I came to the LAC+USC Medical Center in 1979, having completed my medical studies and a residency in Family Practice in Canada, to enter residency training in Emergency Medicine. Upon completing this residency, I joined the faculty and have been here ever since. I currently do no private practice and am a county physician. I am President Elect of the Medical Faculty Assembly and serve on numerous University and Medical Center committees.
I wish to represent you as a member of the CPSA negotiating team because I know this matter to be of vital importance both to the Medical Center and the School of Medicine and because I believe I fully understand the issues and am totally dedicated not only to the survival but the continued excellence of the LAC+USC Medical Center.
The faculty who serve at the Medical Center need to be recognized for their essential role and should be fully and adequately compensated for this service. Highly qualified on site Attending Staff are needed to preserve the excellence of patient care, to teach and ensure the accreditation of the residency training programs, to monitor and report on on-going quality assurance issues, to supervise and administrate. The faculty also acts as advisors to the hospital administration on the on-going needs of their patients and advocates for adequate staffing, ancillary support and services to meet those needs. I opposed the lay-offs of the 29 full time county physicians in June 1996 and fought to have them re-instated, because I knew many of their functions and how essential these physicians were to Medical Center operations. In summary, I support full accountability of the CPSA money - and suitable complete remuneration for the Attending Staff and Faculty who are dedicated to providing service at the LAC+USC Medical Center.
By Kathryn R. Challoner , M.D., CCFP(C), FACEP
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Attending Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine
Candidate for MFA Representative on CPSA Committee
Elected as alternate representative to the committee on February 4, 1997