ASA 2023 Abstract Winners Announced!

November 1, 2023 // Randy Glick

ASA 2023 Abstract Winners Announced!

What began in August with over 100 Medical Student and Resident abstract submissions, concluded at the 2023 Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Top 20 Live Competition. Congratulations to the winners of this year's 2023 Abstract Competition!

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Orals

1st Place:

Parks Remcho

3rd Year MD-PhD candidate at Tulane School of Medicine
“Effective Vaccination for Klebsiella pneumoniae Elicits Epigenetic Changes in T-cells and Requires IL17rc on Lung Fibroblasts”

 

2nd Place:

Aditya Vinjamuri 

3rd Year Medical Student at Tulane School of Medicine

“Can Inhibiting Ferroptosis and Subsequent Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding Reduce the Morbidity and Mortality of Hemorrhagic Shock”

 

3rd Place: 

Sunpil Hwang

2nd Year Internal Medicine Resident at North Alabama Medical Center

“A Rare Presentation of Metastatic Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma with Spinal Cord Compression” 

 

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Posters

1st Place:

Tina Phan

4th Year Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Chorea-Is Diabetes Mellitus to Blame”

 

2nd Place:

Laura Harrison

3rd Year Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Refractory Hypertension and Hypokalemia in the Setting of Licorice Consumption”

3rd Place:

Annabelle Lunt

3rd Year Medical Student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine

“Student-led Guidance for Diabetic Management in an Underserved Population”

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Thank you to all of the physicians-in-training who presented abstracts this year and thank you to all of the medical schools and residency programs that supported their participation.

More than $12,000 is being distributed to this year's abstract winners and these awards are made possible through contributions to SMA's Research and Education Endowment Fund. 

“Just as with our recent Virtual Abstract Competition, it was exciting to hear what these exceptional medical students and residents are researching about developing across various fields in medicine,” noted SMA Executive Director Randy Glick. “All of the presenters did a wonderful job. Their preparation, professionalism, and knowledge of their material were apparent and helped make our Assembly a huge success.”

Posted in: 2023AbstractAnnual Scientific Assembly

News You Can Use: 2024 Social Security COLA Set at 3.2% and What It Means

October 31, 2023 // SMA Services, Inc.

2024 Social Security COLA Set at 3.2% and What It Means

The recently announced increase in the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2024 is much more modest than the one announced just a year ago. But milder or not, it has meaning. So what does it mean?

  • The more modest increase reflects a slowing of inflation.
  • The rates and limits for qualified retirement plans will most likely be modest increases. 
  • The 3.2% COLA, which takes effect in January 2024, means the current average Social Security benefit of $1,790 will increase by about $57.30 per month starting in January. That’s significantly less than the $144 raise the average Social Security beneficiary received for 2023 after this year’s 8.7% COLA.
  • Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600 from $160,200.
  • It is clear that retirement savers can’t simply rely on Social Security to fund a comfortable, secure retirement. The importance of qualified retirement plans plays in the workplace is growing and more important to filling the gap. According to a recent study conducted by Bank of America, 76% of employees and a whopping 96% of employers contend that employers are responsible for employee financial wellness.

4th Quarter Compliance Calendar

October 3, 2023 // SMA Services, Inc.

4th Quarter Compliance Calendar

With the start of the 4th quarter of the year, there are numerous 401(k) administration retirement plan compliance deadlines on the horizon:

October 15

  • Extended Deadline: Filing tax returns for partnerships 
  • Extended Deadline: Contribution deadline for deductibility for calendar-year partnerships and S-corporations

November 15

  • Summary Annual Report (SAR) for each qualified plan must be mailed to participants for plans that filed a corporate tax extension. This is due two months after the extended due date. 
  • Quarterly Benefits/Disclosure Statement for Participant Directed DC Plans. Good Faith Compliance due 45 days after the end of the quarter. 

