Day Celebration to show our appreciation for their dedication. We will also continue to be a force and a voice for advocacy on legislation change as we did with the passing the Amendment toward Caps on Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit Awards few years ago.
We have big hopes and plans for the Alliance and we hope to have you there with us as we go forward in this endeavor. Let’s get involved in the changing face of HCMA Alliance, so we do not become spectators of change but the makers of change.
Thank you and God Bless.
Blanca Crespo, MPH
President, HCMA Alliance
Fundraising/Community Outreach: During Fall 2009, we will have our first Fundraising of the year; benefits will go to Catholic Charities Health Care Mobile, which provides healthcare for the uninsured and immigrants of Hillsborough County. Date/Time/Place: TBA.
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.
Go Red for Women: On February 5, 2010 we will have our lunch/lecture in which the goal will be to increase awareness about heart disease in women. Do not forget to Wear RED! Place and Time: TBA
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.
Legislative Update: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed to help the uninsured. You can read more at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/legislation-advocacy/current-topics-advocacy/hr1-stimulus-summary.shtml
Welcome, New Members!!! Ana Marie Cabán, Christine Curran, Gloria Grisales, Laura Kreitzer, Hillarie Mastandrea, Sofía Maya, Marie Meléndez, Nilda Plasencia, Olivia Rodríguez.
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Installation on May 15, 2009 was also an opportunity to recruit new members for the Alliance. Those who register have the opportunity to get their name on a raffle for a bottle of wine. Winner!! Gloria Grisales. |
Installation of the Officers for HCMAA 2009-2010 |
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President, Blanca Crespo and FMAA First Vice President, Liza Battaglia |
Immediate Past Co-President, Pamela Arain. |
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After Installation, New President, Blanca Crespo gave a Power Point Presentation on the Goals and Activities for Fiscal Year 2009-2010. |
New Member, Gloria Grisales and Mura Cousins |
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After business meeting, members and new members enjoyed Wine Tasting Sponsor by Carol Prokap, Wine Consultant for PRP Wine International |
Nancy Stevens, Mura Cousins and Marta Sainz de la Peña. |
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Gloria Grisales and Alicia Barrazueta |