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President’s Letter
As physicians and healthcare professionals, we often find ourselves surrounded by individuals, groups, and contrived constituencies that claim to know our reality, profession, and responsibilities better than we do. It would be comedic, a comedy of errors though, if such groups and their misinformation didn’t so regularly take up time, which is far better used doing what we do best – taking care of our patients. I hope in these times you have found ways to continue to enjoy your practice and being physicians and identified additional ways of being active in our greater community. I appreciate time is always tight, so I’ll only ask for a little more to mention a few on-going topics: COVID-19 Continues Society is largely well past the point of saturation on any information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, its variants, treatment efficacies, related mandates, lifestyle restrictions, etc…. the list is naturally, but burdensomely long. Equally long, if not longer, are the vast and everchanging opinions and media coverage on how to proceed in this new reality. It seems everyone believes everyone else is not only entitled to know his/her personal opinion, but also frequently asserts theirs is the only correct opinion. As healthcare professionals, we know the true situation better than anyone so let’s keep our message clear and concise: The Memphis Medical Society continues to strongly encourage vaccination. The opportunity to dispel misinformation and assist our patients in making informed decisions regarding their healthcare, including vaccination, is fundamental to our role as healthcare providers and is a unique position we as physicians are both privileged to be in and duty bound to serve. While I am confident you each are already doing so, I encourage every Tennessee doctor to take whatever extra time is needed with his/her patients to discuss what is best and right for that patient and subsequently our communities in this matter. There was no vaccine in 2020 to help combat the spread and lessen the effects of COVID-19. Now we have several to use and in ready supply. Please do your part to help protect Tennessee, and all of us, by educating about this virus and offering, giving and getting the vaccine. Membership Update As we enter the 2022 membership recruitment season, I am pleased to report we are closer to our goal of 1,100 dues-paying members. We have achieved this through a combination of efforts including a newly-introduced graduated discount plan in partnership with TMA and a commitment from the MMS board of directors. To date, our total membership tallies at 2,452 members. That number comprises: Dues-Paying Physicians: 957 Residents: 939 Retired Members: 201 Medical Students: 355
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