Q&A with Dr. Komorowski, a Bay City physician who serves as President of the State Medical Society

Dr. Mark C. Komorowski, a board-certified Plastic Surgeon who served as the Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at McLaren Bay Region, was voted President of the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) in May.  

A graduate of St. George’s University, Komorowski completed his Residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and has been practicing Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for more than 20 years.

Komorowski also serves as the Chair of the Michigan Delegation to the American Medical Association, as the President of both the Bay County Medical Society and Great Lakes Physician Organization, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Physician Associates of MidMichigan physician organization.

He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons.

Photo courtesy of Michigan State Medical SocietyDr. Mark C. KomorowskiQUESTION: Congratulations on your new position as President of the Michigan State Medical Society. Can you explain what the Society does for physicians and how that matters to patients?

ANSWER: The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) advocates on behalf of its members with the governor's office, legislators and the State Supreme Court on issues that affect the delivery of healthcare; we collaborate with appropriate stakeholders as well. MSMS provides access to educational forums to meet licensure requirements. The independent practice physicians utilize MSMS as their Chamber of Commerce.

Q: Can you talk about recent, or pending, initiatives and legislation that will affect patients and physicians? If you have advice on how to navigate these changes, please share it.

A:  A perennial issue is the defense of scope of practice and the importance of physician-led teams. The pathway to a medical license is quite different from that of a nurse practitioner (NP) license. Medical School is a four-year program consisting of didactic and clinical training. Examinations are taken after the second and fourth years that must be passed to continue forward. Then depending on the specific specialty it takes anywhere from three to eight years of post graduate training followed by a board examination. There is no other pathway equivalent to a physician's training that should have license parity. The MSMS supported bill defining team led care is HB #4472.
 
The MSMS was instrumental in getting legislation passed that reduces the burden of prior authorization (PA), a process that insurance companies engaged in to restrict access to medications and testing. These companies need to respond within three to seven days of the request depending on the urgency otherwise it can't be refuted. 

Q: I see efforts by colleges and universities to recruit people into health care careers. What is MSMS doing to support those efforts? 

A: MSMS has advocated for, and the state has just increased funding for, the MIDOCs program which pays the student loans of physicians who train in certain shortage (primary care) specialties and agree to stay in Michigan to practice for two years. Despite having seven medical schools in this state; the most recent three taxpayer funded, the retention rate after graduation is abysmal.

Graphic courtesy of Michigan State Medical SocietyQ: What do physicians need from their patients and communities? 

A: Health maintenance requires patient participation. Michigan’s public health can be most improved by better health behaviors. This includes things like smoking less, and exercising more, but also compliance with screening recommendations such as mammography and colonoscopies and better compliance in treating hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
 
Purchasing foods without added sugars, it's right there on the label. Start by curbing snacks with high fructose content for children and limit fast food intake. Obesity leads to so many maladies (Type 2 diabetes, degenerative joint and heart disease) and can be associated as an addictive behavior. Refrain from stress eating, substitute with an alternative mechanism. 
 
Speak with your physician on how you can be an advocate with local, state and federal legislators who represent you. There is no louder voice than that of a constituent.