MSVPAC changes name, recognizes contributors at 2008 Annual Meeting

20 October 2008

RICHMOND, VA - As part of the Medical Society of Virginia’s (MSV) rebranding and strategic planning efforts, the Annual Meeting in Williamsburg in October provided the opportunity to officially roll out the group’s new identity for its political action committee.

“We are no longer VAMPAC, the Virginia Medical Political Action Committee,” said Rolfe White, M.D., who chairs the committee. “The research conducted as part of MSV’s rebranding efforts found that MSV members and legislators did not always associate VAMPAC with MSV, so the recommendation was made to change our name to MSVPAC. Therefore, as of Oct. 1 we are officially the Medical Society of Virginia Political Action Committee.”

MSVPAC raised $357,823 over the past year, an all-time high in total contributions, exceeding the previous high-water mark by almost $47,000. To put this into perspective, in 2005 the PAC raised $208,050; member support has increased contributions to the PAC by 72 percent in a three-year period. These increased donations allowed MSVPAC to conduct its first strategic planning retreat in June.

“The board is confident that the results of this planning process will allow us to achieve our newly adopted vision, which is to ensure that Virginia has the best political environment in which to practice medicine, and to advance quality health care for the citizens of the commonwealth,” Dr. White said.

After presenting the state of MSVPAC to members, Dr. White handed out the committee’s annual legislative awards.

The MSVPAC District Achievement Award, presented annually to the congressional district with the highest contribution total to MSVPAC, went to the Seventh Congressional District, with contributions totaling $145,260. Dr. White recognized MSVPAC Directors John O’ Bannon, M.D. and Clifford Deal, M.D., along with the Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM), for their efforts.

William Bearden, M.D., RAM’s legislative co-chair, accepted the award.