Candidate Statements for NYACP Governor-Elect
Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island Region
What do you see as an "existential challenge" to our specialty over the next 3-5 years, and how would it be best for Internal Medicine to meet that challenge?
How will your experiences, skills, and background help to support and advance the New York Chapter over that same time frame?
Inderpal Chhabra, MD, FACP
I am an internal Medicine Physician in the Private Practice arena and bring that perspective to the NYACP leadership.
In my view, a question that gets frequently asked in the Physician lounges, virtual or physical is, who will take care of us when we need it?
This question touches upon three key aspects. We need well-trained, motivated, Professional Internal Medicine physicians to lead the care team. In an era of team-based care, a Physician will always be looked upon as the leader. We need to make sure the IM Physicians of tomorrow have the necessary skills and training. The level of motivation is related to their personal exposure to burnout. This problem has been explored by ACP/NYCAP leadership. We need to implement ideas that work on the ground. As an example, in my own group, I minimize the non-patient facing tasks before asking the physicians.
Many years ago, ACP had launched a program about Professionalism in Medicine. That was my motivation to become a better self. The tools ACP provided at that time led me to be a thoughtful, professional IM Physician that I am today.
I have been involved with activities of the Queen's district of NYACP since 1994. As a councilor and subsequently, I have been talking about the issues facing Private Practitioners at the highest leadership levels in NYACP. I am the Chief Medical officer of a multi-specialty group in Queens.
ACP and NYACP provide a fantastic platform for networking for all internal medicine physicians where we share resources and solutions.
The way I became a NYACP leader was by attending meetings that were meaningful. The benefits of membership should be inclusive of all and provide equal opportunities for all members.
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Last updated 8.27.24
Moro O. Salifu, MD, MPH, MBA, MACP
Of the many challenges facing our specialty, I believe, the declining physician workforce number is the most existential challenge facing us, in the next 3-5 years and beyond. Over 40% of physicians are older than 55, nearing retirement and the current shortfall in primary care (PC) physicians is estimated at about 20,000 nationwide, leaving patients with fewer choices and overwhelmed, burned or burning out physicians.
Meanwhile, the population over the age of 65 is growing at an alarming rate of 34% and needs more care. The solution then, is a process that will engage ACP leadership in hard discussions with HRSA, Congress and the ACGME to increase GME slots dedicated to PC in existing or new PC residency programs, aimed at closing the shortfall in the next decade. Short of this solution, is a crisis in the making.
Moreover, of the approximately 40,000 residency applications/year, only approximately half are enrolled into residencies, which means the candidate pool is robust and can expand or absorb new residencies. As the longest serving chair of medicine at SUNY Downstate, who has already implemented a new PC Internal Medicine Residency Program with it first graduates in June 2024, former NYACP Councilor and currently serving as the NYACP DEI Taskforce Chair, I believe I have a track record of leadership and positive energy that will advance this topic at both the chapter and national levels. Any incremental gains would make our discipline more attractive, raise morale and promulgate solutions on other challenges.