Friday, October 23, 2009

Heim Now Heads Physicians' Group

From The Pilot:  October 23, 2009

Dr. Lori J. Heim of Vass has assumed the role of president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Previously, she served three years as a director on the AAFP Board of Directors and one year as president-elect. Heim was elected president-elect in September 2008 by the Congress of Delegates, the AAFP's governing body.
The AAFP represents more than 94,600 physicians and medical students nationwide
A practicing family physician for 20 years, Heim currently serves as a hospitalist at Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg, where she manages the inpatient care of adult patients referred by primary care physicians in the community. Hospitalists bridge the gap between hospitalized patients and their primary care doctors to ensure continuity of care.


Heim is the first family physician to serve as a hospitalist at Scotland Memorial Hospital. She is joined in the hospitalist program by four internal medicine physicians and two family nurse practitioners. Previously, she was in private practice in Pinehurst. As president of the AAFP, Heim advocates on behalf of family physicians and patients nationwide to inspire positive change in the U.S. health-care system, a news release said.
A member of the AAFP since 1985, Heim served as a delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates from 2000 to 2004. She served on the Commission on Health Care Services and on the Task Force of Linkages to Practice Improvement. In addition, she held the offices of president, vice president and member of the Board of Directors of the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians.
Heim earned her bachelor's degree with honors from Portland State University in Oregon and was then commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and earned her medical degree at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. She completed her residency at the Family Medicine Residency, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. She then completed a fellowship in faculty development and research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has the AAFP Degree of Fellow, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.
Heim's appointments with the Air Force included staff physician, clinic chief, residency director, assistant professor, university health center director, chief of the medical staff and commander. She was stationed internationally in Turkey and domestically in Washington, D.C., Florida, North Carolina and Washington state. She retired as a colonel from the Air Force in 2007 after 25 years of service and relocated to North Carolina.
She has lectured worldwide, and her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals. She has participated in humanitarian missions and volunteered in medical clinics in underserved communities.
Heim has received numerous decorations including the Air Force Meritorious Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Her awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Humanitarian Service Award and the National Defense Service Award.

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