Inside CMS

Be an informed voter, visit: www.cms.org/ CMS elections articles/2017-cms-all-member-election Candidate statement: Henrique Jose Fernandez, MD, FACP, AMA Delegate University of Connecticut, I was elect- in Colorado. In 2016, I was elected by ed to serve as chief medical resident; the entire Parkview Medical Center’s this experience taught me the impor- medical staff to be chief of medicine of tance to lead and teach by example. the institution. After my graduation, I went to the University of Miami, Fla. to pursue my My leadership and vocational time has . not only been at my institution; since I came to Colorado, I have also been After the completion of my fellow- actively involved at the Pueblo Coun- ship in 2010, Parkview Medical Cen- ty Medical Society, initially as board ter gave me the honor to practice my member and since 2016, I have been career; the has been honor- its president. In my role as president, ing me with different opportunities to I have been working hard to represent grow as physician-gastroenterologist the society at state, regional and na- and in the medical administration- tional levels. leadership field. In the year 2010, I started as board member of the CME Something very important to me is Henrique Jose Fernandez, MD, FACP and GME committees. In the year that throughout my career, my patients Candidate for AMA delegate 2011, I was elected as board member and coworkers have honored me with of the Medical Executive Committee different awards: Fellow of the Ameri- To be a successful academic gastroen- and since then I have been re-elected can College of Physicians, American terologist requires not only the skills for that position. In 2010, there was an Top Physician Awards (2011, 2013, of a surgeon but also the knowledge opportunity to start a Gastroenterol- 2014, 2015, 2016), Pueblo County of an internist, the constancy of a re- ogy Fellowship Program; during that Health Foundation Outstanding Med- searcher and the patience and willing- process I was a very active member ical Services and Commitment (2011), ness to give of an educator. Through collecting, writing and submitting all University of Connecticut Excellence my medical training, clinical and the necessary paperwork for the ap- in Ambulatory Care (2006), and Uni- work experiences in the United States proval of this training program. After versidad Central of Venezuela Jose Iz- I have worked hard to develop those its approval in 2011, I worked initially quierdo Award (1993). skills and to improve them. During my as associate program director and since entire career I have also demonstrated 2013 I have been working as its pro- My family and mentors have taught leadership, exceptional teamwork and gram director. Also, at the institution, me the value of hard work, honesty the constant willingness to improve I have been an attending for the resi- and the importance of developing a wherever I work. dency program. Since 2012, I have had set of ethical standards in order to im- the honor to be an associate professor prove the quality of life for all people. After my program at the of medicine for Rocky Vista University My strongest desire now is to apply my values and what I have learned during my career and in different leadership positions to further pursue the duties of a delegate at the American Medical Association-Colorado Medical Soci- ety. This honor will give me the op- portunity to grow as a physician, and also help me to represent my patients and colleagues at your prestigious in- stitution. During my tenure as AMA delegate, I will work hard to give ev- erything for the institution, to be an efficient member of your team and to help in the continuous improvement of all patients’ health. n

38 Colorado Medicine for July/August 2017