Minutes of First KAMA Executive Meeting 2008

Date: February 23, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Morton’s Steakhouse, Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack, NJ

Attendees:

1. Daniel Kim, M.D.
2. Kevin Lee, M.D.
3. John Won, M.D.
4. Jay Chun, M.D.
5. Bernie Park, M.D.
6. Peter S. Kim, M.D.
7. Yekyung Kong, M.D.
8. Jeffrey Ahn, M.D.
9. John Yun, M.D.
10. Charles Kwak, M.D.
11. Benjamin Choi, M.D.
12. Mun Hong, M.D.
13. Dennis Chi, M.D.
14. Eunja Kim, M.D.
15. Yong Kim, M.D.
16. In-Suk Seo, M.D.
17. Jae Hong Ro, M.D.
18. Chung Taik Chung, M.D.
19. Hansook Chung
20. Dong Heon Jung

Approval of minutes of 12/31/07 meeting

REPORTS
President
Dr. Daniel Kim outlined several goals for the upcoming year, including weekly communication with the central office and manager, Mr. Jung, monthly meetings with core officers, accurate maintenance of the active membership lists and KAMA website, more efficient accounting records with consolidation of bank accounts and maintenance of a positive fiscal balance. In this regard Dr. Kim acknowledged the generous contribution of the 2008 donors thus far (Drs. Jay Chun, Jaie Ock Chu and Kwang Tae Kim of Dae Rim St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul).
Dr. Kim mentioned that he would be visiting several regional KAMA chapters in Maryland, Chicago and Philadelphia, attending the KMA annual convention and 100th year events in Korea, and the AMA annual meeting in Chicago. The Annual Scientific Convention has been changed this year to August 23-28, 2008.
Lastly, Dr. Kim announced plans to increase awareness of KAMA through publication of the 100-year Commemorative Book, expansion of the medical school scholarship program, as well as various media and fund-raising events in the community.

Immediate Past-President
Dr. Chung Taik Chung praised the efforts of Daniel Kim and highlighted some key changes/developments coming out of the last year. First, he noted the revision of the by-laws with respect to the election and oversight of the Board of Directors. Dr. Chung provided an update on the renewal of KAMA’s non-profit status. The application in NY was rejected, requiring application for such status instead in Maryland. He encouraged all members to participate in the KMA events in May and thanked the U.S. graduates for their support of KAMA.

Vice-Presidents
Dr. Jae Hong Ro remarked that KAMA was important not only for bringing together the Korean-American medical community, but also for maintaining family ties and tradition through the years. He offered to be a liason to the KMA.
Dr. In-Suk Seo, representing Dr. E. Edmund Kim, the President-elect of KAMA, proposed the possibility of increasing attendance by holding joint meetings with KMA either during the summer in Chicago or during the winter in California. He also provided some additional background information about Dr. Kim regarding his current role as an academic nuclear medicine and radiology attending at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. John Won acknowledged being honored to be a vice-president and felt membership recruitment would be key to the continuing success of KAMA.

Executive Secretary
Dr. Bernie Park thanked KAMA and Dr. Daniel Kim for the opportunity to be more involved in KAMA and support its continued growth and expansion in the future.

Treasurer
Dr. Daniel Kim reported in Dr. Stanley Kim’s absence that the financial statements due in March 2008 will be ready for presentation by the May 2008 meeting. The surplus from the 2007 convention will be roughly $50,000. Dr. Chung felt that in the future all surpluses from previous years should be automatically rolled over to the next administration.

U.S. Graduates Committee
Dr. Jeffrey Ahn recounted that this committee and its fund were created under the administration of Dr. Seh to provide a financial cushion for any U.S. graduate president because of the lack of unified alumni. Dr. Chung felt that the Board of Directors should decide what to do with the money in the fund, and that this account could then be closed. Dr. Ahn reminded the group that a $19,000 bill from the PGA National was still outstanding, and Dr. Chung recommended that the money be put aside in the event the balance was due. Dr. Yekyung Kong felt that recruitment of U.S. graduates would be important to take KAMA into the future and to broaden participation nationally.

Convention Committee
Dr. Yong Kim reported that cabins for the cruise were being booked quickly and that those interested in attending the Annual Convention would have to reserve their cabins soon to take advantage of the convention rate.

Scientific and Education Committee
Drs. Chi and Choi felt that the format of the scientific program would be challenging given the format on the cruise, but asked that any member that has a potential speaker let them know. Dr. Yong Kim emphasized that there would be more cabins available until June 2008 for potential speakers.

Newsletter
Dr. Charles Kwok announced that the new newsletter would be coming out in April 2008 and asked that each of the officers send him their contribution if any.

Scholarship Committee
Dr. Mun Hong reported that last year 9 scholarships were given from over 40 applications. He was hoping to increase the number of applications this year and suggested that more committee members participate in the selection process. In order to attract future members he proposed to increase the funds available and therefore increase the number of awards given.

AMA Delegate Committee
Dr. John Yun encouraged all KAMA members to join the AMA and participate in the upcoming meeting, June 14-18 in order to hear the various resolutions, particularly regarding proposed changes to Medicaire. He emphasized that many private insurers are following Medicaire, so that any proposed modification of Medicaire would have a major effect on all of us. Dr. Yun also emphasized that according to AMA statistics there are 12,000 Korean-American medical school graduates, and that a mailing campaign to increase awareness of KAMA may be beneficial.

Community Affairs Committee
Dr. Eun Ja Kim updated the group about upcoming combined events with KAMPANY and the FGS in New Jersey, encouraging both KAMA and AKAM members to support these efforts. Dr. Peter Kim expressed the feeling that KAMA should actively contribute to the community, though he was a little unsure of what the specific goals of KAMA are.

International Committee
Dr. Kevin Lee expressed enthusiasm for cultivating more interaction with our international colleagues. Dr. Seo reinforced the idea of holding joint symposia with KMA. Dr. Daniel Kim remarked that he would be polling KAMA members regarding their willingness to participate in these joint ventures.

OTHER BUSINESS
Friday, August 22, 2008 was announced as the Sail Away Reception prior to the Annual Scientific Meeting. The location is TBA. The date of the year-end party was tentatively identified as Jaunary 10, 2009.

NEXT MEETING

Friday, May 31, 2008

The Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Bernard J. Park, M.D.
Executive Secretary