July 2024

In the July issue of SGIM Forum, Associate Editor Dr. Jennifer Michener and colleagues highlight the recent release of the 2024 USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines on April 30, 2024. The team discusses what changed, what was not updated and the implications for SGIM clinicians.

This month’s editorial dives into The Commonwealth Fund’s commentary on the state of primary care in the United States and compares nine other healthcare systems on specific topics. SGIM President, Dr. Bussey-Jones utilizes a narrative approach in discussing her upbringing and the subsequent influences on her career development before describing the threats to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), the need for support of DEI initiatives and the role that SGIM must play in this effort.

SGIM CEO, Dr. Bass engages in a Q&A session with immediate past president, Dr. Gerrity on the successes that SGIM achieved during her presidential term including a record setting Annual Meeting attendance, 6 white papers, significant actions by the Health Policy Committee. Dr. Gerrity also expresses her praise for the hard working and dedicated SGIM staff.

Associate Editor for SGIM Forum, Dr. Sood describes the implantation of Practicing Excellence at his institution, Banner Health, and the use of the video-based learning app which has resulted in advancing his personal development, impacted trainees and has decreased staff burnout. Dr. Jindal and her VA colleagues explain the expansion of Age Friendly care through the enactment of the VA Age Friendly Action communities and describes lessons learned.

Dr. Jennifer Koch reports on her efforts and the overwhelming response she has received to her grassroots effort to create a Speaker’s Bureau. She describes her personal revelation of the need for this effort, her rollout of the process and the success she has seen within its short existence.

Finally, medical student and Associate Editor, Dr. Bhowmik offers a perspective piece on the importance of family and culture in reaching the optimal outcomes for patients. SGIM Forum hopes you enjoy these enlightening articles.