COVID-19 Vaccine Myth vs. Fact
With a host of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines circulating, here are possible responses to popular myths you might hear from your patients, friends or family. Get the facts and be safe.
Kansas City Medical Society Interim Executive Director Steps Down
On Dec. 31, 2022, Annette Small will step down from her role as Interim Executive Director of the Kansas City Medical Society. The new Executive Director will be announced soon. Annette entered this role during the pandemic, but distance did not minimize her tremendous impact or ability to tackle important initiatives. Her leadership has helped KCMS better serve its members and hospital partners through listening, collaboration, and action. Annette departs the Kansas City Medical Society with a few parting words about her time, experiences, and excitement for the future: What were the most rewarding aspects of serving in this role? Meeting and working with the physicians of KC--witnessing their passion for patients and the best for our community and each other. What are you proud to have accomplished? Bringing physicians together for their annual meetings to celebrate their dedication. The community responded so well with donations of space, money, food and beverages in [...]
Kansas City Medical Society 2022 Year-in-Review Publication
The Kansas City Medical Society year-end publication features our annual impact on health care in Kansas City communities, profiles of each of this year's Kansas City Medical Society Award winners, and more. Download the PDF to read more, and get ready for even more meaningful moments in 2023! A letter from the Kansas City Medical Society president Scott W. Kujath, MD, FSVS, FACS: As my second year as President of the Kansas City Medical Society wraps up, I am pleased with the achievements made regarding the future of KCMS. We held two in-person annual meetings and celebrated physicians in the Kansas City metro area, hosted a book club for physician leadership training, exerted our physician voice on masking in schools during the peak of the pandemic, the opioid crisis and recreational marijuana clinical concerns. The work we have done with our Foundation included physician education, community health programs and over $8 million in donated health [...]
St. Luke’s Health System Cardiologist Dr. Paul Chan Co-Authors Study Making National Headlines
A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and co-authored by Saint Luke's Health System's Paul S. Chan, M.D., is making national headlines on CNN, news radio, and other major outlets. A comprehensive review of data showed Black and Hispanic individuals had 26% lower odds for receiving bystander CPR at home compared to White individuals and 37% lower odds of bystander CPR in public. These disparities remained regardless of neighborhood and type of public setting. Paul Chan, MDSt. Luke's Cardiology “These results were important to understand and likely emblematic of other larger social issues that affect health care and treatment,” Dr. Chan said in a St. Luke's news release. “In cardiac arrest, you depend on bystanders to respond. Without them, the likelihood of surviving before first responders and paramedics arrive are substantially lower. That’s why this study really brings to light challenges with structural and individual bias that we, [...]
Larry Hollenbeck, MD, Receives 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award; See the Celebrations and Award Winners from the Annual Meeting
2022 Kansas City Medical Society Annual Meeting Thanks for all who joined us on Oct. 25 to extinguish burnout and reignite our passion for medicine while caring for our vibrant Kansas City communities. We had a wonderful time at Amigoni Urban Winery and enjoyed celebrating our award winners together. We can't wait to see what 2023 has in store! Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizes a physician for leadership, lifelong commitment to health and dedication to the health of the Greater Kansas City. Larry Hollenbeck, MD Friend of Medicine Award: Recognizes a non-physician for outstanding service to medicine. David Rush, PharmD Community Service Award: Recognizes a physician, practice or facility that has made a significant contribution to the community. Blair Thedinger, MD Rising Star Award: Recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions to medicine in the Kansas City [...]
Former KCMS President wins Independence City Council Primary Election
Congratulations to Bridget McCandless, MD, MBA, FACP, on her Aug. 2 primary election win for Independence City Council. Dr. McCandless is the former president of the Kansas City Medical Society, serving in 2011-2012, and the retired President/CEO of the Health Forward Foundation. She has also served on the American College of Physicians Health and Public Policy Committee, the Missouri Medicaid Oversight Committee, the Missouri Women’s Health Council and the board of the Truman Library Institute. Dr. McCandless received an M.D. from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Medicine, completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia, and received an M.B.A. in Health Care Leadership from Rockhurst University. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as founder and Medical Director of the Shared Care Free Clinic. Dr. McCandless continues to work on issues related to health care access and social contributors to health and will no doubt continue to serve the people and [...]
Michael Weaver, MD, Receives KCMS 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award; Other Awards Presented
Congratulations to Michael Weaver, MD, and the other recipients of our 2021 KCMS Awards. Learn more about our honorees.
Thank You Annual Meeting Supporters
Thank you to all of our great supporters who helped to make the October 26, 2021 KCMS Annual Meeting a huge success!
Introducing … “Your Health Minute”
KCMS is pleased to offer these eight "Your Health Minute" videos with brief tips on maintaining cardiovascular health and avoiding diabetes. In the videos, member physicians discuss the importance of controlling high blood pressure and diabetes, along with recognizing the warning signs of stroke.
Join us for the 2021 KCMS&F Annual Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 26
Please join us for the 2021 Kansas City Medical Society & Foundation Annual Meeting 2021 on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, from 6 to 9 p.m. at J. Rieger & Co. Distillery. Network and enjoy the company of KCMS physicians as we honor and thank you for all you’ve done through the pandemic! Free to KCMS members and guests!
Trends in the Ongoing Diabetes Epidemic
We have a lot of work to do to identify those at risk for diabetes, reduce risk of complications, and implement standards of care for people with diabetes. Diabetes requires both medical intervention and self-management, including lifestyle modification. Here are some resources available in Johnson County and around the greater Kansas City area.