House Resolution 7

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION SALUTING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ALLIANCE ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPITOL SCREENING INITIATIVE (CSI) AND ITS FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL SCREENINGS IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE LIVES OF MISSISSIPPIANS ON JANUARY 15, 2015.

WHEREAS, the efforts of the Mississippi State Medical Association Alliance (MSMAA), the physician spouse organization with the mission to support physician families through advocacy and education that originated during the 20th Annual Session of the Mississippi State Medical Association in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on May 9, 1923, is focused on enhancing the benefits of community health initiatives including violence prevention, anti-bullying, health literacy and healthy lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi State Medical Association Alliance has become recognized as part of the largest volunteer arm of the American Medical Association and serves as a volunteer voice for physician families; and

WHEREAS, MSMAA supports the advancement of medical information and promotes harmony among physicians, communities and members of the Legislature, while striving to impact medical policy, improve the health of adults and children through partnerships focused on impacting public health education and enriching Mississippi communities through numerous health service projects; and

WHEREAS, conceived and implemented by MSMAA President for 2005-2006, Angela Ladner, with MSMAA Legislative Chairman, Rachel Aultman, the first Mississippi Capitol Screening Initiative (CSI) was held in February 2006, in the rotunda of the Mississippi State Capitol as a result of the MSMAA partnering with health providers from around the state to offer 14 various health screenings to the members of the Legislature and legislative staff free of charge, which included screenings for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, PSA, vision, dental, bone density, lung capacity, skin cancer, breast cancer, EKG, diabetes, smoking cessation and mental health/depression; and

WHEREAS, doctors were on-site to help perform the tests and answer questions about potential health outcomes while members of the MSMAA provided healthy snacks for all those who were screened and provided test results on-site from the provider or mailed at a later date to those tested from the appropriate state medical facilities; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, CSI was recognized and awarded a Legislative, Education and Awareness Promotion (LEAP) Award by the American Medical Association Alliance at the group's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, as the most outstanding legislative program across the country among fellow Alliances, which was accepted by MSMAA President 2006-2007, Karen Morris, along with MSMAA Legislative Chairman, Shannon Warnock; and

WHEREAS, after introduction and passage of House Bill No. 679, by Representatives Steve Holland and Alyce Clarke, during the 2006 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, the third Thursday of January of each year would be designated as "Mississippi Health Awareness Day" to promote health and disease prevention efforts throughout the State of Mississippi, and CSI was moved to that day to annually coincide with the significance of the health initiative; and

WHEREAS, after the first five years of CSI, the leadership of the Mississippi State Medical Association and the Mississippi State Department of Health partnered for the official announcement and presentation of the findings in the state health report card in tandem with CSI; and

WHEREAS, it has been documented that several individuals who received screenings during previous CSI programs were diagnosed and are survivors of male breast cancer, an aortic aneurysm and female breast cancer, as well as having the results draw attention to health issues that were of concern from the health screenings that might have gone undetected without CSI; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such remarkable and dedicated groups who are improving the lives of the people of this great state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby salute and congratulate the generosity and volunteering spirit of the members of the Mississippi State Medical Association Alliance, upon their execution of Mississippi's Capitol Screening Initiative over the last ten years of service that have provided health screenings to the members of the Legislature, legislative staff and countless other Mississippians, and extend best wishes for continued success in continuing this important program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi State Medical Association Alliance and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.