Dr. Jeffery Wiese, the associate dean for Graduate Medical Education? and the director of the Tulane Internal Medicine Program, was recently elected to the American College Physician Board of Regents.

Wiese is also vice chairman of medicine, the chief of the Charity Medical Service and a fellow in the ACP.

“I am the point person that oversees every graduate fellow at Tulane,” Wiese said. “That’s about 470 residency fellows at Tulane University. I’m accountable for paying them and making sure they get the right training.”

The ACP, focusing only on internal medicine, is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. Wiese has been a member of the ACP since 1995.

“Dr. Wiese has been a FACP of the American College of Physicians since 2002,” ACP media contact Abbey Anderson said in a press release. “FACP is an honorary designation that recognizes ongoing individual service and contributions to the practice of medicine.”

ACP group leaders from all over the country placed votes. There are currently 24 people on the board.

The board of regents is responsible for overseeing the college.

“They also do a lot of work on the national level with public policy and advocacy for health care reform,” Wiese said. “Down to the details of physician reimbursement, graduate medical education and working, its really pretty much everything medicine. The board of regents also makes guideline statements and advising decisions on how to manage different diseases.”

During his term, Wiese plans to focus on three issues: financing education for residents after medical school, quality patient safety and health care reform.

Tulane recruited Wiese to help build up the hospitalist program in 2000. He took over as program director in 2002. Wiese became the associate dean of the medical school in 2007.

“I really enjoy making a difference,” Wiese said. “I like the most is interacting with my patients but also with the residents and fellows who are going to be in our positions in the next 30 years caring for our patients.”