Reframing the Relevance: Engaging Residents and Fellows in Organized Medicine

Is Organized Medicine Relevant?

This was a question posed in a recent Medscape article by writer Leigh Page.¹ The digital age, growth of specialty societies, and an increasing number of employed physicians are a few issues posed as challenges to modern day organizing bodies. But does this reflect a lack of relevance?

In a subsequent article, Missouri physicians and AMA President, David Barbe, MD, highlighted efforts of the American Medical Association (AMA) and state societies which help shape the healthcare system, illustrating that the relevance of organized medicine has never been more evident.² The AMA and state societies are closely connected and working diligently to advocate in an ever-challenging healthcare and political environment – from shaping Medicare payment and delivery, optimizing access to healthcare for all, arming physicians with tools to address the opioid epidemic, and enhancing resources to ensure the personal well-being of physicians.

The relevance of organized medicine is clear. Therefore, it is not so much a lack of relevance that presents a challenge to organized medicine. Rather, what may be necessary is a “reframing” of the relevance as it relates to today’s physician - specifically as it relates to residents, fellows, and early-career physicians. This group will drive the future of organized medicine and sustain its relevance for generations to come. With this in mind, how can organized medicine better portray its relevance to trainees and early-career physicians?

Reframe the Investment

As the time crunch of post-graduate training descends on residents and fellows, the return on investment from both a time and financial perspective must be worthwhile. Specialty societies excel on this front. Members obtain networking within their specialty as well as opportunities for research publication - all of which enhance their profile for fellowship applications. Providing comparable programing may help trainees justify their participation in organized medicine. Such programming might include resources to prevent resident burn-out, financial strategies for early-career physicians, opportunities for leadership development, and advice for contract negotiations. Board review resources and related product discounts also add value that attracts training physicians.

Start with Why

Despite the relevance of current policy to future practice, residents often do not correlate the gravity of policy decisions with their current role. Residency and fellowship provide a buffer from the legal, financial, and reimbursement issues faced by active physicians. In his book Start With Why, marketing consultant Simon Sinek emphasizes how individuals will not truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the ‘why’ behind it.³ It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it. Reshaping the message to better communicate organized medicine’s ‘why’ will aid in engaging more trainees. Highlighting issues that weigh heavily on this group, such as easing student loan debt and preserving loan forgiveness programs, will further illustrate organized medicine’s vested interest in trainees and early-career physicians.

Mentorship

Ask any active participant of a medical society such as the Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA) or AMA how she or he first became involved in organized medicine. The most common answer? Mentorship. A faculty member, colleague, or other acquaintance invited the individual to a meeting or encouraged him or her to draft a resolution. The rest is history. Word of mouth recruitment from a trusted individual is invaluable. The MSMA is fostering mentorship programs at the medical student level, but a similar program may serve residents and fellows as well.

MSMA Resident and Fellow Section officers at the MSMA House of Delegates. From left: Secretary: Adam Grumke, MD, Vice Chair: Daniel Young, MD, Chair: Joanne Loethen, MD, Vice-Councilor: Mihir Brahmbhatt, MD, Councilor: Nathan Nolan, MD.

High-Yield Digital

Digital communications are important. But as physicians and trainees are flooded with digital messaging on a daily basis, the quality of this communication has become crucial. Only that which contains high-quality, user-friendly content stands out. Creating high-yield digital communications that simplify the complexities of health care policy will help to draw in millennial physicians.

Summary

The challenge of engaging trainees in organized medicine is multi-factorial and extends beyond the issues listed above. Both the AMA and MSMA are taking steps to encourage resident involvement, but we have a long way to go. Enhancing resident and fellow engagement in organized medicine will certainly require a dynamic approach - one that must continue to adapt and “reframe the relevance“ for this group of potential members. The future of organized medicine and our next generation of leaders depend on it.

Biography

Joanne Loethen, MD, MSMA member since 2016, is a Resident, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Missouri - Kansas City and Chair, MSMA Resident and Fellow Section.

Contact: LoethenJ@umkc.edu