As my term as MSMA President closes, this is a great time for me to reflect on some of what I have had the privilege to see and participate in this year. I had the honor of meeting with physicians all over the State of Missouri and representing Missouri to many of our neighboring states. I got the gift of being able to travel to all corners of our state and see just how beautiful our state is. I had no idea just how large Missouri is.
I had the chance to meet an 82-year-old Internal Medicine physician who, along with his nurse practitioner, sees over 50 patients a day, five days a week, with the sixth day making rounds at several nursing homes. I met Family Practice physicians that deliver babies in western Missouri because they are the only physicians around. I met Cardiologists that are doing valve replacements through incredibly small catheters. I met Neonatologists pushing the envelope on keeping premature babies alive. I met physicians in solo practice, physicians in small groups, and physicians that were in large groups of hundreds of physicians. I met physicians in research, physicians in management, physicians in politics, and physicians in insurance. There were physicians that were volunteering their time and talents both in Missouri and in other countries.
I met hundreds of physicians that truly wanted to practice medicine. They found contentment and joy in being able to take care of people and make a difference in their lives and in their communities.
I also met physicians that were that were disillusioned with medicine. There were physicians that were overwhelmed or simply tired.
I met physicians that were just burned out.
This is not surprising as about 42% of Missouri physicians exhibit symptoms of burnout. Almost half of our doctors in Missouri cannot find the joy in practicing that attracted them to medicine to begin with.
However, when talking with these physicians, it became evident that they loved practicing medicine. They still found happiness in taking care of patients. It was the non-medical parts of the job that was robbing them of their joy. They felt that fixing some of the issues like EMR, precertification, formularies, etc., would help them want to practice medicine again.
What was common in all these different groups of physicians was the Missouri State Medical Association. It was quite obvious that there is a wide array of issues faced by all physicians in the state. While some of those issues are ones that can be resolved by individual physicians, the large issues are ones that can only be dealt with by physicians coming together and with a collective voice working to resolve the problems. MSMA is the big tent that these different groups of physicians can gather in. What makes MSMA special is that it is the only organization that can voice the concerns of different specialties, private practice or integrated physicians, physicians in management, physicians in research, and all the other myriad physician groups across the state.
MSMA has a long history of strong leadership and some outstanding presidents. Dating back to 1850 we have had 166 presidents, and happily, 24 of them are still with us today. This collective group has a wealth of experience and knowledge and a true love and passion for organized medicine.
One of my goals during my year as president of MSMA has been to look at the role of the past presidents and how they may be able to contribute to the MSMA. As I have traveled around the country to other state medical societies, I have found that this is a common concern that most states are dealing with. Many thoughts and ideas have been tossed out as the search for a solution continues.
An emphasis of organized medicine has been to get younger physicians involved as members and leaders. Medical society presidents have been getting younger and have many years that they are able and willing to contribute to organized medicine. Some are still very active in their practices and others have a little more “free time” that they can devote to helping their colleagues. Some have moved on to using their skills and talents in other ways, and others are just waiting to be asked to help in meaningful ways. Many past presidents I have spoken with are ready and willing to pitch in any way that they can benefit the society.
I feel that we need to find a way to harness their energy and knowledge. Having them directly involved with the current issues and problems facing physicians and being able to call on each other for guidance as well as their connections to other states, could prove to be a valuable asset to council deliberations. It would also give a built-in kitchen cabinet for the current president and executive council to call on when needed. I would envision it as evolving as the different members move through the section and its purpose and usefulness evolves.
There are many other areas that past presidents may be able to help. Serving as hosts for other state leaders, “informally” reaching out to state and national leaders for information that would be helpful to the council, representing Missouri at functions that conflict with the current president’s schedule or needs, working on recruitment of new members, mentoring medical students, etc. Many past presidents already play some of these roles. Creation of this “club” might help formalize these roles and take some of the burden off the MSMA staff and leadership.
I am excited to be able to announce that the House of Delegates adopted Resolution #14:
Resolved, that the MSMA Bylaws be amended to create a new standing committee composed of MSMA’s Past Presidents by adding the following new provision to Chapter VII, Section 1. of said Bylaws:
“The Committee of Past Presidents shall consist of the MSMA Past Presidents who are members of the Association and who volunteer to serve on the Committee. The Committee shall provide the MSMA Council and House of Delegates with advice on such matters as may be necessary to advance the Association’s mission and causes.”
I was proud to be able to show the physicians of Missouri what MSMA has done to help them practice medicine, excited to show them what we are fighting for now, and grateful to hear from them about what other issues and problems they are facing in the future.
As I said in my inauguration speech, MSMA is there to deal with the big issues so that physicians can be free to deal with providing the best possible care to the people of Missouri.
I will be forever grateful for the privilege I have been given to interact with the incredible physicians of Missouri. To be allowed into their communities and lives is a gift that I will always treasure. While my year as President has ended, my involvement with organized Medicine will continue, and I hope to continue using what I have seen and learned this year to continue working for physicians and patients in our great state.
Thank you.
Biography
Ravi S. Johar, MD, MSMA President and member since 1995, practices OB/GYN in St. Louis, Mo.
Contact: rkjohar@att.net
