Vera Dowdle Charity Fund Donation

Vera Dowdle Charity Fund Donation

Through the NORM organization, we are united and stand strong in support to each other as we individually manage our office and continue to assist our patients with access to care. We do this in many ways through our annual conference, the listserv, advocacy and much more. As NORM grows, there will be many resources to assist us in this task. A Charity Committee has been established in the name of Vera Dowdle. This charity will give NORM another opportunity for further support.

How Does the Vera Dowdle Charity Fund Help NORM Members?

The charity supports members of NORM who have a financial need due to illness, natural disaster or other emergencies, or a person in need of caring support due to an illness or accident.

Support could be in the form of a card, flowers or monetary donation to honor a special person. The committee will review all requests and send them to the NORM board for their approval.

None of this can happen without you. You are the eyes and ears for our members. If you know of anyone within the NORM organization who could use a helping hand and some encouragement, please send your nominations to: NORMfoundation@gmail.com. We ask you to keep the privacy of the NORM members who ask for and receive from the charity fund. Please do not send the nominations through the listserv.

How Can You Donate?

Use this link to donate to the charity fund.

Who is Vera Dowdle?

Vera was a truly extraordinary woman. She was a NORM member who managed the Clinic for Rheumatic Disease/Biologic Therapy Services in Tuscaloosa, AL. Dr. Richard Jones said, “She loved to serve and she served to love…she lived out the dictum that to be a leader, you must be a servant.” He went on to say, “She loved as a child loved, fully and without condition.”

Kirk McNair of the BAMA Magazine said, “Many students and staff have credited Vera as the glue that held them together (Crimson Tide).” In the spirit of Vera, this foundation will continue to honor her and all of the NORM members who love to serve and serve to love.

Vera Dowdle Charity Committee

Andrea Zlatkus – Chairperson
Beth Cooley

  • As a speaker at the first ad hoc meeting of rheumatology practice managers gathered in a single small room at its infancy a decade ago, I’m amazed to see how NORM has blossomed into a high energy organization of depth and professional meetings with parallel break-out symposia between plenary sessions. NORM has truly come of age. This is where the “business” of rheumatology gets learned. The ”guildmanship” for rheumatology practice management is now strong.- Paul H. Caldron, DO, FACP, FACR, MBA, Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates
  • In a time of demanding changes in the management of medical practices in the US, NORM has been a lifesaver to the community of Rheumatology practices.  NORM has allowed our practice to stay ahead of the many demands of CMS and others payors and has ensured that our practice remains cognizant of new issues that arise in HIPPA compliance, human resources and medical billing to name a few. Sending our Practice Manager to NORM's conferences has been cost-effective and beneficial to our practice because she returns to our office with an abundance of information that otherwise would have taken months to compile. Every Rheumatology practice that wishes to stay on top of emerging issues in practice management should consider sending a member of their staff to NORM's conference.- Michael S. Rosen M.D., Chester County Rheumatology PC
  • Thanks to all those wonderful people in the NORM Network who respond to emails, offering their advice, experience, time, and support ... I haven't even been a member a full year yet and I am amazed at the dedication of everyone who responds to helping via emails and the NORM Organization itself! I have barely had a chance to explore the resources and I have yet to really dive into requests for help still I am silently learning so much and do occasionally offer what I can! Thank you all!- Cheryl Piambino, Kenneth E. Bresky, DO

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