Professor of medicine Virginia Hood was elected president of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s largest medical specialty organization, a University Communications article stated. “My main responsibility is to articulate ACP positions based on carefully developed policy to our members, the public and other health care organizations both nationally and internationally,” Hood said. The ACP emphasizes value rather than volume to ensure high quality and safe health care, she said. “The greatest challenge to achieving these outcomes is controlling costs while promoting quality,” Hood said. Hood has been involved with the ACP since 1991, starting as the governor for the Vermont chapter, according to the University Communications article. Hood specializes in the management of chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure, which can be preventable risk factors for diabetes, she said. Hood is a professor of medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and an attending physician at Fletcher Allen Health Care, the University Communications article stated.