News

On Monday, MSDC's Board of Directors voted for the Society to be a proactive source of information and advocacy on the COVID vaccine.

The meeting was the Board's final scheduled meeting of the year. The December meeting traditionally is the opportunity for the Board to elect its officers, approve advocacy priorities for the coming year, and reflect on lessons learned from the past year to prepare for the next one.

After the tumultuous 2020, the Board certainly had no lack of information to reflect upon. The primary discussion focused on the COVID vaccine and its distribution in the District. Immediate Past President J. Desiree Pineda, MD, serves on the DC Health Vaccine Scientific Advisory Committee. She gave a presentation on DC Health's plans for vaccine distribution and outreach. After a robust discussion on the Society's best role during the vaccine process, the Board voted to approve the following strategies:

• MSDC will continue to advocate that physicians and trainees be vaccinated during Phase 1
• MSDC will participate in education campaigns to the public on the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19
• MSDC will promote educational information about the vaccine to the healthcare community.

In addition to the vaccine discussion, the Board also approved joining the Capital Trails Coalition and promoting the DC COVID Heroes Advocacy Agenda for the 24th Council Period, among other actions.

Finally, the Board voted and approved the following individuals to one-year term Board positions:

• Chair of the Board: Susanne Bathgate, MD
• Secretary: Laurie Duncan, MBBS
• Treasurer: Raymond Tu, MD
• At-Large Executive Committee member: Yavar Moghimi, MD

MSDC's next Board meeting is February 22, 2021.