MSDC Board Takes Action to Protect Physicians During COVID-19 April 7, 2020

On Monday, the MSDC Board of Directors met to consider a number of items designed to protect physicians and their practices during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The meeting was the first videoconference meeting of the MSDC Board of Directors in the organization's 203 year history. The Board took the following actions to help the District during the COVID-19 crisis:

• The Board created a COVID-19 Task Force to create consensus guidance on important issues around COVID-19. The call for task force members will go out soon.
• The Board drafted a statement on the Protection of DC Physicians during COVID-19. The Executive Committee will finalize and release the final version this week.
• The organization will send a letter to the District and national leaders advocating for preventative measures to reduced fatalities during COVID-19. The preventative measures would focus on smoking cessation, updated prescribing, and science-based dietary improvement.
• The Board approved two measures to provide financial relief to some members, including extending the deadline for renewing 2020 dues and offering a discount to new 2020 members.

The Board also heard a presentation from Physician Health Program Chair Charles Samenow, MD. Dr. Samenow, who is a psychiatrist from the George Washington MFA, discussed the new ways the PHP is working with its participant population and serving as a health resource for all health practitioners during COVID-19.

The next Board meeting is June 22. MSDC members in good standing are able to request an invitation to attend, although the format and location is TBD at the moment.