December 1

  • Deadline: Sending annual 401(k) and safe harbor match notice
  • Deadline: Sending annual QDIA, qualified default investment alternative notice
  •  Deadline: Sending annual automatic contribution arrangement notice (ACA) For administrative ease, a combined notice may be provided for the above notices 

December 15

  • Extended deadline: Distributing SAR to participants

December 31

  • Deadline: Processing corrective distributions for failed ADP/ACP test with 10% excise tax
  • Deadline: Correcting a failed ADP/ACP test with qualified nonelective contributions (QNECs) 
  • Deadline: Converting existing 401(k) plan to safe harbor nonelective design for current plan year
  • Deadline: Amendment to remove or convert to safe harbor status for next plan year
  • Deadline: Amending plan for discretionary changes implemented during plan year (certain exceptions apply)
  • Deadline: RMDs due under IRC Section 401(a)(9)

David Netscher, MD, Elected as SMA President-Elect Designate

October 2, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

The Southern Medical Association (SMA) is pleased to announce the election of David Netscher, MD, as President-Elect Designate, 2023-2024. Dr. Netscher will be installed during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina, on October 28, 2023, and will serve as SMA President for the year 2025-2026. 

Dr. Netscher, an academician with a life-long career at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, has served as Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the Division of Plastic Surgery since 2006 and as the Program Director for the Hand Surgery Fellowship for more than 20 years. His speciality involves congenital anomalies, trauma, arthritis, contractures, oncology, vascular and peripheral nerve problems. Additionally, Dr. Netscher has served as a Director of both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as on the Conjoint Hand Surgery Board.

Dr. Netscher received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa, and clinical fellowship training in hand surgery at The Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery. Additionally, he completed a general surgery and internal medicine internship at Johannesburg General Hospital, and a  general surgery residency at the University of Louisville, followed by a plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine.

During his 2025-2026 term as SMA President, Dr. Netscher intends for his vision to maintain and build upon SMA’s proud history and tradition. “SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multispecialty, interprofessional education,” he said. “Indeed, strength is achieved through collaboration between specialties and investment in the future careers of young healthcare providers.”

An active member of SMA for more than 35 years, Dr. Netscher has served on SMA’s Education Committee and recently developed and presented a series of SMA continuing medical education webinars focusing on “The Hand and Upper Extremity: Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Disease”. In addition to a primer on hand examination, topics included common hand emergencies, and diagnosis and management of common osteoarthritic conditions of the hand.  

Listen as Drs. Carter Labares and Errington Thompson Discuss Physician Wellness

September 19, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

 

Errington Thompson, MD interviews Carter Lebares, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, University of California San Francisco. Dr. Lebares is the Director for the Center for Mindfulness in Surgery. During this podcast, they discuss the research behind physician well being and burnout, as well as Dr. Lebares' latest publication in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, “Operationalizing the Culture of Burnout and Well-Being: Multicenter Study of Value Congruence and Flourishing in General Surgery Residency”. Dr. Lebares is truly an expert in the field of Wellness. This is a wonderful discussion and we hope you will listen!

Listen to Dr. Ankur Patel Preview His Assembly Keynote Presentation on Adverse Drug Events

September 18, 2023 // Southern Medical Association


During this podcast, Dr. Ankur Patel, a board-certified geriatrician, author, podcast host, speaker, pharmacist, and chief medical officer, and SMA President Dr. Lee Carter, an internal medicine specialist in private practice in Hickory, North Carolina, offer listeners a preview of Dr. Patel's keynote presentation on adverse drug events taking place during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina October 26-28, 2023.

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Breaking News: IRS Grants Two-Year Delay in Roth Catch-Up Requirements

September 12, 2023 // Rick Spence, Executive Vice President of SMA Services, Inc.

Section 603 of the SECURE 2.0 Act added a new requirement that high-income individuals must make their catch-up contributions on a Roth basis for high-income individuals, citing “high-income” as employees with wages exceeding $145,000 paid in the prior calendar year by the employer sponsoring the plan.

Mandatory Roth treatment of catch-up contributions for high income individuals was set to start in tax years starting January 1, 2024. With these new, abbreviated parameters, employers, plan record-keepers, payroll companies and various industry and professional groups have expressed concerns. These concerns stem from the additional challenges in making the necessary changes to plan documents, employee communications, and administrative procedures required for proper implementation.

In response to those concerns, the IRS granted a two-year delay for the required implementation date, which is now for plan years beginning after December 31, 2025. That means until the 2026 plan year, plan sponsors may continue to administer catch-up contributions without regard to the new Roth requirement.

