FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 21, 2005
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock
312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620
SPRINGFIELD PHYSICIAN TAKES OFFICE AS PRESIDENT,
ILLINOIS STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY
Springfield - Craig A. Backs, M.D., a board-certified internist, took office as president of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) at its recent annual meeting. Dr. Backs practices in Springfield.
After earning his medical degree and completing his medical residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Backs served as chief of medical residents in the SIU Department of Internal Medicine from 1984-1985. He has also held the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at SIU.
As an active member of ISMS since 1984, Dr. Backs’ involvement has included membership on the Governmental Affairs Council and the Council on Economics, which he chaired from 2002-2004. He also chaired an ad hoc committee to investigate and recommend to the Board a strategy for ISMS involvement in class action litigation against health insurance companies engaged in down-coding physician services.
Among his other numerous leadership roles in organized medicine are his positions as Board Councillor, President, and Chairman of the Membership and Legislative Committees of the Illinois Society of Internal Medicine. He also served as Board member, President, and Utilization Review Committee Chairman of the Foundation for Medical Care of Central Illinois. Dr. Backs is a member of the AMA and a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Locally, Dr. Backs has been an active member of the Sangamon County Medical Society since 1984, serving as a Director from 1994 to 2000, as President in 1999, and as a Delegate to ISMS from 1995 to 2003. He has held medical staff positions at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, where he served as president from 1994 to 1996, and Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.
As a community leader in Springfield, Dr. Backs is active in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Lutheran High School, where he is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
ISMS is a professional membership association representing over 14,000 physicians practicing in all specialties statewide. The ISMS annual meeting was held April 15-16, 2005 in Springfield, IL.