This year marked the MSMS Foundation's 152nd Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). Last week's conference brought more than 500 attendees, including physicians from various practice settings and sizes, residents, medical students, conference presenters, and exhibitors. This year's conference primary focus was on opioids and the epidemic that is sweeping our nation. Additionally, the MSMS Foundation offered educational courses on the state of Michigan’s new continuing medical education (CME) requirements: opioid and pain management, human trafficking, and medical ethics. Physicians were able to earn a total of 32.75 total CME credits this year.

Attendees were also encouraged to visit the exhibit hall on both Wednesday and Thursday. There were more than 30 exhibitors on-site, including MSMS Practice Solutions' partners like Officite and First Healthcare Compliance.

In addition to this year's CME schedule there were various other events that took place throughout the four day conference including the Student and Resident Research Symposium competition, the 50-year Awardees Luncheon, and the Mridha Award presentation.

Student and Resident Research Symposium Results:

The research poster competition, now in its seventh year, provides residents, fellows, and medical students throughout Michigan an opportunity to present their medical and scientific research to the medical profession.

Residents and students present their posters before lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and are judged by physician volunteers attending the conference.

First place in Resident/Fellow Clinical Medicine and Vignettes was awarded to, Jane Lee, MD, and Gena Schubert, DO; both physicians are Pediatric Residents at Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit. Their submission was titled: "Not All Vomiting in Benign: A Case of Carotid Artery Dissection".

First place in Student Clinical Medicine/Vignettes was awarded to Anne Drolet from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids. Her submission was: "Young Women and Labiaplasties: A Growing National Trend".

50-year Award Luncheon

New to ASM this year was the 50-year Awardees Luncheon. This luncheon was formerly held at the MSMS House of Delegates (HOD) but moved to this year's ASM.

The 50-year Awardees Luncheon honors those physicians who have been graduated from medical school for 50 years. More than 100 of MSMS's physicians were recognized this year and 13 were able to make it to the luncheon along with their special guests. MSMS President, Cheryl Gibson Fountain, MD, presented the members with their award alongside Bassam Nasr, MD, who served as the luncheon moderator.

Mridha Award

Also new to ASM this year was the Mridha Award presentation. This, too, was presented at the HOD but moved to ASM. This annual award was created by Debasish Mridha, MD, through the MSMS Foundation to support physician volunteerism.

This year's award recipient was Mohammad Arsiwala, MD. In addition to his urgent care clinics in Southeast Michigan, Doctor Arsiwala is involved with medical mission projects around the world. In 2005, he founded the Help Global Foundation with the goal of creating economic solutions to eliminate poverty, improve health outcomes and create educational opportunities. The reach of the Foundation includes impacts India, Afghanistan, Haiti and Uganda.

In Afghanistan, he has provided medical care in many regions of the country. The three medical mission trips have provided health care for more than 1,500 individuals. The Foundation recently started construction on a hospital in a remote area of the country with high mortality which will provide health care to 600,000 - 800,000 individuals.

In India, the Foundation supports child literacy by providing books, laptops and teachers for children in rural areas.

In Uganda, the Foundation has completed 3 medical mission trips where more than 4,000 patients have been treated included 300 surgeries. Work has begun on the construction of a specialty hospital that will serve East Uganda.

Throughout his career, Doctor Arsiwala has dedicated his time and efforts to helping the underserved both in his community and abroad.