There are many more items from SECURE 2.0 that need more guidance from the IRS. SMA Services will be keeping you up to date and providing helpful insight on how the new guidance affects your plan, as new information becomes available.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me, Rick Spence, at rspence@sma.org or contact your dedicated administration specialist today for further information.

Listen to Dr. Sara Paul Preview Her Assembly Presentation on Heart Failure and Cardiac Arrest

September 7, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

During this podcast, Dr. Sara Paul, a nurse practitioner in a private cardiology practice in Western North Carolina, and SMA President Dr. Lee Carter, an internal medicine specialist in private practice in Hickory, North Carolina, offer listeners a preview of Dr. Paul's presentation on heart failure and cardiac arrest taking place during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina October 26-28, 2023.

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Getting to Know Clinton Adkison, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

September 5, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Clinton Adkison just recently celebrated his 1-year anniversary with SMA Services. He has been in Third Party Administration for a few years, and prior to that he was an educator.  Clinton hails from the state of Florida and is a proud alumnus of Florida State University.  He is a true asset here at SMA Services; his knowledge, sense of humor and customer service are what his clients truly appreciate.

One of Clinton’s passions outside of 401(k) administration is his love for automobiles.  

“I have always been a ‘gear head’. I love cars. I enjoy working on them and modifying them. As a teen I would add subwoofers and lights to make my car look and sound ‘cool’,” he recalled. “As I matured into my 2o’s I realized it was about speed and performance. I rebuilt my ‘95 Ford Mustang GT (Last of the real 302’s/5.0) and built the block from the bottom up. As he gained knowledge about cars, Clinton also learned some lessons along the way and that with age comes wisdom. “Nothing on that block was stock except the block,” he said. Then I found out when you sell it you do not make the money back that you poured into it. So I decided in my 30’s, to just go ahead and buy it from the factory fast so there will be a resale value. Also, now that I have turned 40 I don’t want to work on cars anymore…I just want to drive them.”

As for what Clinton drives now? “My current car is a 2020 BMW M4 Coupe. The engine is a Twin Turbocharged 3.0L inline 6. 🙂,” he shared.

Clinton is quite the world traveler who enjoys experiencing new and different cultures. He has traveled to Jamaica, Bahamas, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, and Japan. “Of all the places I have been, Japan was by far the best. The food is amazing!!! And when you step off the plane everything is different,” he explained. The air smells different, the roads are different, the people are different, and the language is different. Everyone is super respectful and are willing to help in any way they can. The ways of honor are still very prevalent in Japan.” 

Clinton has such great respect for Japan, the people, and its culture that he wanted to learn the language – that is how he met his beautiful wife Tomoyo. who started out as his Japanese language teacher in Florida. They were later married in Japan with her family and they have been married for 7 years.

You can email Clinton at cadkison@sma.org  or call him at (205) 421-4125.

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with a mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education.

SMA Announces Call for Abstracts for Its 2024 Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference

September 1, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

The Southern Medical Association (SMA) is currently accepting abstracts for its 4th Annual Physicians-In-Training Leadership Conference taking place February 16-18, 2024, at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Medical students, residents, and fellows are eligible to submit an abstract for this conference.

To download complete submission guidelines and to submit an abstract, CLICK HERE!

The deadline for abstract submissions is Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Presenters will compete in person for monetary awards totaling $9,400:

Oral Abstract Awards
1st Place $3,000.00*
2nd Place $2,000.00
3rd Place $1,000.00

*1st Place Program $1000 Sponsorship

Poster Awards
1st Place $1,000.00
2nd Place $800.00
3rd Place $600.00

Posted in: 2023AbstractHiddenPhysicians-in-Training

Getting to Know Ben Satterfield, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

August 30, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Ben has been in the 401k industry for more than 10 years and has experience in compliance testing, payroll aggregation, distribution processing, and plan document maintenance.  He has been at SMA for almost 2 years and admits he loves it!  Ben is a leader among the other administration team and embodies the quality customer service standards at SMA Services.  He is the quintessential Southern gentleman who will get the job done. 

Ben’s Professional Advice About 401(k)s

  • If you’re young, you should look into making your deferrals as Roth deferrals. Taxes are only going to go up.  So, you might as well pay them now while they’re lower.  But he advises, “Make sure you talk to your tax guy first, though. I’m not a tax advisor.”
  • “Oh, and don’t take a loan out on your 401k to go on vacation,” he adds. “And, yes, I’ve seen it happen!”

