The Chapter of the Year Award goes to …
SHM honors chapters around the country.
With 65 U.S. chapters and five international chapters, there is plenty to celebrate about the work these groups — and their leaders — are doing on behalf of SHM and its membership.
This year’s Chapter of the Year Award — presented Sunday afternoon — was given to the Maryland Chapter. Outgoing SHM President Kris Rehm, SFHM, SHM, said the Maryland Chapter excelled in 2023 by providing innovative programming and engagement, implementing leadership and growth tactics, conducting targeted recruitment and retention efforts, connecting the community through social media and a local newsletter and empowering members to attain Fellow status.
“The Maryland Chapter made our meetings more engaging by introducing raffles and games, effectively using them as membership renewal and acquisition tools,” Dr. Rehm said. “These strategies have increased our member base and invigorated participation.”
In addition to Chapter of the Year, 16 chapters were awarded Platinum Status for extending SHM’s reach to new chapter members, providing networking and important information at a local level and demonstrating growth, sustenance and innovation within their chapter activities. They are:
- Atlanta
- Connecticut
- Hampton Roads
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Long Island
- Los Angeles
- Maryland
- Middle Tennessee
- North Carolina Triangle
- Nebraska
- New York City
- Pittsburgh
- Rocky Mountain
- St. Louis
- Utah
This year’s Shining Star Award — given to a chapter or district to recognize an outstanding event that took place in 2023 — was awarded to the North Florida Chapter for its sold-out annual meeting featuring a keynote by SHM board member Efren Manjarrez, MD, SFHM, followed by a panel discussion featuring six esteemed hospitalists.
“An open Q&A with the panelists followed, along with a raffle to drive SHM membership,” Dr. Rehm said. “This event was the first time the chapter offered the ability for participants to meet virtually, further increasing their target audiences.”
The Resiliency Award — honoring a chapter that has gone above and beyond to showcase its ability to withstand and rise above hardships while adapting to position the chapter for long-term success — was presented to the Pee Dee Chapter in South Carolina.
“The Pee Dee Chapter came together to overcome obstacles, including bringing together three health care systems that lacked shared connections, some of which were previously not involved in SHM,” Dr. Rehm said. “Chapter leaders conducted personal outreach through calls and meetings, establishing crucial connections. The culmination of their efforts was marked by the triumphant organization of their first in-person, post-pandemic event in September 2023.”
Last year’s Resiliency Award recipient — the Utah Chapter — earned another accolade this year with the Outstanding Membership Recruitment and Retention Award. Dr. Rehm said this chapter conducted multiple activities aimed at providing resources to its members and enabling SHM’s mission of exceptional care for hospitalized patients. Some activities included:
- Targeted outreach to hospitalist groups in several different areas of the state.
- Developing relationships with medical learners at the University of Utah, Noorda Osteopathic School and Black Physicians of Utah.
- Recruiting 36 new SHM members through advocating for hospital medicine NPs and PAs at Intermountain Health.
The Most Engaged Chapter Leader Award went to Ali Rafiq, MD, president of the Kansas Chapter. Dr. Rehm said Dr. Rafiq’s leadership helped grow and sustain the Kansas chapter during the past year.
“Through Dr. Rafiq’s leadership, the chapter organized an outreach program, delivering presentations highlighting the value of SHM membership to various hospital groups in Kansas,” Dr. Rehm said. “With dedication to grow and sustain membership, he sent personalized emails to welcome new members and encouraged existing members to apply for leadership positions and fellow designations.”
In only its second year, this year’s Unsung Hero award was presented to Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, president of the St. Louis Chapter.
Dr. Lois Richard, co-founder of the St. Louis Chapter, wrote that Dr. Hoque “has worked diligently over the past several years to engage hospitalists from both academic and community-based hospitalists in St. Louis. Dr. Hoque’s inviting persona and professionalism are responsible for well-attended meetings that are both educationally and socially stimulating.”
You can read about all this year’s Award of Excellence recipients here.
Visit SHM Meeting News Central for more coverage.
