The Ventura County Medical Association and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) are in the process of conducting the Third Annual Ventura County Local Salary Survey. The results will be available this month.

On Nov. 1, the Ventura County Medical Association presented Gerald L. Murphy, MD, a Simi Valley obstetrician/gynecologist, with the Charles M. Hair, MD, Award for Outstanding Contributions to Organized Medicine.

Next year, you will no longer have to keep track of and use multiple identification numbers assigned to you by health plans. Effective May 23, 2007, physicians will instead use a single national provider identifier (NPI).

The Ventura County Medical Association is proud to present a variety of education events for physician members. Take a look at the local offereings and take part in the meetings.

For the first time in its long-term disability and business overhead expense programs, Marsh Affinity Group Services has negotiated a special, limited open enrollment period for members during which time they will be able to sign up for disability benefits without having to go through underwriting.

In April, the Ventura County Medical Association board initiated the first countywide chiefs of staff meeting. The chiefs of staff, chiefs of staff-elect and past chiefs of staff of all hospitals in Ventura County were invited. Attendance was outstanding.

In June, Oxnard ophthalmologist Lee Wan, MD, received formal commendation from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for serving a full term on the Tobacco Settlement Allocation Committee. His service began July 22, 2003.

In November, the Ventura County Medical Association Installation Banquet and Fundraiser was a high-rolling success. Attendees embraced the "Casino Blast" theme and raised more than $8,000 to benefit the VCMA Health Career Scholarship Fund and the American Cancer Society Gold Coast Region.

Join your peers on Tuesday, Feb. 20, as the new CEO of the California Medical Association, Joe Dunn, JD, takes the podium as keynote speaker at the Ventura County Medical Association General Membership Dinner. The former state senator from Orange will share his vision for the CMA and discuss top political issues affecting medicine in California.

Contact the Ventura County Medical Association at 805/484-6822 or www.venturamedical.org for information and reservations on these three events.

Think association meetings aren't funny? Well, try this one. To get the crowd going, Joel Weintraub, MEd, BS, will present "Humor for the Health of It!" on Tuesday, May 24, at the Ventura County Medical Association General Membership and SCPIE Town Hall Dinner Meeting.

Two physicians share their impressions--positive and negative--of the major lobbying event sponsored by the California Medical Association in April.

Three brief statements from Michael Ciano, MD, Nicholas Bednarski, MD, and Joe Dunn add to the discussion about lobbying Sacramento politicians on health reform.

Submitting a resolution to the California Medical Association House of Delegates gives you direct input on the direction of organized medicine while enhancing the value of your Ventura County Medical Association membership. Paying your dues is only the beginning of your participation; you must think and act like a member. Involve yourself in the association's democratic process.

Doctors, lace up your track shoes and join the fun at the Relay for Life, a unique 24-hour event that increases cancer awareness while raising funds for American Cancer Society programs and services.

All Ventura County physicians are invited to attend the Ventura County Medical Association General Membership Dinner Meeting at the beautiful and historic Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Featured at the event is a president of another sort--Anmol Mahal, MD, president of the California Medical Association. Dr. Mahal will discuss the organization's latest advocacy efforts on behalf of physicians.

Want to know what to pay a new staff member? Call the Ventura County Medical Association for the 2007 salary survey. Thanks to the effort of the local Professional Association of Health Care Office Managers, the data captures information from 420 employees in Ventura County medical practices. Figures are available for 18 different job titles. Call 805/484-6822. Please note that the survey will be released to physicians only.

Nearly 100 physicians and guests attended the Nov. 9 event to welcome the new leadership of the Ventura County Medical Association and raise money for worthy charitable causes. Radiologist Robert Lum, MD, passed the VCMA president gavel to psychiatrist Ron Thurston, MD, who takes over in January 2008. Adding to the excitement, doctors played casino-style games with the proceeds benefiting the VCMA Health Career Scholarship Fund and the Ventura Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health.