Rhode Island Governor's Newsletter March 2026
In this Issue:
- Governor's Welcome
- Chapter News
- Our chapter's Doctors' Dilemma Team
- Mentorship Zone
- 2026 Blizzard
- From National ACP
Kwame O. Dapaah-Afriyie, MBchB, FACP, ACP Governor
Governor's Welcome
Spring is here!
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the co-chairs of our chapter's 2026 scientific meeting for effectively incorporating feedback received from you, which has contributed to another successful educational meeting. I also extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed in various capacities towards improving the review and judging of abstracts as well as the podium presentations.
I would be remiss if I did not address the local and national challenges our organization continues to face. Both locally and nationally, the balance between establishing comprehensive surveillance in a panoptic environment to address crimes such as gun violence and respecting privacy rights remains an ongoing concern. The ACP has consistently communicated its stance on gun violence at the national level and within our state chapter in collaboration with local leaders.
The negative repercussions of disinformation and misinformation on public health is tangibly being realized as cases of vaccine preventable diseases continue to increase in this nation. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation, we are reminded of a statement made by John Adams, one of our founding fathers, on the need to stick to facts and evidence. John Adams had to assume the task of defending British soldiers who were on trial in Boston in 1770. At a time no one thought they could have a fair trial he made this important statement to the jury, “wishes and passions…cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” The courage he exhibited resulted in a fair trial and acceptable judicial outcome.
The numerous changes we face may serve as unexpected paths that help us gain a fresh sense of gratitude and a new outlook on opportunities we once overlooked. Certain challenging disruptions provide opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to enhance patient care and advocate for those who are underserved or marginalized within our society.
As stated by Millicent Fawcett, “courage calls to courage everywhere.” It is our collective responsibility to advocate for what we recognize as right and appropriate for our patients.
This year, our chapter will participate in the national ACP leadership day events. The annual two-day advocacy program gives us a chance to meet with Congress and promote priorities in internal medicine. Our delegation will interact with members from other chapters and engage with our state's representatives in Washington DC.
Our persistence will get us what we seek, and our consistency will help us retain the gains we have made so far.
Best wishes of an exciting and impactful spring season to you!
Chapter News
Committee Highlights: Health and Public Policy
Members of the chapter were invited to join the Healthcare summit held under the auspices of Brown University School of Public health on 02/11/2026 which reviewed the Future of Health Policy in Rhode Island. The insightful panel discussions ended with a recommitment to double current efforts to create a more welcoming environment for Primary Care Physicians.
Information about the next combined program with RI Medical Society will be sent out next month. This will be another session provided by members of the faculty from the Brown university School of Public Health about the role of Private Equity organizations in healthcare.
ACP Leadership Day activities will be held in Washington DC on 05/12 and 05/13. This is an annual opportunity to learn more about ACP's advocacy issues and to spend time with our state representatives in Washington DC. Our chapter's delegation will include 4 medical residents from 3 of our state's residency programs and a medical student from Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG)
Alpert Medical School Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) has new leaders. They are Martin Harrison, Alexandra Massa and Thrusha Puttaraju.
Chapter Meeting and Award Recipients
Dr. George M. Abraham is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and the Chief of Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts, was our Guest speaker. Dr. Abraham is Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), and the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). He is the Emeritus President of the American College of Physicians (ACP) having served from 2021-22. Prior to that he served as Governor of the Massachusetts Chapter, Chair of the Board of Governors (ACP) and as a member of the Board of Regents (ACP).
His talk on The Ten Tenets of Leadership was well received.
Congratulations to the 2026 Chapter Award Recipients!!
Milton Hamolsky Laureate Award: Dominick Tammaro, MD, MACP
Irving Beck Laureate Award: Margaret A. Miller, MD, FACP
Woman Physician of the Year: Mariah Stump, MD, MA, MPH, FACP, DipABLM, ABOIM
Distinguished Mentor Award: Melissa A. McNeil, MD, MPH, MACP
Benjamin L. Sapers, MD Memorial Award: Hussain Raza Khawaja, MD, FACP
Resident Leadership Award: Carl Atallah, MD
Governor's Award: Glenn Fort, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA
Resident presentations
Podium presentation winner
Anushri Nimbvikar. MD: Brown University Health Internal Medicine residency program
Poster presentation winner
Ahmad Abu Dayyeh MD. Kent Hospital/Brown University Internal Medicine residency program
New Chapter Award
Yul D. Ejnes Award for Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism. The Yul D. Ejnes Award for Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism recognizes a Fellow or Master of the College who has demonstrated, by his/her example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, and/or service to their community, their chapter, and the ACP. Nominees may have outstanding achievements in any of a wide variety of areas, including leadership, medical practice, advocacy, and/or volunteerism. This individual should exemplify the College's mission “to enhance the quality and effectiveness of healthcare by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.”
Yul Ejnes served as the Governor of the Rhode Island Chapter of ACP from 1998 to 2000, and from 2002 to 2006. He served as the Chair of Board of Governors from 2006-2007, and later as Chair of Board of Directors of ABIM. He was the recipient of 2024 Alfred Stengel Memorial Award for Outstanding service to American College of Physicians. A prestigious national award which recognizes loyalty and contributions to the aims and purposes of the college.
Yul D. Ejnes Award for Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism: Yul D. Ejnes, MD, MACP. (Inaugural recipient)
Panel discussion about State of Internal Medicine in Rhode Island: Moderator: Thomas Bledsoe, MD, FACP
(Panelists: Michael Souza, CFA, Michael Wagner, MD. Angie Caliendo, MD, and Phil Chan, MD)
Our chapter's Doctors' Dilemma Team
The team from Landmark Medical Center will again be representing our chapter at the national competition. Below is a picture of Glenn Fort, the residency program director with his team of residents.
