Photos from the 2019 Medical Society Annual Meeting

Over 250 Medical Society physicians and partners attended the KCMS 2019 Annual Meeting on September 26. Keynote speaker was Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM, Stanford University professor and immediate former chief medical officer in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Wesley Hamilton, founder of the Disabled But Not Really Foundation of Kansas City, also spoke. Former Kansas City Mayor Charles B. Wheeler, Jr, MD, JD, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Patrick B. “Rusty” Ryan, PharmD, received the Friend of Medicine Award. Thanks to our premier sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and all of our sponsors. (Photos by Mike Curtis) ( Click on individual photo to enlarge. )

Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM, Stanford University professor and immediate former chief medical officer in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was the keynote speaker.	Vanila Singh, MD, right, presents KCMS President Mark Brady, MD, a copy of the inter-agency task force on opioids and pain management report that was completed in May. Dr. Singh chaired the task force.	Wesley Hamilton, founder of the Disabled But Not Really Foundation of Kansas City, also spoke.
Former Kansas City Mayor Charles B. Wheeler, Jr, MD, JD, right, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by KCMS President Mark Brady, MD.	Patrick B. “Rusty” Ryan, PharmD, left, received the Friend of Medicine Award, presented by KCMS President Mark Brady, MD.	Rising Star Award: Carole Freiberger-O’Keefe, DO.
Patient and Community Advocate Award: Leland Graves, III, MD, pictured, along with Peter DiPasco, MD, not pictured	Innovation Award: Nathan Granger, MD.	Community Service Award: JayDoc Free Clinic.
David Smith, Karen Johnson, Hugh Doran, Kathy Ripley-Hake, Jill Warren.	Patrick O’Keefe, MD; Carole Freiberger-O’Keefe, DO; Jennifer Bernard, MD; Chris Perryman, MD.	Mark Steele, MD; Betty Drees, MD.
Richard Hellman, MD; Peggy Schmitt; James Stewart, MD.	Risa and Christopher Kafka, DO; Heather Bollinger, DO; Duana Meseyton, DO; Josh Zeplin.	Sarada Kataaragadda; Sukumar Ehthirajan, MD; Gregg Laiben, MD.
Mahoua Ray, MD; Charles Wheeler, Jr., MD, JD; keynote speaker Vanila Singh, MD, MACM; Jamila Murga; Michael Weaver, MD; Jean O’Brien.	Jack Erkmann, DO; Aaron Lackamp, MD; Mark Brady, MD, Gregory Unruh, MD.	Front row: Mark Brady, MD, keynote speaker Vanila Singh, MD, MACM; Aaron Lackamp, MD. Back row: Tim Krause, MD; Kathy MacNaughton Hance, MD.
Mark Steele, MD; Joshua Petrikin, MD; Matt Gratton, MD; Mitzi Cardenas; Nancy Lewis, Todd Clayman.	Tim Krause, MD; Todd Glenski, MD; William Daniels, MD; Jack Erkmann, DO; Aaron Lackamp, MD.	Kokobe Ambaye and Abebe Abebe, MD.
Front row from left: Terry Rosell, PhD, DMin; Gregg Laiben, MD; Jim Applebaum, MD; Michael O’Dell, MD; Jim Wetzel, MD; Erica Andrade; Mary Redmon, DO. Back row from left: Amy Falk; Carole Freiberger-O’Keefe, DO; KCMS 2019 President Mark Brady, MD; KCMS Foundation Chair Sheila McGreevy, MD; KCMS President-Elect Betty Drees, MD; Casey Murray; Stephen Salanski, MD.	Richard Warner, MD; Charles Van Way III, MD; James DiRenna, Jr., DO; John Hagan, III, MD; Michael Weaver, MD.	Jennifer Ashby, MD; Cheryl Douglas; James DiRenna, Jr., DO.
Joe Barry, MD, and Sheila McGreevy, MD.	Marc Taormina, MD; Stephanie Taormina; Richard Hellman, MD.	Wesley Hamilton, front, with Dennis Pyszczynski, MD, and Carole Freiberger-O’Keefe, DO.
Michael Weaver, MD; Jamila Murga.	Christina Hermanns, LeahDionisi, Jasmine Hitt, Jackson Knappen, Megan Kohman, Rachel Jenkins, from KU JayDoc.	Lindsay May, Greta Ciccolari-Micaldi, Katie Phalen, Matt Castinado, Marc Limiado, Eric Aube, from KU JayDoc.
Students from Mission Trail Elementary School sang the national anthem.

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Letter from the President 2025

January 6, 2025

I consider it a sincere honor to serve as president of the Kansas City Medical Society this year. As we look forward to this new year, we celebrate our previous accomplishments and look for new ways to meet the challenges of our ever-changing healthcare environment. As we recognize our recent successes, I want to take the opportunity to thank Dr. Greg Unruh, our immediate past president, for his excellent leadership, and I look forward to his continued partnership, providing much-needed wisdom and experience to our board of directors as well as a leadership council. I am also deeply appreciative of Micah Flint, our executive director, now in his third year with the Society. As a board, we are prioritizing key areas where we believe the Society can make a difference for physicians and the communities we serve. With this in mind, we will continue our focus on wellness, advocacy, and expand our opportunities for in person social and educational gatherings. Our journal connects us in a variety of valuable ways, and we will continue its publication and expand its distribution. Under the directorship of Karole Bradford, the Society’s Foundation continues to do invaluable work. We celebrate those accomplishments and the charitable care they provide to our community’s vulnerable population. We are grateful for our individual members and corporate sponsors and welcome your suggestions of how the Society can best serve physicians and our community. Please mark your calendar for the Society’s upcoming events and consider inviting physician colleagues to join you as we gather to learn and support one another.