Selfless Service, Incredible Impact: Thank You, Dr. Charles Burns
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SPRING 2019 NEWS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA PHYSICIANS’ HEALTH PROGRAM Selfless service, incredible impact: Thank you, Dr. Charles Burns With his six-year term on His journey with the committee the Physicians’ Health Program began when a fellow physician Committee coming to an end, the thought he may be a good fit to PHP honors Dr. Charles Burns for serve and reached out. Dr. Burns his service to his fellow physicians was honored by the call. and the work of the PHP. “From the beginning, I sensed “Charlie has helped many the PHP had a heart and soul,” he people one-on-one and has saved said. “Every person I encountered many lives,” said PHP Medical worked to help us become the Director Jon Shapiro, MD, DABAM, best practitioners possible. They MRO. worked for us even when we were antagonistic!” A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Burns graduated Dr. Burns believed part of his with a Bachelor of Science in PHP Medical Directors Dr. Ray Truex, Jr. (left) and Dr. Jon own recovery would be helping biology from the University of Shapiro (right) present Dr. Charles Burns (center) with a other struggling professionals in his certificate of appreciation for his service to the PHP Committee. Scranton in 1972. He went on area. to obtain his medical education “Over the years, I’ve been from Jefferson Medical College in “The work that the PHP does daily, involved with lots of physicians 1976 and studied general surgery who are struggling in their early and urology at Geisinger Medical helping health care professionals, is recovery,” he said. “I tell them we Center from 1976 to 1981. inspiring and so meaningful to me.” have all gone through guilt and Dr. Burns joined his father shame of addiction, and PHP is in practice in Kingston after crucial in directing us outside help. completing a fellowship in adult and pediatric reconstructive I am convinced of the sincerity of the staff.” urology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1983. He retired He believes the PHP staff work to save lives, families and in 2017 after practicing urology for 36 years. careers. And part of his work through the committee was to “Because I was born into a medical family, I really never dispel the negativity associated with the PHP. thought I would do anything else. My father was a surgeon “The PHP mission is to help any of its members to in WWII, and my mother was a nurse,” he said. “One of my reintegrate into society with minimal disruption of their lives,” fondest memories was seeing my father come home one night Dr. Burns said. “Addiction destroys self, family and work, and with a bag of farmer’s vegetables. He had a huge smile and PHP assists us with those struggles.” explained to me that the farmer had no money and paid his bill with vegetables. My father never asked about payment, he Through a natural progression during his time on the just was a caring person. I wanted to be that person.” committee, he became chairman. Dr. Burns shared his father’s passion for making a “My colleagues trusted me to sincerely state my positions in difference in the lives of others – something he certainly did as the interest of recovering health care professionals,” he said. a member of the PHP Committee. He has embodied the work and spirit of the PHP, and has “The work that the PHP does daily, helping health care impacted many lives. professionals, is inspiring and so meaningful to me,” he “I talk with a lot of recovering professionals,” Dr. said. “Being a small part of the committee for many years Burns said. “I tell them PHP is not the enemy and that the has enhanced my work and reminds me of the goodness in organization is of great help to us all. Instead of looking at PHP people.” as punishment, look at it as a way to begin redemption.” ■ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE NEWS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA PHYSICIANS’ HEALTH PROGRAM Published semi-annually by the Physicians’ Health Program. Learning to practice PHP UPDATE Physicians’ Health Program The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society what we preach 777 East Park Drive Safely landing planes in the midst of multiple P.O. Box 8820 tornadoes, one plane at a time to minimize the damage and Harrisburg, PA 17105-8820 body count, often seems like an ideal way to describe my www.paphp.org work and life. Many days I find myself working from 5 a.m. (717) 558-7819 In Pennsylvania: (866) 747-2255 until 11:30 p.m. For those who work around me, I strongly Fax: (717) 558-7818 encourage work-life balance; yet, I often fail to practice what Hours: I preach. Recently, my two-year-old granddaughter gave me Monday-Thursday the greatest reminder to be present – she grabbed my face 