May 2009

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of District Council Direct, the exclusive e-mail newsletter for CAP District Council members. Every month District Council Direct (or DCD, for short) will keep you informed about CAP news and events. DCD will also discuss current trends and topics relevant to the medical community.

District Council Direct is for you, and we encourage active participation from District Council members. Please send comments and questions to districtcouncil@cap-mpt.com.

Member Spotlight

Dr. Calvin Lee Performs at Carnegie Hall

On April 15, 2009, Calvin Lee, MD, Central California District Council member, stepped onto the stage at Carnegie Hall. He was one of 90 musicians chosen for the first ever YouTube Symphony Orchestra. Over 3,000 musicians submitted video auditions, and Dr. Lee was chosen as one of the violinists.

Here he is pictured with Gil Shaham, a renowned violinist who soloed with the orchestra. To see the video performance, visit this link.

Dr. Tammy Wu Nominated to CAP Board of Directors

Tammy Wu, MD, CAP Fellow and former Central California District Council member, is on the slate of nominees for the CAP Board of Directors. With her combined experiences as a CAP Fellow and District Council member, she will make a fine addition to the Board of Directors. We congratulate her and look forward to seeing her on the Board.
 

CAP News

Event Calendar

If you have any questions, contact Simon Russell at 800-252-7706 or srussell@cap-mpt.com.

• San Diego District Council - Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m.
• Bay Area District Council - Tuesday, June 9 at 6:15 p.m.
• Annual Meeting / Board of Directors / Board of Trustees - Thursday, June 18

Connect with CAP

This is the first in a series of articles that discusses way to interact with CAP.

Twitter 101: Introduction to the Basics

The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. is now on Twitter, and we want you to follow us! eMarketer estimates there were roughly six million Twitter users in 2008, and Compete estimates that Twitter had over 14 million unique users in March 2009. Twitter is a way to connect with the growing social media-savvy community.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service. People write short updates, often called "tweets," of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search. All you need to use Twitter is an Internet connection or a mobile phone.

What Can You Do with 140 Characters?

Surprisingly you can send a lot of information in less than 140 characters. You can link to your professional website, your blog, your recent article, and the latest developments in your medical practice. Communicate with fellow CAP members, colleagues, and other health care professionals both inside and outside of your community.

Who Uses Twitter?

These are just a few of our Twitter friends: CDCemergency, California Department of Public Health, American Red Cross, American Public Health Association, Mayo Clinic, Governor Schwarzenegger. Others include doctors, nurses, heath IT professionals, and nonprofit organizations.

Why Should I Use Twitter?

CAP’s Twitter account will keep track of CAP events, District Council meetings, CME course training, medical association events, and political events. It is a convenient way for the busy medical community to stay informed about what CAP offers. Other updates include links to news and events that will interest doctors. CAP members can communicate with us to ask questions or to inform us about what they are doing.

How Do I Get Started?

Sign up for a free account at http://twitter.com/signup. Create a unique username that will also serve as your Twitter URL. After you create your Twitter account, visit http://twitter.com/CAPhysicians. Under our name, click “Follow” and you have your first Twitter friend!

For our members, we prepared a quick tutorial about Signing Up for Twitter (PDF format). If you have problem downloading the tutorial, please send an e-mail to districtcouncil@cap-mpt.com. Read these Frequently Asked Questions for more information.