IMS logo current Bulletin front cover Magazine
IMS president, Richard H. Rhodes, MD President's Message
Stephen W. Perkins, MD Stephen W. Perkins, MD, embarked on a professional journey 27 years ago that has taken him around the country and the world to teach facial plastic and reconstructive surgical techniques to others. In addition to his passion for teaching and sharing information with others, he has gathered pearls of wisdom along the way from colleagues that have provided value to his daily surgical practice. "I have always loved to teach. One of the best parts about teaching is that it breaks down barriers and turf battles. We teach so that we can learn and enhance the outcomes for our patients. Language aside, patients are the same everywhere. They have the same fears and anxieties, and they want the same natural results. Interacting with other surgeons to exchange knowledge and information together has been exciting, stimulating and fulfilling for me. I learn from others as well as teach," says Dr. Perkins.

Dr. Perkins' teaching career started when he began volunteering at the Indiana University School of Medicine in the facial plastic surgery clinic in 1983. It then branched out into Morelia, Mexico in 1985 where he was invited to take the first of his nearly 50 international and more than 100 national teaching trips. He has lectured for and performed teaching surgeries on behalf of organizations such as the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. His international destinations have included Australia, Italy, Columbia, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada and Switzerland.

When asked what plastic and reconstructive surgery is like in other countries versus the U.S., Dr. Perkins notes the differences can be vast, especially when comparing items such as sterile environments. "It is really fascinating to see how things are performed abroad. In Mexico, for instance, instruments may be sterilized in Tupperware-type containers, and windows are open in the operating room. In the Netherlands, there are outer ante-rooms with tightly sealed doors that separate the operating room from the scrub area and also from the outside hallways, yet the nurses wear open-toe flip flop shoes in the 'sterile' area during surgery. Patients in other countries just develop immunities to many of the organisms that are present in their areas, and it works out ok with no significant increase or difference in infection rates," Dr. Perkins says. He also adds that transporting his surgical instruments into foreign countries can sometimes be a challenge. "I used to bring all my own instruments in a carry-on bag, but 9/11 changed our ability to do this. I've had my instruments nearly confiscated in Mexico. I learned that to be on the safe side, it is best to bring certain items in sealed packets via my checked luggage," he adds.

Dr. Perkins' favorite aspect of his teaching endeavors is the ability to learn new things from other surgeons and develop true national and international friendships. "The camaraderie I have experienced is amazing. Politics and religion aside, we all have the same goals. I become better by being around these colleagues," he says. He also notes that it's fulfilling to return to these countries after several years to see the progress they have made in their field. "When I go back again to teach, I often see a big difference. They are so much better than they were 10 or 15 years ago. Their level of teaching has also increased - which is a huge benefit for their ability to teach and share excellent techniques with their countrymen. That is very gratifying to me," he says.

While Dr. Perkins travels far away to teach, he also contributes locally. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstructive surgery to I.U. School of Medicine residents. He has also been a Fellowship Director for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for the past 21 years. As a part of this program, he takes on a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery Fellow (chosen from all over the U.S.) at the Meridian Plastic Surgery Center each year to teach them advanced surgical techniques and provide further specialized knowledge and surgical skills in facial plastic surgery. "Developing the facial plastic skills of young surgeons who just finished their residency is not only personally enjoyable and gratifying, it stimulates me to continue to keep up with the newest and cutting-edge treatment methods and surgical procedures and develop life-long collegial relationships with my past fellows," Dr. Perkins concludes.

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IMS Membership

About IMS

The Indianapolis (Marion County) Medical Society was founded in 1848 and has more than 2,100 members representing approximately 67% of the physicians in the greater Indianapolis area. The IMS is a component of the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

For more information about membership in the IMS, please contact Tyna McCauley at (317) 639-3406 or tmccauley@imsonline.org.

To download our general brochure, click here.

To download our membership application, click here.

To download our membership addendum, click here.

To download our AMA Self-Designated Specialty Listing, click here.

To download our ABMS Certification Listings, click here.

Ask a Colleague to Join

IMS Members, please Ask Your Colleagues to join you in making the practice of medicine better for patients and physicians!

The IMS needs your support & the support of your colleagues to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of your patients.

Ask them to help "Carry the Load" for organized medicine in Indiana.

We've developed a template letter for you to send or email to your colleagues. If you have questions, please phone the IMS at (317) 639-3406 for more information.

Attention IMS Members - Do we have your correct information for referrals?