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. with her little hands and turned me toward her to ensure Friday, Emergency Calls Only I was engaging with her. The discernment of a two-year-old Heather A. Wilson, MSW, CFRE (717) 558-7817 child to do what it took for her Nana to be present was remarkable and convicting. PHP STAFF I suspect that for many physicians the story is the same. “For those who Jon A. Shapiro, MD, DABAM, MRO You begin your work early and often your day doesn’t end work around me, Medical Director until well after midnight. Laptops replace the book that may I strongly encourage Raymond C. Truex Jr., MD, FAANS, FACS have been by the bedside. Cell phones buzz, ding and hum Medical Director incessantly. Everything is a spreadsheet and a checklist. The work-life balance; Kendra Parry, MS, CADC, CIP, CCSM human interaction that often was the catalyst for entering the yet, I often fail Program Director healing profession takes a back burner to the laptop in the to practice Tiffany Booher, MA, LPC, CAADC, CIP, CCSM room. Case Management Supervisor what I preach.” Melissa Flammer, MBA, CADC, CCDP This year as the Foundation focuses on physician well- Case Manager being, particularly on how to assist physicians to identify Katie Gruber, MSW, CADC and increase their resilience skills, I hope you will join us for Case Manager the discussion. The Foundation will distribute a Resilience Toolkit to all medical staff offices Barbara Dillow, CMOA, CAAP that includes helpful guides and resources. We will host the Physician Resiliency Summit Case Management Assistant featuring keynote speaker, Tait Shanafelt, MD, one of the leading voices in addressing physician Wendie Dunkin burnout and resiliency across the country. This will be held in Lancaster on June 5-6, 2019. Compliance Assistant Our goal is to provide tools and information for building resilience at both the individual and systems level. The Pennsylvania Medical Society will join us for the summit as physician PHP COMMITTEE wellness is listed as a key priority for PAMED to address in 2019 in a recent survey of members Laura Delliquadri, PAC, Chair and non-members. Ryan Kobylinski, DO This is my open invitation for you to become engaged. If you have found tools and tricks Edward Jew, MD, Vice Chair to build resilience, please share. If you need resources, please ask – the Foundation is here as John Lepley, DO, Secretary a resource. The conversation about physician resilience won’t end in 2019, and like nature, Gregory Famiglio, MD tornadoes will always be with us. Our goal at the Foundation is to be a resource for every Martin Freifeld, MD medical student, resident and physician across the state to help them manage stress and Steven Heird, MD burnout when it feels like the tornadoes are out of control. I look forward to seeing you at the Charles McClure, MD John Mellett, DMD Resiliency Summit in June! Clifford D. Swift III, Esq. Louis Verna, MAC, LPC, CIP Be well, Christopher Ware, MD Heather A. Wilson, MSW, CFRE Executive Director, The Foundation; Deputy Executive Vice President, Pennsylvania Medical Society Don’t wait for the next newsletter to OUR MISSION see what we’ve been doing — visit us online! The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society provides programs and services ‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! for individual physicians and others that improve the well-being of Pennsylvanians and www.foundationpamedsoc.org sustain the future of medicine. Addiction, disability insurance and your professional license By Clifford D. Swift III, Esq. We all know that addiction takes a collect disability benefits when they return heavy toll on the individual suffering from to work performing non-material aspects a substance use disorder, their family, of their prior occupation (for example, an friends, colleagues and coworkers. Should orthopedic surgeon who returns to work this addiction involve diversion, fraudulent performing office examinations only and no prescribing, DUI or medical mishap, the longer performs surgery). consequences can also have a serious Often the physician’s treatment providers impact on a professional license, including may advocate for a gradual return to work: revocation, suspension, probation, and the part-time, no-call, etc. In such cases, it may payment of fines and penalties. Additional be possible to receive partial or residual consequences may include the loss of DEA disability benefits under the disability policy. registration, exclusion from the Medical These types of benefits provide a physician Assistance Program, being prohibited from with benefits that directly correlate to a participation in health insurance panels Clifford D. Swift III, Esq. loss of pre-disability income. Typically, and a report to the National Practitioner a physician will have to suffer at least a Data Bank (NPD).