If you are reading this, then hopefully you have also read previous articles from Dr. Beaty and myself about the impending celebration of our 150th anniversary.
As I write this on “vacation” at the Duke University basketball camp (shuttling kids to and from all week, trying to watch them play and keep up with work) we conducted another Resident Welcome reception (which I missed due to aforementioned Duke camp) that was our largest ever. We had 170 registered to attend. Slightly less than that showed, but the presence of children and dogs offset that. Prior to leaving for Duke, I went to their orientation on campus and gave my 5-minute stump speech to them. I got a lot of laughs this year. I wish I could take credit for the large attendance. Most had already RSVP’d by then.
So, what’s the takeaway? For me, it’s that we had this high attendance from this enthusiastic group of residents. We had this interest on the cusp of our 150th year, which I believe will be our most pivotal year as an organization and medical community that we’ve ever had. I promise I am not just cheerleading and marketing to you. Here is why I think it is our time, beyond just a milestone birthday:
- We have a new medical school, one whose students and residents we are engaging.
- We are engaging UTHSC and Methodist GME programs at a scale like never before.
- Our financial position is the healthiest it has ever been.
- Medicine is at another inflection point with payment challenges, practice ownership shifts, government practicing medicine, and endlessly being told to “do more with less”.
Yes, we will celebrate our 150th anniversary. We will celebrate you. We will reflect on the accomplishments of our organization and its members. But, rest assured, we will also do something FOR you. Something that equips you to practice better medicine. Something that complements what we already provide. Something that EMPOWERS you.
Our Board will be meeting 2-3 times between now and the next Quarterly. I cannot wait to give you more detail about how we intend to empower you.
Until then, email me with your ideas and thoughts at members@mdmemphis.org
