Highlights
· The 4th edition of the Family Practice Desk Reference edited by Charles Driscoll & Ed Bope, was published by the AMA press in September, and we hope that your own copy is on your shelf, or at least on order! It was a team effort: every member of the faculty and a few residents have contributed.

· Managing information is in constant review and upgrade as we look for the perfect system. In August all Centra Health practices went to the Athena Management system. Many hours were spent converting our charts from numerical to alphabetical filing.

· In October we ended our service as medical director for the Guggenheimer Nursing home. John Olmsted '00 carried on the flame. At that same time we submitted a federal grant under Title VII - DHHS to support a revamp of the whole geriatric curriculum and create a stronger educational experience

· Tar Wars: thanks to Brenda Stokes and in the context of our community education effort we have been involved with the local school system and their anti-smoking education. Residents are in the classroom leading activities that hopefully will inspire the young generation to live a healthier lifestyle.

NEWS FROM THE FACULTY

Charlie Driscoll has had a very busy year, administering the residency, co-editing the writing of "our" book and authoring 3 of its chapters, co-authoring the DHHS Title VII grant for Residency Training in Family Practice (geriatrics), delivering babies and doing his share of patient care and teaching. He has also traveled a great deal to fulfill his commitments to the many organizations and committees he belongs to. He attended the National Meeting of Family Practice Residency Directors with Dean Gianakos, and co-presented a session on the topic of assisting impaired residents: With Jackie he wrote a chapter in Taylor's Family Medicine- Principle and Practice Helping Patients with Sexual Concerns. He served on the US Pharmacopoeia Congress as representative for the AAFP, on the Standards Analysis Committee of the ABFP and on the RRC Board of ACGME. For his impressive list of achievements Charlie received the "Centra Health Recognition Award". And if life was not full enough, Charlie finds time to serve as Elder for the Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.

In his quiet way Dean Gianakos is assuming many jobs and among them chair of the Centra Health Ethics Committee and member of the editorial board of Patient Care. As indicated before in June Dean and Charlie Driscoll presented a session on "impaired residents" at the Association of Family Practice Directors in Kansas City, MO. His article Worry List was published in the June issue of Chest (p.2085). Dean's athletic enthusiasm was put to the test at the annual CVITT (Central Virginia Invitational Tennis Tournament). He did well! His son George (10) is also a rising star as a tennis player as he distinguished himself in junior competitions. Take a look at his gallery of family pictures and you'll find a smile on every face.

This year as in the past George Wortley pursued his adventurous life style which took him to a variety of places: the British Virgin Islands, The Sahara desert where he celebrated his 50th birthday, Maui, Hawaii and Mexico for the 4th time to provide medical assistance to the Tarahumara Tribe: Brigitte Small '03 accompanied him in the Spring and again as you read this letter in mid-December George is returning to that same Mexican Copper's Canyon accompanied by wife Susan and by Kori Jackson '02 & husband David. He also made several presentations on such topics as Bio-terrorism, Exercise Prescription and Agricultural Medicine, Wilderness Medicine and Medical Aspects of Adventure Racing. George passed the Sports Medicine CAQ recertification exam, served as chairman of the Formulary Committee for the Pharmacy Access Coalition, published a first-of-its-kind "Community Formulary" for low income and elderly patients, served as medical advisor for the USA Adventure Racing Association National Championship, decided to explore new places and completed training in "Vertical Caving" and "Cave Rescue." As to his family, Susan retired from teaching at the LGH School of nursing and works in the postpartum unit of the L&D floor at VBH, children and grandchild are doing remarkably well.

What better way to start the year but with a vacation… In January Bob and Brenda Elliott took a cruise to the Uquitan Peninsula and to the Florida Keys- they loved Key West. Bob continues to divide his time between the practice in Hurt, VA, and as an attending for the residency. Already children in college…

Bill Crow continues to be a trusted teacher in oncology and is mastering the use of PowerPoint. True to himself Bill earned once again the Centra Health medal for collecting the highest number of CMEs among local physicians with 100's of credit hours. As a tireless learner he attended a cardiology meeting in Roanoke, the annual VAFP meeting at Wintergreen and recently the Coastal Oncology meeting in Wilmington, NC. With Caroline he occasionally combines learning with the joys of grandparenthood, visiting his daughter's family in Williamsburg (they talk proudly of the early achievement of their little 2 year old Jack) and their son who pursues his creative visual art and, emulating his dad, acts as a teacher and artist-mentor to sensory-impaired persons. Caroline remains very busy with part-time work and tireless volunteer activities..

Pat Pletke continues to spend much of her time either precepting or seeing patients at the office and until October she was medical director of Guggenheimer Nursing home. Pat has been able to attend a few conferences, including her favorite: the annual spring Birdsong conference at the Homestead in West Virginia. The Birdsong serves as an alumnae reunion and several graduates and teachers participated: Becky Young '96, Lisa Langenberg '97, Amy (Shepard) Grace '98, Brenda Stokes '99 and Susan Hundley '00, Liz Mumper and Kit Nichols. On the family front children are sources of great pride, and honor their parents with outstanding achievements. Sara, a senior at Duke University, is on the dean's list. By the fall semester she has already received impressive job offers. She spent a few summer weeks in England and was visited by mom and dad. Daughter Monica is a sophomore at William & Mary. She has tried her energy at the rowing club. Son Andrew is now a freshman at E.C. Glass, enjoys his after school job at the pet store and soccer under Phil's skilled coaching.

Alex Wilgus has the demanding responsibility of director of patient care and computer guru. The changing practice management landscape including the implementation of the Athena Management System, is a source of constant doing-and-undoing which his good humor and patience helped us survive. His office walls surround him with colorful drawings and photog