The Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania (MSEP) is proud to congratulate member Taliba M. Foster, MD, on her recent appointment to the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, the body responsible for licensing and regulating physicians and allied health professionals across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Foster will serve a four-year term on the Board, where she will contribute her expertise in psychiatry, medical education, and patient safety to support the Board’s mission of maintaining high standards of medical practice throughout Pennsylvania.

“As a practicing psychiatrist, I am honored to support the Board’s work to uphold the highest standards of medical practice and protect the health of Pennsylvanians,” Dr. Foster said. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Board members on policies that advance quality, access, and ethical care.”

Dr. Foster is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her internship and residency at the New York Medical College and her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she served as Chief Resident. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles at the Bellevue Hospital Center, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Foster is actively engaged in national medical leadership initiatives. She currently serves on the American Medical Association's Minority Consortium and participates in the National Leadership Summit on Health Disparities, contributing to ongoing conversations about equity and representation in healthcare.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine oversees licensure, continuing education, and disciplinary standards for physicians and other healthcare professionals, helping ensure safe, competent, and ethical medical care across the state.

MSEP celebrates Dr. Foster’s appointment and looks forward to the continued leadership and impact of our members in shaping the future of healthcare in Pennsylvania.

 2024 NMA Region 2 Society of the Year Award 

 We are thrilled to announce that the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania (MSEP) has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Small Local Society of the Year Award by the National Medical Association and the NMA Region II Society of the Year Award. This accolade is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence in supporting medical students, fostering peer mentorship, facilitating educational discussions, recruiting new members, and providing continuing medical education.

Significant Growth and Membership Expansion

Over the past year, MSEP has seen remarkable growth, particularly in our paid member physician category, which increased by an impressive 18.52%. We also witnessed significant growth in our free member categories, with non-member physicians increasing by 35.76%, resident & fellows by 65.62%, and medical students by 32.76%. This surge in membership, especially among residents and fellows, underscores the vitality and appeal of our organization.

Celebrating Black History Month and Supporting Future Physicians

In honor of Black History Month, we launched the Black Physicians Highlight Series, where we celebrated the achievements of our member physicians through curated social media posts and informative emails. Our #BlackPhillyMedGradWishlist campaign garnered national attention, supporting 33 graduating students from Philadelphia medical schools with $500 each in 2023 and 15 students in 2024 . This year, we modified the campaign to celebrate residents matched into Philadelphia training programs, fostering a supportive network to retain talent in our community.

Commitment to Community Health Education

MSEP has a longstanding dedication to community health education. Our monthly radio program, Physicians On Air, addresses various health topics impacting the Black community. Additionally, our Annual Mercy-Douglass Lectureship commemorates historical hospitals and features esteemed speakers like Dr. Wayne Frederick and Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld. We continue to provide scholarships to outstanding Black medical students and partner with organizations to host educational events such as the PA Black Health Matters Conference and the Black Doctors, White Coats youth summit.

Enhancing Continuing Education

Our commitment to continuing education is evident through our hosting of the 2023 Region II NMA Conference, attending the 2024 Region II NMA Conference and virtual workshops on topics like personal branding and Chat GPT in Healthcare. Noteworthy lectures by Dr. Edith Mitchell on health equity and a partnership with Johnson & Johnson to expose members to career options in the pharma industry further enrich our offerings. MSEP’s participation in community events like the RMEC Health Fair underscores our dedication to community engagement and education.

Looking Ahead

Receiving the 2024 Small Local Society of the Year Award is a significant milestone for MSEP. It motivates us to continue our mission of advancing the health and well-being of people of African descent in our region. We are immensely proud of our achievements and grateful for the support of our members and partners. Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact on our community.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of growth, learning, and community building!

Sincerely,

The Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania 

 Left to right :MSEP VP Dr William King, President Dr. Safiyya Shabazz holding the 2024 NMA Region 2 Society of the Year Award that MSEP won , Treasurer Dr Kim May