Old north state news [fourth quarter 1993]

              Old North State News
1887
1993
President's Letter
The 98th Annual Convention and
Scientific Assembly of the National
Medical Association (NMA) was held in
San Antonio, Texas, August 7-12.
Leonard E. I^wrence, M.D. of San
Antonio, Texas was installed as the 92nd
president of the NMA, Richard O. Butcher
of El Cajon, California became the
immediate past president, and Tracy M.
Walton of Washington, D. C. is now
president-elect. The Association was
welcomed to Texas by some of Texas'
most prominent dignitaries including
Governor Ami Richards. San Antonio
Mayor Nelson W. Wolff, and Bexar
County Judge Cyndi Krier.
The 1993 Scroll of Merit honorees
were Mae C. Jemison, M.D., the first
African-American female astronaut, and
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson, the first
African-American president of the World
Council of Churches.
In addition to the Animal Convention,
the NMA Scientific Assembly is an event
thai allows the accumulation of up to 45
hours of Category 1 credit for the
Physicians Achievement Award of the
NMA and the Physicians Recognition
Award of the AMA. This Continuing
Medical Education Program is directed by
William E. Matory, M.D. of Washington,
DC.
North Carolina physicians who
presented during the scientific sessions
were: Onyc Akwari, M.D., co-director of
the NMA pre convention seminar on
cinki,, itpic surgery. Dr. Akwari presented
laparoscopic Sisscn 1 iindoplicalionand
moderated the laparoscopic Symposium.
James Douglas, M.D., of Durham
presented Thoracoscope Applications.
j^ln Due Time
The time has come! Time for all
members, active and inactive, to renew
their membership with Old North Slate
Medical Society. Those of you who didn't
seal your relationship with a '93 dues
payment, take the time, now, to make
amends for 1994.
The normal dues payment consists of
annual membership dues, $100 for first-
year physicians, $150 for second-year
physicians, and $200 for physicians in
practice three or more years; and the
auxiliary dues of $25 per year for uon-
physician spouses who wish lo participate
in the Medical Society's Auxiliary
organization. The office assessment, listed
on your dues schedule, is a requested
contribution to an endowment fund that
will be used to construct a future Old
North State Medical Society headquarters
building. Funds are, at the discretion of a
35-member executive committee, also
used to purchase office equipment for the
performance of Medic.il Society duties.
The Medical South needs you, and
widi Ihe locomotive of health care policy
scheduled lo pick up steam imminently,
wc believe you need your Medical
Society. A 1994 dues statement is
included on page four. Renew your
commitment, let tis make your voice heard
among those clamoring for health care
change in North Carolina and the nation.
We should never forget that the need
for health care advocacy for minority
consumers and professionals is still
prominent. In the past. Old North State
Medical Society leaders made numerous
gains toward parity in die provision of
health care, as professionals and members
of this organization wc benefit from their
striving, and are proud of their legacy.
But, as part of the present membership, we
musl be willing to maintain the fight and
From the
Editor's Desk
At the mailing of our last newsletter,
we had just concluded the Old North State
Medical Society's Annual Meeting.  After
lhat convention, sonic of us were fortunate
enough to attend anodier stimulating
lathering of medical professionals. The
98th Annual National Medical Association
( (invention anil Scientific Assembly was
held at the Mamott River Center in San
Antonio. Texas, along the beautiful river
walk, an area thai has become one of the
nation's most popular tourist attractions.
If you haven't attended the NMA
Convention, don't continue to mistreat
yourselves by missing such iui exciting
and enlightening event. I thank Dr.
Andrew Best oil irecnville for inspiring
me to learn and understand the purpose of
the NMA, and appreciate ihe full extent of
Ihe organization. The NMA is die largest
organized medical association for
minorities; it has the potential to impact on
new rules and regulations lhat will govern
how everyone practices medicine in the
decades to come. We have direct impact
on legislation that may be presented to
Congress or the President of the United
States.
Special presentations were made at
ihe Convention by Dr. Jocelyn Elders, the
newly elected U. S. Surgeon General, and
Congressman John Conycrs of Michigan,
a veteran legislator who is introducing his
own health care bill. Conycrs feels his bill
will have a positive benefit on the health
care of minorities.  An additional
presentation was made by Dr. David
Satcher, currently the president of
Meharry Medical College and the newly
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