Alliance President's Message


The Polk County Medical Society Alliance is embarking on new ground this year with co-presidents. As we head into our 75th year we are excited to be sharing this task and hope that it will be a mutually rewarding experience for our members as well. Dottie McGinnis’ skillful leadership of the past 2 years has challenged us to set our goals high and form new committees that will benefit our members. A revised mission statement will be written to clearly identify PCMSA’s purpose. We look forward to sharing it with you in a future PCMS bulletin.

The most noticeable change is the updated look of our newsletter. We are grateful to The Iowa Clinic for printing and designing the new Pulsebeat and hope that it will be fresh, informative and a must read. Heather Brown, Stacie Fry and Anne Johnson make up the Pulsebeat committee. Our sincere thanks to Broadlawns Medical Center for printing our newsletter in the past few years.

It is our hope that we can strengthen one of our best assets – the essential support system that we can offer our members through our Caring Committee. It will be based on the Iowa Medical Society Alliance’s Spouses Offering Support Committee, which was formed to offer confidential and caring support to members dealing with problems such as impairment, marital difficulties, handicapped child, death of a spouse, breast cancer, parenting challenges or other issues. Jacci Dewdney will chair this committee. Another goal is to promote awareness of volunteer opportunities within our medical community. As physician spouses, we understand first hand the importance of giving back to charitable health care endeavors.

Please encourage your spouse to become a member of PCMSA. Dues are $80 (County $20, State $20 and National $40 ) and may be mailed to: Chris Korte, 2600 Westown Pkwy., Suite 101, W Des Moines 50266.

We are proud to announce 2004 Community Resources Grant recipients:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa – Educational materials, health info series.
Broadlawns Foundation – HUGS security system tags for nursery.
Children and Families of Iowa – First Responders program (victim support).
Children’s Cancer Programs – Camperships to oncology & siblings camp.
Des Moines Art Center – Youth Emergency Shelter – art therapy supplies.
Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside – Cabin Safety packs (first aid, sunscreen, flash lights, repellant).
Free Clinics of Iowa – Supplies, meds and equipment.
Hertko Hollow – Campership for diabetic child.
IA Reading Information Service – Receivers (radios) in homes of visually impaired.
Neurofibromatosis Foundation, Iowa – Printing and distributing educational materials.
On With Life – Music Thearapy materials (songbooks, CD’s, instruments).
Prevent Blindness IA – Free eye exams and glasses for students.
South Suburban YMCA – Fitness class memberships for low income women.
Traumatic Injury Prevention (TIPS) – Assemblies in schools.
Visiting Nurse Services – Stork’s Nest videos on parenting.
YWCA of Greater Des Moines – Medicine cupboard health items, educational literature.