President's Letter: Graduation Cheers, Legislative Wrap-Up, and Summer Social Events

As we enter the summer season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the energy and activity within our medical community over the past month. TCMS continues to thrive thanks to your engagement, commitment to professional excellence, camaraderie, and advocacy.

In May, we celebrated the next generation of physicians, as the OU School of Community Medicine and the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine held their 2025 commencement ceremonies, granting medical degrees to a combined total of just under 200 new physicians (See pages 5-11). These graduates represent a hopeful future for healthcare in our state. Many are staying in Oklahoma to pursue residency training and practice in underserved areas—a reflection of the mission and values instilled by both institutions. We offer them our heartfelt congratulations and encouragement as they begin their medical careers.

On the advocacy front, many TCMS members contacted their legislators and were strong advocates for medicine and patients during this legislative session.  While several key issues remain works in progress, the session marked some important wins as well as continued challenges.  Wins included advancement in prior authorization reform which will require timely decisions on drug authorization requests, and health insurance claw back reform which will shorten the time that insurance companies have to “claw back” previously approved claims.  Both bills will become law in November.  And, although many of us were disappointed to see further expansion of scope of practice for non-physicians, the OSMA did successfully add to the scope bills several requirements aimed at protecting patients including:  NPs and PAs will NOT be allowed to prescribe Schedule II drugs, 6240 hours of supervised clinical experience (under a physician) will be required prior to NP/PA independent practice, as well as additional CME requirements and $1M/$3M medical liability coverage. The OSMA’s ability to navigate complex policy landscapes and keep physician voices at the table is more important than ever. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to read OSMA’s most recent legislative update (See page 12), it’s both informative and a reminder of why physician engagement in policy matters.

An exciting TCMS highlight from May was our MedTalk on Tap social and educational event. This gathering proved once again to be an excellent blend of professional development and networking in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. The evening featured an insightful presentation on “Social Media and Reputation Management in the Medical Practice,” presented by our generous sponsor, SVMIC medical malpractice insurance company. 

In today’s digital age, managing an online presence is increasingly important for both individual practitioners and larger practices. The talk focused on navigating social media platforms, understanding the risks of online reviews, and strategies for maintaining a positive reputation in an increasingly connected world. From managing patient expectations online to the ethical implications of engaging on social media, the discussion sparked a lot of valuable dialogue. Hopefully, those who attended left with a stronger understanding of how to best protect their reputations and utilize digital tools to enhance their practices. A big thank you to everyone who participated, as well as to our sponsor for providing such relevant, timely information. 

Looking ahead, I’m excited about our upcoming Drillers Night at ONEOK Field on Tuesday, July 1st! This is a fantastic event where we can enjoy an evening of baseball, food, connecting with colleagues, and summer fun. Tickets include access to the Coors Light Deck, food, fireworks, and we expect a great turnout. These informal gatherings are a wonderful way to build relationships outside the clinical setting. Though tickets are limited, we’d love to see you there.

As always, thank you for your continued dedication to your patients, your profession, and this community. Let’s keep the momentum going as we move into the second half of the year.

Ondria C Gleason, MD

TCMS President