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Thank You!
FOGS and the Florida Section ACOG recognize their corporate supporters
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Liability Issues Report
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On Call Medical Coats
FOGS has teamed up with On Call Medical Coats to offer our members quality embroidered labcoats
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FOGS Endorsed Malpractice Carrier offering a 5% discount to FOGS members
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Lubell & Rosen
FOGS Endorsed
Pre-Paid Legal Defense
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Your practice could receive a dividend of up to 24.8% of your workers compensation premium.
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Change Is Good
Gary W. DeVane, M.D.
Serving as president of FOGS this past year has been a real pleasure. I truly appreciate the support and kindness shown to me by the Executive Committee and our excellent management staff. I congratulate Spurgeon McWilliams on his Presidency and pledge to help him in any way possible.
This past year has been filled with serious and unpredictable tragedies for our nation. For FOGS, many changes have occurred which have only improved our organization. The hiring of our new management team was the key change that has allowed us to greatly improve our organization. Our Executive Director, Mr. Chris Seymour of Compass Management, has provided needed organizational and fiscal skills. He has established our own web page (www.flobgyn.org), updated our computer files, streamlined our business procedures, and improved interactions with our friends in the pharmaceutical industry.
We also have a new management company for our OB/GYN PAC, actually a committee of continuous existence. Campaign Financial Management (CFM), under the direction of Diane L. Doll and K. Lane McCormick, has reorganized our accounts and we are now in compliance with state laws. The PAC committee now meets quarterly and should be more responsive to address legislative needs and in a better position to support our friends in the legislature.
I had hoped to better integrate regional state OB/GYN societies, as well as our sub-specialty societies, into FOGS by providing an umbrella of resources including the PAC, our lobby efforts, clerical and management staff. This has been essentially unsuccessful; but future efforts should be made to better bring us together. This may be especially important regarding the ongoing liability crisis. FOGS has taken a proactive stance with the establishment of a Tort reform task force. Dr. Bob Yelverton has agreed to chair this broad-based organization. Its first meeting was held at our highly successful annual meeting at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. The task force was one of the key ideas developed during our strategic planning workshop. We identified the need to involve more members in our society to address timely issues. It was clear to all of us that the most pressing issue currently is Tort reform. We will continue with our efforts to establish a strategic plan over the next several years.
I wish to thank Karen Harris for her continued service as our representative to Florida Department of Health's Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) team, FOGS Legislative Committee and serving on many FMA committees as well as being an officer of the sub-specialty section. She is a special asset to our society. As always, our governmental consultant, Amy Young and her law firm have monitored the Florida legislature regarding issues that might affect our specialty. She has successfully protected our interest during a very difficult time with reapportionment on everyone's mind. She will also serve on the Tort Reform Task Force and has recently been named as one of the outstanding female lobbyists.
Lastly, I couldn't think of a better leader for FOGS than Spurgeon McWilliams, our current President. He is located in Tallahassee and is well connected with the politics of the Capital. He has served on many task force committees, panels and agencies while maintaining an active OB/GYN practice. We are fortunate to have his experience and wisdom at the helm.
Finally, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this fine organization. I wish you all only the best.