I bring you greetings on behalf of the MSMA Alliance and a belated recognition of Doctors’ Day which was March 30. Doctors’ Day was established by the Southern Medical Association Alliance and adopted nationally as a day to recognize the incredible work of physicians and their contributions to their communities. MSMA Alliance thanks all the physicians here for your dedication and sacrifices. As you leave the House of Delegates this morning Alliance members will be at the doors to give you a small token of our appreciaition.
The AMA Alliance was established 100 years ago in St. Louis. Our Alliance was honored to host the North Central Region Alliance meeting last fall. There we recreated the birth of the AMA Alliance at the Missouri Botanical Garden and honored those Alliance volunteers who have gone before us. We had attendees from all over the country. The AMA Alliance is the largest organization representing the physician family. We are honored to have Heather Rifkin the current AMA Alliance president with us this morning. Heather please stand.
Missouri Alliance continues to lead with fresh ideas and tireless energy. We advocate for healthier communities in partnership with the MSMA and the AMA. COVID did not stop us. We just changed the way we did things.
St. Louis Metropolitan Alliance developed the Hungry Heroes Program to thank front line workers in the hospitals for their service.
Greene County Medical Alliance placed a billboard on the main thoroughfare between the major hospitals thanking their healthcare workers and encouraging safe practices and masking. Now that restrictions have been eased, they have resumed their programs directed at physician wellness with great success. All of these programs have won national recognition.
Kansas City Alliance continues with their program to clothe the needy children in port cities around the world and Buchanan County Alliance provides SAVE books to their local schools teaching of the dangers of bullying.
Our Missouri Alliance raised more than $4,700 this year for the MSMA Foundation with the holiday sharing card. This money provided scholarships for medical students. We are also accepting contributions during the annual meeting to be used for this purpose.
We have continued our Match Day participation for 28 years. This is an excellent way to get the name of MSMA and the Alliance before the new graduating physicians.
Sana Saleh, Alliance incoming President, presents Barbara Hover, outgoing President, with a plaque of appreciation.
Each year we also participate in the MSMA White Coat Rally in Jefferson City. It was held March 1.
These are but a few of our activities around the state.
I wish to thank all of the Alliance leaders I have had the privilege of working with this past year and to the MSMA for allowing us to support your endeavors.
It has been an honor to serve as Alliance president and to work closely with the MSMA president. My theme this year was Better Together. Better Together was really intended to encompass the spectrum of local Alliances to the state and national Alliance, but it also applied to both the MSMA and MSMAA presidencies as well. Alex and I traveled together to the in person meetings that were held. We were able to speak about both MSMA and MSMA Alliance programs. The combination did work well when we had the opportunity.
When local medical societies and Alliances work together with the state and national organizations so much more can be accomplished. Indeed, We Truly Are Better Together! Thank you,