ISMA is committed to empowering physicians to navigate industry changes and personal challenges and to thrive. Two exciting new programs for residents, fellows and physicians in the early years of practice are doing just that, by expanding opportunities for leadership, learning and interactions with other ISMA members.

ISMA Resident and Fellow Society (RFS)
The ISMA Resident and Fellow Society was established in 1984 to encourage new physicians to be active in ISMA and to support their health, well-being and professional growth. RFS representatives sit on the ISMA Board of Trustees, the Commission on Legislation and the House of Delegates.

Residents and fellows can join ISMA for the duration of their residency for just $50, and all residents and fellows who join are automatically members of the RFS. Some graduate medical education programs enroll their participants in ISMA automatically. If you are not sure whether you’re a member, contact ISMA Membership Coordinator Vicki Riley. 

New: RFS Liaison Program
In February 2021, ISMA launched the RFS Liaison Program to increase interactions with RFS members, nurture physician leaders and understand the needs of new physicians better. This growing volunteer professional network for residents and fellows has 39 members from 27 programs and aims to have representation from every training program in Indiana. Those serving as liaisons have volunteered or been recommended by program directors for their interest in health care advocacy and leadership potential. They spend about two hours a month communicating with ISMA staff about topics of interest.

RFS President Mohsin Mukhtar, MD, MBA, said the liaison program aims to build nonclinical advocacy competencies and leadership skills. Liaisons come together virtually at least once monthly to discuss proposed legislation, new policy, and issues pertaining to their training, which they can then share with their respective co-residents and training programs. Liaisons have also had the opportunity to learn about ISMA’s Government Relations efforts and Physician Assistance Program. The ISMA annual convention and the Physician Advocacy Day provide additional opportunities for engagement.

“In short,” Dr. Mukhtar said, “by being on the front lines throughout the state, liaisons help the RFS keep a pulse on issues most important to physicians in training and, in turn, build the network and skills they need to be effective advocates for themselves and their patients.”

ISMA Young Physician Society (YPS)
Physician members younger than 40 or who have completed residency and fellowship training within the past five years are automatically members of the Young Physician Society, and physicians in their first year of practice pay discounted annual dues of just $245. YPS members hold seats on the ISMA Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates.

YPS seeks to strengthen the value of ISMA membership for young physicians. That includes providing resources for transition to practice, legal issues and physician wellness; facilitating members’ participation in policy making; promoting young physician leadership by providing leadership education, opportunities and resources; and keeping members informed about issues they face as early-career physicians.

Andreia Alexander, MD, YPS trustee, has found involvement with the group invaluable.

“I wanted to have a hand in the development of policies that could affect the health of all Hoosiers, but I especially wanted to stand up for policies that could build health equity and eliminate disparities,” she said. “Being a new physician and new to health policy, I knew I needed the infrastructure and guidance of a group such as ISMA to truly be effective.”

YPS Alternate Trustee Tyler Heavin, MD, said he is excited to be caring for patients but is concerned about how rapid changes taking place in health care might affect his future career and ability to provide good quality care. “The Indiana State Medical Association provides the education and guidance needed to make our voices heard and effect real change,” he said.

Not only do YPS members learn from being involved in ISMA, their input keeps ISMA leaders apprised of challenges facing young physicians, such as medical education debt, burnout, physician wellness and scope of practice, and helps ISMA develop programming and communications to serve them.

New: YPS Member-at-Large Program
The YPS also provides a much-needed forum for young physicians to connect with peers going through the same experiences. To increase YPS engagement and opportunities for leadership development, the YPS Member-at-Large Program was created last month and already has 14 members.

YPS members-at-large are volunteers who share an interest in leadership and advocacy and want to increase their involvement with ISMA. The Member-at-Large team is working to build a community of young physicians in Indiana who want to connect with peers experiencing the same challenges while learning more about the YPS. The team plans to meet virtually four times a year for approximately 30 minutes, as well as at a spring social event and the ISMA convention in September.

Get involved
Both the RFS liaison and YPS member-at-large positions require only a limited time commitment, in recognition of members’ busy personal and professional lives. If you would like to become part of these new professional communities or have questions, contact ISMA Physician Relations Liaison Katie Kluger now.

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RFS Liaisons
Rana M. Alcheikh, MD
Peter G. Bittar, MD
Emily E. Blake, MD
Savanna H. Bruski, DO
Kimberly A.K. Carhuatanta, DO 
Ruvi Chauhan, MD
Lindsey N. Clark, MD
Dustin Craney, DO
Srikanth Dasari, MD
William Logan Dedmon, DO
Mackenzie Perkins Denton, DO
Wil J. Escala, MD
Abigail M. Etters, DO
J.P. Ewondo, MD
Thomas C. Fisher-Heath, DO
Laura Fulkerson, DO
Zachary W. Fyffe, DO
Peter Gunderman, MD
Seth Alexander Hunter, MD
Katherine L. Hutchins, MD
Nuvair A. Imam, MD 
Crystal Kalogris, DO
Peter George Karalis, MD
Michael R. Keller, MD
Chelsea F. Kolodziej, DO
Anita Zhao Li, MD
Mackenzie K. Madison, MD
Shelby Morrison, MD
Hinduja Nallamala, DO
Ryan R. Pattyn, MD
Justin Craig Reed, MD
Chase Ricker, MD
Kengo Zaven Soghoyan, MD
Kristen J. Steiner, MD 
Marina A. Tipold, DO
Nabeel I. Uwaydah, MD
Alexander Waldherr, DO
Michael J. Ye, MD
Aleena Zia, MBBS

RFS Leaders
Mohsin Mukhtar, MD, President
Kristen Rush, MD, ISMA Trustee 
Caitlin Harmon, DO, ISMA Alternate Trustee
Katherine Anderson, MD, President-elect
Seth Hunter, MD, Commission on Legislation
Chelsea Kolodziej, DO, VP of Membership
Hinduja Nallamala, MD, VP of Advocacy
Kylie Klemann, MD, Vice President of Marketing and Social Media

YPS Members at Large
Chad Curtis, DO
Elaina DiOrio, MD
Matt DuPre, MD
Varun Gaur, MD
Colin Good, DO
Angela Hatfield, MD
Alicia Julovich, MD
Daniel Kemp, MD
Sivagami Ramasundaram, MD
Trenton Schmale, DO
Melissa Schultz, MD
Mary Anne Snyder, DO
Nicole Sonn, MD
Emily Zarse, MD

YPS Leaders
Andreia Alexander, MD, ISMA Trustee
Tyler Heavin, MD, ISMA Alternate Trustee

Help us grow! Do you know other residents, fellows or young physicians who would benefit from ISMA membership? Direct them to our website to join.