THE ON-DECK CIRCLE
G. Joseph Beirne, DO, FACOEP-D
THE PATH TO SUCCESS
G
reetings, ACOEP family! As I write my summer article for The Pulse, it is May 29 and I am enjoying a rare, entire Memorial Day weekend off work! I hope all of you had the chance to be with family to celebrate the lives of those for whom Memorial Day is all about—our military veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice so that each of us may enjoy the freedoms of our great country. Over the past year I wrote about how COVID affected my professional practice, myself, my family and our profession. As I sit here tonight, enjoying a beautiful spring evening, my mind turns to what matters most to me as your incoming ACOEP president– the path to success. Our college has survived turmoil over the last few years, including financial crises and the pandemic. Yet we emerged successful, with our new association management group in place. During those dark times, we never wavered or gave up hope. And we didn’t quit. ACOEP survived because WE believe in it. WE, our members. WE, your Board of Directors. WE, a family of emergency physicians who represent the foundation of osteopathic medicine. WE believed in each other and worked together to keep this wonderful organization alive and thriving! As we head into summer, warm days await. The sun provides us with life, energy, and a light that guides each of us on our journey as physicians. What is our path to
I WILL BE MINDFUL ALWAYS OF MY GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH AND THE LIFE OF MY PATIENTS.” success? What does it mean to each of us? The path begins within each of us. As osteopathic physicians we took an oath. Among the most important parts of the oath for me are: I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients. I will be ever vigilant in aiding in the general welfare of the community, sustaining its laws and institutions, not engaging in those practices which will in any way bring shame or discredit upon myself or my profession. I will endeavor to work in accord with my colleagues in a spirit of progressive cooperation. I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college I will be loyal and strive always for its best interests and for the interests of the students who will come after me. What is the great responsibility we all carry? As an EM physician, my purpose every day is returning home at the end of the shift, comforted in the fact that I made a difference for one person that day. Whether that
be getting a patient a warm blanket, taking an extra five minutes to let them finish their story, or gently patting their hand and putting them at ease. That is my responsibility and I take it seriously. What is the vigilance we must demonstrate to benefit our community? Working to improve the lives of not only our patients, but their families, our friends and our neighbors. Even if those choices seem contrary at times, our vigilance to strive for the good of our society is why we became physicians. Cooperation with our colleagues and peers demonstrates that the art and science of medicine is truly a team effort. Our mission as osteopathic physicians is showing the public that we are vital to the health and welfare of our communities and our nation. Where did our path begin? On day one of medical school, when we took the first step on this long journey guided by our fellow students, academic and clinical faculty. They introduced us to the rest of our lives by showing us what
SUMMER 2021 THE PULSE
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