The American College of Physicians (ACP) honored Dr. Joe Turner with advancement to Mastership during its annual Convocation ceremony at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.
Election to Mastership recognizes outstanding and extraordinary career accomplishments. Masters must have made a notable contribution to medicine. This includes, but is not limited to: teaching, outstanding work in clinical medicine (research or practice), contributions to preventive medicine, improvements in the delivery of health care, and/or contributions to the medical literature.
According to ACP bylaws, Masters are elected “on account of personal character, positions of honor, contributions toward furthering the purposes of the ACP, eminence in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” Volunteer and community service is also taken into consideration. This includes service to the ACP in an official capacity, participation in chapter activities, and involvement in the development of College products and educational programs, such as working with medical students and other healthcare professions.
Levels of membership in ACP are Medical Student Member, Associate, Member, Fellow (“FACP”), Honorary Fellow, and Master (“MACP”). FACPs, or Fellows of the American College of Physicians, have been recommended by their peers, endorsed by their local ACP chapter Governor, and reviewed by a national credentials subcommittee.
Throughout the year, highly distinguished Fellows of ACP are nominated for Mastership by ACP members and others familiar with their backgrounds. Each fall, a select group of these Fellows are chosen from among the nominees for Mastership by the ACP Awards Committee and approved by the ACP Board of Regents. The title of Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP) is bestowed upon the recipient in the spring, on opening day of the ACP annual scientific meeting.
“This was indeed appreciated,” said Dr. Turner. “In nearly 90 years, only 20 physicians from Georgia have been given this award, and only five of those were from outside Atlanta and Augusta where our two largest medical schools are located. A great deal of credit goes to the excellence of our hospital, Tift Regional Medical Center.”
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 133,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal Medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.