SPCPF

June 30, 2003

Dear Colleagues:

On my last day as president, I find myself reflecting on discussions of the many primary care health issues over the past year. I have heard time and time again from policy leaders, fellows, and community members about the ongoing struggles to maintain services and safety nets for our communities during times of budget cuts and changing priorities. Having worked over the years with Heather Reynolds, our incoming president, I am comforted by the fact that she shares a strong commitment to the difficult issues facing primary care leaders and communities. With the commitment of the board and the fellows, the SPCPF will further its mission "to affect primary care policy, education, research, and service at the local, state, national and international levels."

For those of you who were able to attend our annual meeting earlier this month, you had the opportunity to hear Representative Donna Christian-Christensen, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and others tackle health disparities issues. We also heard about patient safety issues in primary care, health profession education, primary care and mental health, homeland security, and the interface of public health and primary care. Carolyn Clancy, MD, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, opened the conference with an engaging, interactive discussion during her presentation "Primary Care: Back to the Future."

An important aspect of the annual meeting is to provide the fellows with the opportunity to come together to network and share ideas about issues important in their respective communities, states, and for the nation. It was a bonus that the DHHS Primary Care Health Fellowship class of 2003 was able to join us this year. Please continue to share with us your thoughts on speakers and topics for next year, as we value your perspective. Check out the Web site to see pictures from the meeting and the presentation of the Primary Care Leadership awards.

I wish to thank the members of our board of directors, the conference planning committee chair, Norma Bowyer, the administrative support, and all the fellows and friends of the Society of Primary Care Policy Fellows for dedicating time to moving primary care forward. This past year of service as your president was highly rewarding personally. I look forward to assisting Heather and our president-elect, Michael Carter, in the upcoming year. I wish to end by encouraging you to review the list of 2002-2003 Society accomplishments on our Web site and then renewing your dues commitment so that the work can continue. I truly believe that, together, we can help make a difference for primary care. As said so well by Mahatma Gandhi, "you must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Respectfully,

Kirsten Thomsen, PA-C
President

Affecting primary care policy, education, research, and service
at the local, state, national, and international levels.