Patrick A. Woodard, M.D. 2021 WCMS President

I would like to extend my gratitude to Jay Morgan, who has been an exemplary leader and exactly the WCMS president this year needed. His level-headed leadership and guidance led us through a year in which, though I may have doubted a lot, I never doubted the WCMS or Dr. Morgan. Jay, thank you.

It is my pleasure and distinct honor to be president of this organization. I have been involved with organized medicine in some capacity since my very first year of medical school. And in those early years, when I was the only one, I was the de facto head of recruiting. I was also treasurer, but because we had no money, that was pretty easy. Plus, as a student, it was pretty easy to convince other students to join. There was free food, and everyone mostly had the same interests: graduate, get into a residency, and show that you were engaged along the way.

As we all spent years in our respective specialties, it became easier to focus on specialty-specific issues and playful rivalries (surgery/medicine, hospitalist/consultant, physician/APP). But what I always thought was the beauty of organized medicine like the Washoe County Medical Society, is that it has always recognized that our shared interests and goals outweigh the minute differences between us.

Nothing has demonstrated that more than the challenges of this past year. Though we began the year like any other, COVID quickly tested us in ways unlike any of us have faced. It impacted us personally, and it impacted us professionally. For some of us, it was far fewer patients and canceled procedures. For others, it was many more patients and difficult decisions. Across the spectrum, this pandemic has demonstrated the fundamental need for a trusting relationship between physicians and patients. This trust must extend beyond a hospital bedside or the exam room. This trust must persist across time and disease states. And this trust is necessary whether in person, via video, or through the media, as public servants like Dr. Fauci have demonstrated.

By Jay Morgan, M.D., 2020 WCMS President

I’m honored to have served as president of WCMS. While this has been a challenging year, we have made it “Better Together” via numerous zoom meetings, and collaborations in defeating the challenges of COVID.

While this has been a difficult year for many reasons. We were especially touched by the loss of colleagues and friends in the Alliance. We were saddened by the deaths of:

WCMS Members

Shazi Mathew, MD, PhD
Michael Morkin, MD
Stephanie Reinhardt, MD
Lex Simpson, MD
Paul Sheykhzadeh, MD

and

AWCMS Members

Ruth Anne Kelly
Jean Mullins
Eva Rosenauer
Mary Yamamoto

I’m extremely proud to be part of this medical community. We all need moral support in challenging times and we all could use a good mentor. This year has taught me many lessons, especially concerning the need for organized medicine.

The COVID pandemic also has struck us hard. I congratulate my colleagues who are treating their patients; especially those with COVID, with unwavering commitment. Staying the course is taking extraordinary stamina and dedication while striving to maintain some level of family connection and care for our loved ones.

With one of the most contentious elections in history behind us, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. took office on January 20, 2021.

With a new administration, high earners especially are left wondering - how will the Biden presidency affect me financially?

Until Biden begins enacting changes, we won’t know for sure what to expect. But based on his official campaign platform, past interviews, and projections, we can begin preparing for potential challenges to high earners.

Challenge #1: Expect Higher Taxes

Much of Biden’s tax plan focuses on raising taxes for high earners, corporations, and capital gains. It’s estimated that approximately 80 percent of tax increases would affect the top one percent of income earners.1

For those earning over $400,000 annually, Biden is projected to raise taxes including individual income, capital gains, and payroll taxes.2 Households with an adjusted gross income of $400,000 a year or less will likely see less dramatic tax changes, if any changes at all.

Under Biden’s proposed tax plan, corporate tax rates are expected to rise to 28 percent, up from the current 21 percent. Additionally, he may set a minimum tax of 15 percent on shareholders’ profits and increase the taxes on foreign earnings of companies overseas.3

Wearing a mask every time we’re in public or when someone enters our clinics, homes and other spaces is wearing thin for all of us. But now is not the time to get lazy.

For those who wear them for hours every working day, they’ve become an irritant making our faces look like we’ve been in a fight or had our faces in the strawberry jam. We are in a fight and we must continue to stay in the battle. It really is a simple action to combat a significant enemy.

We must be the role models and follow the guidelines. Encourage your colleagues, friends and family to also be role models. You can help by dispelling the five most common myths about wearing masks.

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, an individual who has made an impact on many throughout her medical journey continues to be recognized for her outstanding contributions to her profession and the community. She is the recipient of  the 2020 Extraordinary Neighbor Spotlight Award presented by Reno Public Television.

She also had been recognized in 2019 as one of the 20 Under 40 recipients and as one of the 2019 Sierra Nevada Top 20 Powerful Women.

She is the Saint Mary's Urgent Care Medical Director and treating physician, as well as the medical director for Washoe County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). She also volunteers as the Washoe County Child Abuse Resource and Education Services Assistant Medical Examiner and as community faculty for the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine providing urgent care preceptorship for medical students and family medicine residents. Dr. Curry-Winchell also serves on the WCMS board and co-chairs the membership/PR committee. For NSMA she co-chairs the long-term and membership planning commission.

Her healthcare journey began as a physician’s assistant. Dr. Curry-Winchell has a master’s in physician assistant studies. She practiced as a physician assistant for three years in occupational, family and urgent care specialties. Her PA position gave her a foundation to practicing medicine.

2021 Association Health Plans for Washoe County Medical Society

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Washoe County Medical Society members with 2 (unrelated) to 50 full-time employees can now offer insurance coverage for their employees and their families with a high-quality, affordable Association Health Plan medical plan from Prominence.

Not an Association member? Click Here to Enroll.

What is POLST?

The Provider Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) requires a conversation between a patient and their medical provider to determine what level of medical treatment, based on the patient’s values, goals, and medical issues, the patient wants towards the end of life. This information is then used to complete the POLST form, which is both an actionable medical order and legal document to be honored in all settings.
Nevada POLST has been adopted in most all healthcare facilities throughout Nevada.

Who Should Complete a POLST

POLST is intended for those near the end of a life-limiting illness or the very frail elderly. If a patient is unable to express their wishes themselves, they may have a representative or surrogate complete a POLST for them.
A POLST does not replace an Advance Directive, it supplements and enforces it.

The Form

Go through the Nevada POLST form section by section, learning how to present the choices and assure a valid completion

Legal Aspects

The Nevada POLST is both a legal document and a medical order. Be sure you understand what is expected.

History

The POLST program has been in use since 1994. Find out when Nevada got involved.

Editor’s Note: Watch this opinion piece in Sunday’s Reno Gazette-Journal.

Fear has been driving many decisions by our patients about obtaining or not obtaining medical care. Today, we have established precautionary tools and processes in place to help our patients remain safe during appointments.

We are encouraging our families, friends and neighbors to get back to wellness. Our PSA, “Let’s Get Back to Wellness,” aims to assure our community that it is safe to resume your routine medical care. Don’t suffer through painful conditions, neglect blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, immunizations, or any routine medical care that keeps you pain free and healthy.

As COVID-19 continues, we realize that there is an additional health concern that is separate from but related to the novel coronavirus. We have learned that many individuals are afraid to schedule a doctor’s appointment or go to the emergency department because they fear contracting the coronavirus. It was an eye-opener for me when an emergency room colleague recently asked, “Why is no one having a stroke?” He wasn’t wishing for a medical calamity, but he wasn’t seeing the normal rate of patients presenting with stroke symptoms.