Daniel Sorenson, MD
PAMCMF Founding Board Member and MHN Medical Director, Emeritus
There is a new way that all of the approximately six hundred members of Physicians Associates of MidMichigan (PAM) have become philanthropists. Health providers have a long history of individually donating time, money and resources to our communities. However, the formation this year of a new foundation, Physician Associates of MidMichigan Community Medical Foundation (PAMCMF), will allow a more targeted and organized pathway to help fund some of our region's medical needs.
PAM was organized in 1983 as a physician organization that now includes health care providers from more than 20 other counties in Michigan. PAM addresses the need for physician input in matters such as payer contracts, network management, population health, quality improvement, utilization management and credentialing. An equal partnership with MidMichigan Health birthed MidMichigan Health Network (MHN), which was better able to amalgamate our resources to achieve the desired goals.
In the course of achieving these goals, PAM has generated significant cash reserves through payments from insurers and other entities for PAM's medical management activities, credentialing, and quality performance measures oversight. The PAM board of directors voted to use these funds to establish a new foundation, PAMCMF. The initial endowment of $1,000,000 will allow a total of approximately $50,000 of annual disbursements to chosen recipient(s).
We live in an area that has been blessed for years by the largesse of multiple private, corporate and community foundations. With this in mind, PAMCMF is dedicated to target specific medically oriented needs that may have missed out on grants from larger foundations.
Decisions on who will receive our foundation's help will be decided based on applications submitted to the board of PAMCMF. Value to the community's health will be the main criterion for approval. The board currently consists of six members, led by Tom Johnson, MD and Mark Ostahowski, MD In total, the board has five physicians with a total of more than 100 years of clinical practice in this region, as well as an experienced and well-respected financial advisor.
PAMCMF will evolve over time. Additional funding is probable; and as our communities and membership see the value of our participation in making our region a healthier place to live, we anticipate increasing interest, participation and support for this foundation's endeavors.
For more information on PAMCMF, please contact Jodie Chant, Executive Director at info@pamcmf.org.