Mentorship Zone
What are we learning? Who are we learning from? Who are we transferring insights to?
Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
The one who waters will also be watered.
In this newsletter, we get to learn from Karen Woolfall-Quinn who is an Internal Medicine physician at the Providence VA Medical Center and serves as a member of our Governor's Council.
Brief Background: I was the first individual in my family to become a doctor, drawn to medicine by a lifelong curiosity for science and a desire to help others. My childhood journey began with an interest in veterinary medicine but that evolved as I aged and found working directly with people more personally satisfying. However, I did not start out in the life sciences. I was one of the few pre-med students at Brown University studying computer science in the early 1980s. Because computer science was an emerging field at the time, my father encouraged me to pursue it as a practical foundation while I worked toward medical school. I spent a year at IBM as a computer programmer, taking a break from the classroom, saving money, and buying a new car. Growing up in RI, my family was my anchor, offering support and the comfort of home-cooked meals when needed throughout the arduous journey of applications, medical school, and residency.
I attended Brown University Medical School, supported by an Air Force scholarship, and after residency, served three years at Dover Air Force Base as a primary care physician for retired military and their families. Many of us arriving at the base were physicians at the early start of our careers, and we were all equally nervous. Additionally, we had no subspecialty support, and I had to learn to perform sigmoidoscopies, read Holter monitors, and interpret perplexing EKGs with the assistance of the Colonel who herself was an internist. I spent much time faxing EKG tracings to cardiologists at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center as subspecialty support was located two hours away in Washington, DC. Remote consultation and video conferencing were not yet available. I also made frequent ambulance runs to northern Delaware Community Hospital as well as Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval in Washington, DC. On one particularly rough transfer, I developed motion sickness and asked to ride in the front of the ambulance—a small but memorable lesson in humility during those early years. After completing active duty, I transitioned to civilian service at the Providence VA, where I have spent over 30 years caring for Veterans—many of whom I first met in their forties and still remember as the younger men and women they once were.
In addition to my clinical responsibilities, I serve on several VA committees and have held the position of Director for the Combined Brown Affiliated Primary Care Resident Continuity Clinic at the VA for over 25 years.
Why did you choose to specialize in Internal Medicine? What are the 2-3 major factors that have helped you in this profession? I chose Internal Medicine because I enjoy attending to and treating the “whole patient.” I always tell my residents that you need to be a good internist before you can be a good subspecialist. I derive significant professional fulfillment from educating residents and medical students. I also find satisfaction in organizing interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient care and provide valuable educational experiences for all participants. The Providence VA is privileged to host several graduate residency programs, including those in social work, psychology, and pharmacy and there are many opportunities to bring all disciplines together. In the later stages of my career, I have developed a keen interest in artificial intelligence as a means to support primary care providers, whose effectiveness is essential to the sustainability of our health care system
What has kept you in this profession amid the challenges?
I believe that a genuine commitment to patients' well-being is essential to sustaining the demands of clinical medicine. To be an effective clinician, you need to empathize with patients both intellectually and emotionally. Having a daughter with severe Autism has prepared me well for this task. Caring for my daughter has taught me how to recognize situations that are overwhelming and to translate complex information into terms that are meaningful and accessible. This ability to simplify complexity is essential to effective patient communication and satisfaction. Many of my daughter's statements, although simplistic, just state the facts without any inuendo or hidden agenda. It has humbled me and I have learned to approach her oddities with humor. Humility and humor have accompanied me throughout my career, shaping how I care for patients from both sides of the stethoscope. Together, they have sustained me through the inevitable challenges of clinical medicine.
2026 Blizzard
Many of us demonstrated heroic acts of commitment and dedication to our profession during the recent blizzard. Some of us spent nights in the hospitals, others drove to work under very challenging conditions, a few others who had the advantage of proximity, walked to work and a select few like Felipe Vivas dusted off old ski gear to trudge their way to work despite the blizzard conditions.
Doctor skis seven miles to work at Kent Hospital during record-breaking blizzard
Dr. Felipe Vivas
From National ACP
ACP is participating with several other organizations in the Vaccine Integrity Project. The AMA will be helpful in providing the communication piece while AAP, AAFP, ACOG, and ACP will be the main organizations making the guidelines for vaccinations. Check out the Vaccine Integrity Project for updates.
Click here to stay informed regarding ACP advocacy efforts
The resolutions to be discussed at the Board of Governors Spring meeting are as indicated below. Decisions made will be communicated in my subsequent newsletters. You can find the full resolutions text here
Resolution 2-S25. Advocating for Evidence-based Medical Practices Surrounding Kratom Use and Proper Regulation of Kratom.
Resolutions 4-S25 and 5-S25. Aid in Dying Act and Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD).
Resolution 6-S25. Ensuring ACP Accessibility for All Members.
Resolution 1-S26. Educating ACP Members about Discharge Summaries from Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Resolution 2-S26. Advocating for Partial Medicare Opt-Out for Physicians.
Resolution 3-S26. Updating ACP's Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Policy Positions.
Resolution 4-S26. Developing Evidence-Based Nutrition Policy and Establishing an ACP ‘Nutrition and Food as Medicine’ Hub.
Resolution 5-S26. Developing Policy to Support Permanent Standard Time.
Resolution 6-S26. Addressing the Environmental Burden Associated with ACP Publications.
Resolution 7-S26. Phasing Out Industry Funding from ACP's Annual Internal Medicine Meeting.