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Members Member Resources AAAAI News AAAAI eNews AAAAI Job Placement Center Promoting your Practice Order Public Education Materials Disease Management/ Ask the Expert Teaching Slides Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Education and Research Trust (ART) Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2007 Accomplishments Annual Meeting Executive Staff Contacts Online Membership Directory AAAAI Organizational Structure » Members Contact Members Town Hall Message Board AAAAI: Professional Home for the Practicing Allergist Grants and Awards Hot Topics Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI) ST*AR Program AAAAI Assembly overview Allied Health Federation of the RSLAAI Societies International Military Allergy New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly Program Directors Organizational Chart Board of Directors Interest Sections Committees Fellows-in-Training Allied Health Professional Assembly Federation of RSLAAIS International Assembly Military Allergy Assembly New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly Program Directors Associates		Academy News: June 2006 State society success story: the Florida experience By Hugh H. Windom, MD, FAAAAI, 2005-2006 Chair of the Federation of RSLAAIS The Regional State and Local Societies consist of some 67 entities ranging from big city groups, state organizations, and regional, predominately educational, societies. One group stands out in its transformation from relative obscurity to a vigorous, proactive state society skillfully representing patients and A/I physicians in our country’s fourth most populous state. I am referring to the Florida Allergy Asthma and Immunology Society (FAAIS) and here is their story: Humble beginnings The FAAIS was formed in 1949 when it was led by President Frank Metzger, MD. The small group of allergists became more active in educational events in the early 1970s, spurred on by the establishment of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of South Florida (USF) under the leadership of Samuel C. Bukantz, MD, FAAAAI. Richard F. Lockey, MD, FAAAAI, current chief of A/I at USF, has served as president of the FAAIS and continues to be an invaluable resource for the society. According to Dennis K. Ledford, MD, FAAAAI, Governor of Region 3 – Southeast, past-president of the FAAIS, the tide started to turn in 1994 when the society hired Jeanne Torbett as their executive director. Torbett was instrumental in proposing and planning the society’s first annual stand alone weekend meeting in 1995. The enthusiasm generated by the gathering of statewide allergists to learn, network and socialize led to record membership growth, now at an all time high of more than 130 physician members. As president in 1995, Sudhir L. Prabhu, MD, FAAAAI, had the foresight to realize that insurance reimbursement battles could be more effectively fought by the society representing 100+ allergists than a group practice or solo practitioner acting alone. His advance planning paid off in 1996 when Aetna of Florida proposed a $365 global fee for annual allergy services. Through organized presentations to several of Aetna ‘s regional medical directors around the state, the FAAIS was successful in eliminating the global fee plan. FAAIS today Under the guidance of President Samuel Gubernick, DO, FAAAAI, the FAAIS is as active as ever in 2006. The executive board meets by teleconference bimonthly with reports from the standing committees: Carrier Liaison, Legislative, Practice Standards, Public Relations and Training Program Liaison. There have been recent improvements to the FAAIS Web site, www.faais.org, with a new Members Only section. They are planning to post forms for clinic use and conduct member surveys on issues ranging from use of safety needles to insurance reimbursement. The Allied Health section of the FAAIS has their own executive board and holds a two-day meeting in conjunction with the physician annual meeting, with concomitant sessions for front and back office personnel. Over the last 10 years, the Florida Allergy Asthma and Immunology Society (FAAIS) has blossomed into a vibrant organization that brings real value to its members. If you are interested in knowing more about the FAAIS, feel free to contact Jeanne Torbett at faais@aol.com, Gubernick at DocSamG@msn.com, Ledford at dledford@hsc.usf.edu or me, FAAIS past-president, hwindom@comcast.net. <back>
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