Physician pipeline can reverse trend shortage of doctors

Physician pipeline can reverse trend shortage of doctors

In response to the article “East Alabama feels pinch of doctor shortage,” which appeared in the Opelika-Auburn News on June 22, I would like to provide additional information regarding a solution to the shortage that is evolving in our state.

Primary care (generalist) physician shortages have grown steadily over the last 40 years as fewer medical school graduates chose primary care careers.

One analysis estimates Alabama now needs an additional 600 physicians.

Analysis of the state’s licensure database found that 50 percent of the state’s 3,000-plus practicing primary care physicians are age 50 or older.

Reversing this trend requires addressing fundamental issues related to educating and placing future physicians.

The mission is to create a physician pipeline that produces greater numbers of medical school graduates who are likely to become primary care physicians and practice in the state’s rural and underserved communities.

The Alabama Medical Education Consortium (AMEC) is a 501-C 3 organization established to accomplish this mission.

The AMEC facilitates production of primary care physicians through a physician pipeline.

The pipeline begins with recruiting students for medical school from medically underserved communities and ends by returning them to the same or similar communities as primary care practitioners.

Decisions on admission to the pipeline uses results from years of research on student characteristics most likely to predict who will become generalist physicians in rural areas.

These characteristics include the following: a rural community background, medical school educators emphasizing general practice, clinical clerkships obtained at community based clinical sites, and using community practitioners for clerkship and residency preceptors.

AMEC is supported by a legislative appropriation and has partnerships with nine out-of-state osteopathic medical schools and over 20 in-state colleges and universities. The pipeline now contains over 80 students with a capacity of at least 149 students.

For more information including contact information, please visit www.amec.uwa.edu.

Dr. Wil Baker
Executive Director
Alabama Medical Education Consortium

Acts of animal cruelty deserve very strong punishment

I am stunned by the heinous acts of cruelty inflicted upon a puppy in an Opelika trailer park last month. Perhaps the juveniles suspected of committing these atrocities were bored, being on summer vacation and all. Maybe they didn’t have the means to go to Wal-Mart and buy the latest, most violent video game. Or perhaps they were honing their skills, as we all know that animal cruelty is frequently a prelude to other violent crimes. Whatever the motive, hopefully these sub-humans will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

According to Capt. Van Jackson (Opelika-Auburn News, July 17) this crime is a misdemeanor offense, which is animal cruelty in the second degree. However, Alabama statute 13A-11-241, enacted in 2000, states that a person commits the crime of animal cruelty in the first degree if he or she intentionally tortures any dog or cat. Cruelty in the first degree is a Class C felony, punishable with a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years. The torture inflicted upon that puppy was most certainly intentional.

Kudos to the individual who contacted authorities to report this crime and to the HSUS for bringing attention to the case and posting a reward. Many thanks, also, for the hard work of investigators seeking to solve the case and bring the perpetrators to justice. Philosopher Immanuel Kant said that we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.

I urge all animal lovers to make a donation to the Humane Society of the United States, the Lee County Humane Society, Rescue K9-1-1 in Camp Hill, or other animal welfare organization in remembrance of this puppy and all animals who have suffered at the hands of humans.

Linda Lundell
Auburn

Names of those who contributed to Fuller raises eyebrows

I was rather amused, for lack of a better word, at the names on the contribution list that was published for Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. If you read this list, there are several names that appear to me to be in conflict of interest for our city. Some of the names that were on this list are vendors for our city services. Most of these gave in the names of individuals, but it is an insult to our intelligence that we will not recognize the businesses behind them.

There was the name of the accounting firm that performs our city audits. The individuals that gave contributions own or are associated with the company that provides insurance for the city, the company that has contracts to pave our streets, the company that provides bond issues for our city, and then we have the individual that does the public works contract, ESG. I guess this one does not count because we gave them the contract without bidding it out.

I also read the contributions for Rainer Meadows. He is behind in contributions because he has taken the stand not to accept any money from any vendor that performs city services or from any PAC organization. I wish every candidate would take this approach when running for any office. You might have to work a little harder, but you appreciate how you get there, and citizens stand a better chance of having honest and transparent government.

The time has come when what we say (our vote) will be heard and will be very important. We know the past; our vote will chart the course for our future.

Ann Robertson
Opelika

All citizens of Auburn should be grateful for Indian Hills decision
All Auburn citizens, not just those living in Indian Hills, should be grateful to the city council for its July 1 decision to vacate the right of way that would have allowed the developer of Tiger Town Corporate Park a connection that would make a quiet residential street in Indian Hills into a collector road.

The reason offered — that the alternative outlet would be more expensive — is a problem a developer might have foreseen in making his plans. That reason cannot justify the damage to an established neighborhood. It certainly does not outweigh the City of Auburn’s right to protect its citizens.

We all have a stake in the city’s ability to limit unacceptable development. I am sure many others share my gratitude for the council’s decision.

Ruth L. Wright
Auburn