Ben was born, raised, and still lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He and his wife Kim, who is an ELA teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, have been married for about 2 ½ years. They have a maltipoo named Jasper and a cat named Mildred. Ben is very involved with his church, and has been involved in youth ministry for more than 20 years. If he’s not at work or at church, then he’s probably at the lake!! 

You can email Ben at bsatterfield@sma.org or call him at (800) 423-4992 ext. 112.

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with a mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education.

Getting to Know Kristi Tawney, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

August 22, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Kristi Tawney began working in the 401(k) industry at the start of 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic occurring shortly after, she realized that may not have been the ideal time to change careers, but she has no regrets. “It was the perfect fit for myself and my family, Kristi recalled. “ I originally started with another company in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Working there taught me so much about the industry, but it taught me even more about what kind of role I wanted to play within an organization.”

Joining the SMA Services team in 2022, Kristi’s desire to help others complements her role as a 401(k) administrator perfectly.  “I have a passion for serving people as the individuals we are, which means we have different wants and needs in all walks of our lives,” she said. “In order to become that person I needed a company where they would allow me to grow and serve people the way I felt I needed to; SMA Services has allowed me to do just that.”  

Kristi’s commitment and dedication have not gone unnoticed by those she helps. 

“I had the good luck to get Kristi Tawney on the phone. She was so helpful in solving [my] problem.” said Carolyn Wieteler-Benford. “She went out of her way to get to the bottom of the problem and guided me through the solution to get it fixed. Her kindness and caring was much needed. After the early experience with a certain bank, getting someone smart and kind was such a pleasure. She is a great asset to your company.”

The youngest of four children, Kristi has three grown children of her own – Lillian, Jacob, and Zachary. Living in Knoxville, Kristi’s blood runs orange for the University of Tennessee VOLS, and she loves to play games with her family. “We can get a little rowdy, but it makes for great memories, she said. “Time with family is what I cherish most in life.”

You can email Kristi at ktawney@sma.org or call her at (800) 423-4992 ext. 108. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with the mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Point of Care Ultrasound Training

August 17, 2023 // Southern Medical Association
Posted in: Hidden
SMA Virtual Abstract Competition Top 20 Winners Post Header

SMA Virtual Abstract Competition Top 20

August 15, 2023 // Randy Glick

Congratulations to the Top 20 Winners of SMA’s Virtual Abstract Competition that took place August 8-9, 2023! 

With more than 85 oral and poster abstracts presented during the two-day virtual event, physicians-in-training from more than 30 medical schools and residency programs had the opportunity to share their research and interact with their peers. 

“It was wonderful to spend time with these outstanding medical students and residents and hear about interesting cases as well as the latest developments across various aspects of medicine,” noted SMA Executive Director Randy Glick. “All of the presenters did an outstanding job. Their hard work and preparation were apparent and made this competition a success.” 

WHAT"S NEXT FOR WINNERS?....

Each winner will be notified by SMA’s Director of Education, Susan Gonzalez, as to what they need to prepare to present in person at SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly taking place October 26-28 in Greensboro, North Carolina to compete for over $12,000 in cash prizes. 

Top 10 Oral Abstract Winners

Trenton Ferguson, PGY3 

Virginia Tech Carilion

“Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole–Induced Psychosis in a Patient With Down Syndrome”

Ahmed Hebishy, PGY1

East Carolina University

“Nausea and Vomiting in a Teenager, Treated as Cholecystitis, Found to have Castleman Disease”

Sunpil Hwang, PGY2

North Alabama Medical Center

“A Rare Presentation of Metastatic Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma with Spinal Cord Compression”

Ritika Kumar, PGY1

North Alabama Medical Center

“Rare Case of Cardiac Fibroelastoma- Cause of Embolic Stroke”

Tripti Nagar, PGY3

Wayne State University

“Development of Migratory Dermatographism after Moderna COVID-19 Booster Vaccination”

Sierra Patterson, PGY2

Medical University of South Carolina

“Atriocaval Shunt as Damage-Control Surgical Technique for Complex Pancreaticoduodenal and Juxta Hepatic Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Injury”

Henry Ross, PGY2

Medical University of South Carolina

“Needs Assessment for MUSC ACCESS Program Among M4's & Preliminary Residents”

Aditya Vinjamuri, PGY3

Tulane School of Medicine

“Can Inhibiting Ferroptosis and Subsequent Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding Reduce the Morbidity and Mortality of Hemorrhagic Shock?”

