PGYP West Region December 2018

The POMA Committee on Professional Guidance – West Region held its second meeting of the year on December 6, 2018, at the Clarion River Brewing Company in Clarion, PA. A team building/ice breaker activity started the meeting with the group being divided into two smaller groups. Each group spent 10 minutes trying to find commonalities among the members to include one thing professional, one thing personal and one thing “obscure.” The Drs. Battistella, Park, Diller, and Posnik group found it humorous they all had beards (while the other group all did not!).

The weather prevented many from attending, but the conversation amongst those in attendance was lively and focused on educational opportunities within POMA.

Concentrating on the pillars of focus POMA has been developing over the past several months, residents’ input and concerns regarding advocacy and education were discussed. The reasoning behind POMA’s concern (and opposition to) independent practice privileges for advanced practitioners was a main talking point.

Topics that the residents brought up included educational opportunities within their districts, their current residency experience and what topics they wish to be presented at leadership forums (including understanding CME regulations and managing relationships while being practicing physicians).

Residents were encouraged to consider submitting abstracts for the annual POMA Assembly in May. All in attendance participate in the LECOMT OPTI. They were encouraged to look to their OPTI for assistance in developing poster presentations.

Dinner was enjoyed by the group, along with the opportunity to network with the mentors present. The next meeting will be held in March. We would like that meeting to be in the Pittsburgh area, encouraging some of the residents from the more southern and eastern portion of the “West” region to participate.

There being no further business (and the roads were getting increasingly difficult to navigate), the meeting was adjourned.