Your Medical Society wants to maintain accurate communication tools with all IMS Members. We suggest you use this easy web portal to update information used for the IMS Pictorial Roster, Physician Referrals, IMS Bulletin, IMS website and other communication tools. We hope this makes updating information easier and more convenient for you. If you want to check your current information, visit the IMS Physician Finder and do a search of your profile. If you have any questions or concerns or would prefer to call us with updates, please call (317) 639-3406 and ask for the Membership Department.

Exclusive IMS Membership Benefits

ADVANTAGE Health Solutions: Indianapolis Medical Society is pleased to continue to offer its members a discount on group health insurance through ADVANTAGE HEALTH SOLUTIONS, a local health plan owned by local providers.

IMS physician practices are benefiting from this discount and the move to ADVANTAGE. The IMS employee group composed of the combined 19 employees of IMS, the Medical Society Exchange and the IMS Foundation, will save over $200,000 over two years compared to its old Anthem BCBS premiums. Although every situation is different and there is no guarantee of savings, we hope that these actual results to date are compelling enough for you to consider taking advantage of this unique opportunity.

To find out more about the program, or to see if it is a good fit for your practice, please contact the exclusive agents for this product:
Call (317) 564-4003, or visit Acumen's website here.

DocBookMD: The Android platform version is here and as always DocBookMD is FREE to IMS Members! Indianapolis Medical Society continually strives to introduce its members to mobile communication tools to increase efficiency and save time. By partnering with DocBookMD, we are able to offer a next-generation HIPAA compliant multi-media communication tool exclusively to our Members. DocBookMD, a company created by physicians for physicians, empowers physicians to connect, communicate and collaborate within their own local medical community. (Sponsored by Capson Physician Insurance)

DocBookMD Key Features:

Registration is Easy: Contact Indianapolis Medical Society at (317) 639-3406 to get your Medical Society ID. Enroll directly from your android, iPhone and iPad.

Staples: Exclusive discounts for IMS members through Staples ... for your practice, home office and home. Call the IMS at (317) 639-3406 to set-up your access.

I. C. System: IMS has partnered with America's largest, privately-owned debt collection agency since 1993. Phone I.C. System today! (800) 279-3511. Since 1938, I.C. System has been helping clients achieve their accounts receivable management goals. Learn more about I.C. System and how their innovative solutions can benefit your bottom line.

iSALUS healthcare: 20% Discount on OfficeEMR™ from iSALUS for the first year. OfficeEMR™ is a fully-integrated medical records system for solo practitioners, groups and large medical organizations.

Hertz: Indianapolis Medical Society Members special year-round discounts on your daily, weekly, weekend, and monthly rentals for business or pleasure; traveling in the U.S. or worldwide. Your IMS/Hertz CDP# is the key. For your IMS/Hertz membership card, please call the IMS membership department at (317) 639-3406. A card will be sent to you via email. Visit the Hertz website or call (800) 654-2210 or when making your reservation. Then present your Hertz Indianapolis Medical Society Member Discount Card at the time of rental. It's that easy!

Praesentia: IMS Circle of Friends - Silver Member, Praesentia LLC will benchmark for free up to 30 CPT Codes from IMS members' fee schedules against their proprietary dataset of 900+ codes pulled from claims in the Indianapolis market. This is a $177 value if purchased separately.

Indy Auto Shopper, 10% Discount for IMS Members, spouses and children living at home from this professional auto buying service. "Your professional & hassle-free auto buying experience." andy@indyautoshopper.com, 317-439-6215.

Transworld Systems for IMS Physician Members to receive cost effective, diplomatic and systematic service that resolves past due accounts. Transworld charges a fixed rate per account with special pricing for IMS Members only. The unit cost set for a practice is determined by the average number of accounts placed per month and is paid for on a monthly basis. 100% Profit Guarantee: If Transworld does not recover minimally two times what is paid to them for the cost of accounts, Transworld will either make up the difference between what was recovered and two times what was paid -or- management company will help you improve your cash flow and your bottom line! Phone Blake Collinsworth at (317) 843-9205 x26 for details!

ICDExpert.net and Indianapolis Medical Management have become a part of the IMS Vendors and Friends Program. A program designed to add Member Benefits exclusively for the IMS. ICDExpert.net is a medical coding training organization and offers exclusively to IMS Members a 5% discount ICD-10 Readiness Assessment. Indianapolis Medical Management is offering IMS Members 5% off any educational course offered by IMM. For more information visit: http://www.ICDExpert.net and http://www.veicorp.com/imm.

More Exclusive IMS Membership Benefits