Peter Zhang, PGY4

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Remote Monitoring of Patients with Congestive Heart Failure in Rural Areas Reduces Admissions Over Time”

Joshua Zweigle, PGY2

East Carolina University

“Solitary Scalp Metastasis – A Rare Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma”

Top 10 Poster Abstract Winners

Laura Harrison, PGY3

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Refractory Hypertension and Hypokalemia in the Setting of Licorice Consumption”

Annabelle Lunt, PGY3

University of South Carolina School of Medicine

“Student-led Guidance for Diabetic Management in an Underserved Population”

Leo Meller, PGY1

University of California San Diego School of Medicine

“Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma Associated with Uveitis, Retinal Vasculitis and Autoimmune Retinopathy”

Tina Phan, PGY3 

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Chorea-Is Diabetes Mellitus to Blame?”

Cooper Root, PGY3

University of Kansas School of Medicine

“Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Suture Tape Augmentation: A Scoping Review”

Katherine Ruiz Gonzalez, PGY2

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center

“Strenuous Cough Causing Bilateral Rectus Sheath Hematoma Secondary to Warfarin Coagulopathy”

Alexandra Savage, PGY2

University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine

“Investigating the Role of PGP Peptides and Heme in Sepsis-Related Acute Lung Injury: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives”

Lynn Tong, PGY1

Willis Knighton Health System

“Comparing Bacterial Presence with the Usage of 0.05% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Lavage During Urologic Prosthesis Revision Surgery”

Virginia Velez Quinones, PGY3

University of Miami  JFK Medical Center

“An Uncommon Case of Epiploic Appendagitis Initially Diagnosed as Acute Diverticulitis”

Clara Wynn, PGY2

Wellstar Kennestone

“Necrotizing Pancreatitis As A Complication of HELLP Syndrome”

Posted in: 2023AbstractPhysicians-in-Training

Meet SMA Services Director of Sales – Deb Catherall

August 15, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Deb Catherall recently joined SMA Services, Inc., as Director of Sales. After 26 years at Ameritas, she has spread her wings and decided to join SMA Services, a leading third-party administrator (TPA) for qualified retirement plans. This position will allow her to utilize all her professional experience with “group qualified retirement plans.”

Deb is committed to collaborating with financial professionals, insurance brokers, small-to-mid sized business clients, as well as wholesalers and CPAs to explore and design qualified retirement plan solutions to maximize tax advantages and savings for employers and their employees.  

As an independent TPA, SMA Services, Inc., has the freedom to partner with all recordkeeping and investment platforms.  This allows SMA Services, Inc., to objectively focus on the myriad of available plan provisions, administrative, and compliance complexities while allowing complete investment platform flexibility.  

Please reach out and allow us to collaborate with you and your clients - let’s discuss the employer’s objectives for offering a retirement plan solution and see how we can help maximize the benefits.  

On an ongoing basis, we provide dedicated, personalized, all-inclusive administration and compliance services.  We are here to serve the needs of your retirement plan in any way we can.  

You can email Deb dcatherall@sma.org or call her directly (205) 421-4103. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 and SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Rick Spence Named Executive Vice President of SMA Services, Inc.

August 3, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

SMA Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Spence as the Executive Vice President of SMA Services, Inc.

Rick joined SMA Services in 2022 and most recently served as Vice President, Director of Administration. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to implement additional services and technologies with outstanding personal service and attention from our SMA Services Team”, Rick said.

In his new role, Rick will foster a positive client first environment, striving to achieve an outstanding high touch customer service model as a trusted resource for clients and advisors.  He plans to grow SMA Services through relationships with our advisors and vendor partners. Rick will continue to lead the administration team offering support and training. He will be an integral part of SMA Services sales initiative.

“Rick has made a huge impact since joining us over a year ago. He’s put together a fantastic team of professionals to anchor our back office”, said Randy Glick, President of SMA Services, Inc. We’re excited to have him moving us forward.”

