Alaska State Medical Association Home
Alaska State Medical Association
4107 Laurel Street • Anchorage, Alaska 99508 • Phone: (907) 562-0304 • Fax: (907) 561-2063 •
 
 

List of Committees

Accreditation:
Surveys and accredits institutions and organizations in Alaska to provide Category I continuing medical education to physicians. This committee itself is reviewed and credentialed by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) of the American Medical Association. The committee meets several times each year to review annual reports and site surveys.

Mark Agnew, MD – co-chair, Anchorage
Thomas Nighswander, MD – Anchorage
Christopher Patricoski, MD – Anchorage
Jack Sedwick, MD – Anchorage
Brian Sweeney, Jr., MD – Anchorage
Thomas Vasileff, MD –  Anchorage

Alaska Medical Political Action Committee (ALPAC):
Encourages physicians to take a more active and effective role in governmental affairs; seeks to understand the nature and actions of their government. Assists physicians in organizing themselves for more effective political action in carrying out their civic responsibilities.

Brion Beerle, MD – co-chair, Anchorage
Vacant – co-chair
Dwight Ellerbe, MD – secretary/treasurer, Anchorage

Budget Committee:
Addresses all issues of fiscal responsibility including preparation of the annual budget. The Budget Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding allocation of resources.

John DeKeyser, MD – chair, Anchorage
Jana Cole, MD – Anchorage

Bylaws:
Studies the association’s Constitution and bylaws and keeps them pertinent and up-to-date.

Michael Manuel, MD – chair, Anchorage
Timothy Kavanaugh, MD – Anchorage

Grievance:
Meets at noon on the first Wednesday of each month and investigates, adjudicates and mediates complaints from any source regarding the practice of medicine by physicians in Alaska. It considers questions of medical ethics, professional competence, and fee disputes. The Grievance Committee refers complainants to the State Medical Board when appropriate.

Shirley Fraser, MD – chair, Anchorage
Peter Ehrnstrom, MD – Anchorage
Leslie Dean, MD – Anchorage
Paul Ferucci, MD – Anchorage
John Hall, MD – Anchorage
Peter Hansen, MD – Kenai
Charles Herndon, MD – Anchorage
Jean Persons, MD – Anchorage
Jack Sedwick, MD – Anchorage
Mary Totten, MD – Anchorage

Information and Technology (ad hoc):
Is responsible for investigation and researching information technologies that affect or potentially affect members of ASMA and their patients, as well as information technologies for ASMA’s business activities. These activities may include but are not restricted to secure physician communication, electronic health records, and the ASMA Web site.

Jerome List, MD – chair, Anchorage
Richard Burger, MD – Fairbanks
Mary Langdon, MD – Anchorage
Lily Lou, MD – Anchorage
Declan Nolan, MD – Anchorage

Legislative:
Meets frequently during the legislative session and considers state and federal legislative and regulatory issues. The committee speaks and acts for the association only when there is clear Association policy to direct it.

David Alexander, MD (retired) – Anchorage
carolyn Brown, MD – Juneau
Leon Chandler, MD – Anchorage
John Cullen, MD – Valdez
Chakri Inampudi, MD – Anchorage 
David Killebrew, MD – Anchorage
Peter Lawrason, MD – Fairbanks
Jerome List, MD – Anchorage
Alex Malter, MD – Juneau
Thomas Mego, MD – Anchorage
Thomas Nighswander, MD  – Anchorage
Carl Rosen, MD – Anchorage
Mark Samson, MD – Anchorage
Larry Stinson, Jr., MD –Anchorage
Robert Urata, MD – Juneau
Ronald Zamber, MD – Fairbanks
Lobbyist – Kevin Jardell (contract)
Attorney – Roger Holmes (contract)

Nominating:
Nominates at least one candidate for each office for election by the regular membership. The committee consists of three regular members, preferably representing the northern, southcentral and southeastern regions of the state. The three members serve three-year staggered terms.

Brion Beerle, MD – chair, Anchorage
Roland Gower, MD – Anchorage
J. Ross Tanner, DO – Anchorage
Thomas Vasileff, MD – Anchorage

Physician Resource Committee (inactive):
This is a formal committee with the State of Alaska, Division of Medical Assistance. It works in concert with the state to address all Medicaid physician issues including their plans to institute RBRVS and trials of managed care. Selected nonphysicians are also on this committee.

Physician Health:
Meets monthly. A monitoring program for physicians with possible chemical dependency, behavioral and/or mental health issues. A confidential place to refer peers, and an advocate for those in recovery. It is completely independent of the State Medical Board, but works with those mandated by the board as well as volunteer clients. Call the program coordinator at 561-9644 for referral information, recommended treatment facilities or any other information.

Mary Ann Foland, MD – chair, Anchorage
David Johnson, MD – Ketchikan
Hunter Judkins, MD – Fairbanks
Jon Lieberman, MD – Fairbanks
Willliam Palmer, MD – Juneau
Donald Rogers, MD – Anchorage
Douglas Savikko, DO – Anchorage
Alexander von Hafften, MD – Anchorage

Professional Insurance:
Monitors and evaluates professional liability insurers and other insurance issues which affect the membership. Helps run DocPlan. Selected nonphysicians also may serve on this committee.

Doug Smith, MD – Anchorage

Rural Medicine (inactive)

 
ASMA UPDATES:

MEDICARE MELTDOWN: Sign the petition to save Medicare!
Doctors want to take care of Medicare patients.Congress is forcing doctors to limit the number of Medicare patients they see or to quit taking Medicare patients altogether. Sign the petition to "Stop the Medicare Metldown"

WEB SITE REVISIONS IN PROGRESS
Much of this Web site is being revised. For questions about membership or the association's publications, please call (907) 562-0304 or e-mail asma@asmadocs.org.

2010 ASMA Medical Directory
This handy reference book includes NPI numbers and contact information for Alaska's physicians and other important information. For an Order Form, please call (907) 562-0304 to have one faxed or e-mailed to you. Current ASMA physician members receive two free copies automatically; physicians' assistants receive one.

HEARTBEAT: The "pulse" of ASMA
The Heartbeat newsletter is published bimonthly by ASMA. Members receive the newsletter at no charge. Nonmembers may subscribe for $15 per year. Existing subscribers with address changes, please call the ASMA office. Contact Publications Director Dave Rush at drush@asmadocs.org or (907) 562-0304 if you'd like to submit a news article or paid advertisement. 

Alaska Medicine magazine is now an annual publication that comes out every September.  The full-color publication still features the latest scientific studies in Alaska but also contains more human-interest articles about the state's physicians and the practice environment. For advertising details, to submit an article, or to order a copy of the September 2009 issue, contact Publications Director Dave Rush at drush@asmadocs.org or (907) 562-0304. For nonmembers, the magazine is $20 per issue; for international orders, shipping and handling charges apply. Call for details. ASMA members receive one copy of the magazine at no charge.

Legislative Updates are available at www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp by putting the bill number (e.g., HB113) in the "Basis Navigator" box on the left side of the page.

Looking for a physician or a job as a physician in Alaska?
If you need a locum tenen or full-time physician, contact our office for a "Looking" list. You can also post physician vacancies on our "Openings" list. Please contact our office to be added to the "Looking" list and get a copy of the Openings list if you are seeking a position in Alaska. There are multiple opportunities to practice medicine in our great state!

AMA Alliance: Building healthy communities. The largest volunteer arm of the American Medical Association, the AMA Alliance is a public health advocacy network. To learn more, go to www.amaalliance.org.