Thomas named chair of ACCME

TAFP member R. Russell Thomas, Jr., D.O., M.P.H., was named chair of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Board of Directors at the conclusion of the ACCME’s November 2007 meeting.

As chair, Thomas will preside at all meetings of the ACCME Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. He is responsible for working with the senior management of ACCME in the establishment of the agenda for meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and works closely with the ACCME’s chief executive between those meetings. His term will extend through 2008. In 2007, he served as the vice chair of the ACCME Board of Directors and has been a member of the ACCME Executive Committee since 2005.

Thomas currently practices family medicine in Eagle Lake, Texas, and serves as the medical director for Phoenix West EMS and Colorado County EMS. He recently completed a six-year term as a director of the Federation of State Medical Boards.

ACCME is a not-for-profit corporation that accredits providers of continuing medical education and oversees the recognition of state and territorial organizations that accredit additional providers. The 20-member ACCME board is comprised of two representatives from seven member organizations—the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Association for Hospital Medical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges, Council of Medical Specialty Societies and the Federation of State Medical Boards—plus two public directors, two directors affiliated with recognized institutions and two non-voting representatives from the federal government.