Prior to joining SMA Services Inc Rick served as Regional Client Manager for Ameritas Retirement Plans.  Rick has extensive ERISA and Investment experience for Qualified Plans.  Previously, Rick founded and was President of a Third Party Administration firm.

In his spare time Rick enjoys being the Men’s Ministry leader at his church. He  also enjoys fishing and spending time on the lake. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 and SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Listen to Drs. Desiree-Burroughs-Ray and Christopher Jackson Preview Their Assembly Presentation on Wellness and Well-Being

July 25, 2023 // Southern Medical Association


During this podcast, Drs. Desiree Burroughs-Ray and Christopher Jackson offer a preview of their system-level and individual-level practical solutions to healthcare workers dealing with burnout amidst the convergence of multiple pandemics, a topic they will discuss in greater detail in their presentation on wellness and well-being taking place during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, NC. Using personal stories and changes enacted at the system level in their institution, we want to start a conversation around a prescription for addressing wellness from the healthcare worker perspective.

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Listen to Dr. Gerald Harmon Preview His Assembly Presentation on Associations’ Approach to Proactive Care

July 10, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Gerald E. Harmon, MD, recently named Interim Dean at the School of Medicine Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina joins SMA Executive Director Randy Glick to discuss “Associations’ Approach to Proactive Care”. During their conversation, they touch on shortages in healthcare delivery and physician leadership, topics Dr. Harmon will address in more detail during his presentation October 28, 2023 at SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Sparkler Safety

June 30, 2023 // Southern Medical Association
Originally posted on sma.org on June 24, 2021

 

Sparklers can be a great deal of fun, but if improperly used that fun can quickly take a turn for the worse.  Make sure your family, friends, and patients are aware of sparkler hazards to ensure a safe Fourth of July!  Approximately 18,500 fires are started annually due to fireworks (NSC, n.d.).  Sparklers are often the culprit, with the highest prevalence in emergency department visits among specific firework types (CPSC, 2018).  This comes as no surprise considering that Sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees (NCS, n.d.).  NCS advises that fireworks should only be used by professionals. 

 Safety Precautions

  • Never attempt to make your own sparklers
  • Only light one sparkler at a time
  • Remain in an open area when using sparklers, away from structures
  • Hold the sparkler still and away from your body
  • Ensure there are no flammable materials nearby
  • Never attempt to relight a sparkler that did not fully work
  • Children should not be allowed to hold or light fireworks, including sparklers! 
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby (NCS, n.d.)
  • Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water prior to throwing them away (Nemours, n.d.)

Safe Alternatives to Sparklers

  • Confetti poppers
  • Glow sticks
  • Bubbles
  • Colored streamers
  • Noise makers
  • Sticky hands
  • Toy jumping frogs
  • Bouncy balls

References and Resources

  1. Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC). (2018). Fireworks report. [Data set]. CPSC. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Fireworks_Report_2017.pdf?Jr0lMG0Z5QYQMTyUtYr_3GR.991BKn4l
  2. National Safety Council (NSC). (n.d.) Leave fireworks to the experts. https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/fireworks
  3. Nemours (n.d.) Firework safety.  Kidshealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fireworks.html

About the Author:

Kaylee Carter is a Registered Nurse in the Burn Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina.  Her medical career began as a phlebotomist in 2012.  Since then she has climbed the degree ladder from CNA, LPN, ADN, and she is two semesters away from her BSN.  She maintains ACLS, PALS, BLS, ABLS, and ABLS instructor certification.  Kaylee has spent several years as a staff nurse on the Burn Center and recently stepped into the Clinical Nurse Educator role.  She is very passionate about nursing retention and is the principal investigator for a research study related to burn nurse retention at her facility. 

Posted in: Patient Education

HIV: A Preventable Disease with Increasing Prevalence in the South

June 26, 2023 // Southern Medical Association


With more than 50% of the country’s HIV diagnoses in 2022 occurring in the South, Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, an Infectious Diseases specialist at the University of Cincinnati, and Philip Hartman, MD, a Family Medicine physician in Florence, Kentucky and former SMA President, discuss the status of HIV prevention and treatment in the United States. During their conversation, they provide insight into regional and racial disparities in new HIV cases and share information regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other methods of reducing HIV transmission. 

References 

HIV in the United States by Region: HIV Diagnoses (Reviewed October 2022)

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) (Reviewed June 2022)

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