Dear Members,
It is an honor and privilege to represent the physicians of Mercer County as the incoming president of our esteemed society. Mercer County Medical Society has been and will always be a standard bearer in representing the physicians of our community. Since starting private practice in 1993, it has been an invaluable resource in my professional career. What physician in this room has not at one point or another picked up the telephone and asked for help regarding this issue or that, and in some cases been given a helping hand by the society without even knowing it. The confident arrogance of youth changes into the cautious wisdom of experience. Given the constant and many times seemingly overwhelming pressures of practicing medicine today, it is comforting to know that there is a local organization that can assist each and every one of us in dealing with the external forces that can greatly impact the way we practice.
Over the last few years, as a member of the board, I have been directly involved in the major issues facing physicians today. Malpractice reform, insurance reimbursement and legislation, patient rights, charity care, just to name a few that come to mind. It has been an enlightening but all too often frustrating experience. One of the guiding lights in these deliberations has always been the medical society. The society is a voice of reason and persistence, taking a stand for physicians and helping to make a difference. Small baby steps eventually lead to giant running leaps. With enough energy, I know that the pendulum can be swayed in our favor. Let us not forget that one person with conviction can make a difference, and that if this is true, an organization with a clear vision can become an irresistible force.
I specialize in ophthalmology, and within ophthalmology, I subspecialize in vitreoretinal disorders. Believe it or not, I do not even deal with one organ, but instead a single tissue, albeit a very, very important tissue, the retina. To the lay person, it represents a remarkably beautiful and elegant structure, one that provides vision to the human body. Without it, ninety percent of our sensory world ceases to function. To those of us who treat patients with retinal problems every day, it becomes a complex and delicate structure, one which can go awry in so many ways, but if treated early and with care, can recover and remain vital to sight. To me, Mercer County Medical Society embodies the same qualities as the retina, a seemingly complex organization that can provide clear and necessary vision to the entire body of physicians. However, it needs to be nourished and supported to provide maximal function and clarity.
The society’s biggest challenge today as an organization is keeping our voice strong and unified. Without the support of the entire community of physicians, our voice becomes weak and eventually silent. For economic and perhaps philosophical reasons, more and more physicians have opted out of the local societies, electing instead to support their specialty organizations. I believe that this is penny wise but pound foolish. Medical legislation and practice support, two of the most important issues that practices face every day, occur at the state and local level, and policies that affect our medical practices occur in our own backyard. The strength of our organization is in its members, and our membership is at a critically low level. Like so many things in life that are taken for granted, the value of our society will only be truly appreciated when it no longer exists.
I, for one, and many others like me, want to see the society become what it can and should be, a thriving society for the physicians and by the physicians, a real voice of change in this ever worsening medical climate. My primary focus during my presidency is simple but very important. I want to reinvigorate the Mercer County Medical Society, make it the first place local physicians turn to for information and help. Only then can we have a foundation in place to effectively tackle the real issues at hand, the ones that threaten to take away the practices we have built. I encourage each and every one of you to speak to me personally about what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our organization, as well as what steps, whether large or small, need to be taken to make it an inclusive rather than an exclusive society. I do not profess to have all the answers, but certainly promise to try and find them. As my two sons like to quote often, “I do have a dream” but I need your help to fulfill it. For those of you who are members, the society is appreciative of your support. For those of you who are not, please consider joining. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Darma Ie, MD, President
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.