The Challenge of The New

The merger of our two medical societies gives physicians the opportunity to develop a stronger and more effective regional voice.

The memberships of both organizations voted overwhelmingly for the merger. Moreover, getting a sufficient number of ballots returned in a mail-in election is usually a problem-but not this time.

This is a moment to reflect on our past histories and think about what advantages our combined strengths can offer us in the coming years.

The Sacramento-El Dorado Medical Society traces its history back to 1868, when the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement was formed. Over the years our name evolved and El Dorado County was added.

Our history covers 132 years of ups and downs, but always in support of our members and the patients that our members serve.

The Yolo County Medical Society started in 1940. After 60 years of excellent service to the physicians and patients of Yolo County, YCMS will add its traditions and expertise to the newly formed SSVMS. This merger is not about the disappearance of two older organizations; it is about the creation of a new and better medical society to meet our needs in the coming years.

The practice of medicine has become much more regional than local. Our health care systems and third party payers all operate on a regional basis. It is time for physicians to develop a stronger and more effective regional voice as well.

What will our regional voice sound like? If we continue to feel betrayed and defeated, our voice will be bitter. If we isolate ourselves from each other, our voice will be muted or fall silent.

We must do better than this. If we can reconnect with the sense of service and purpose that we knew in the past, our regional voice can be clear and strong.

SSVMS will now cover both counties in which the UC Davis Medical School operates. This opens the door for increased opportunities to work with medical school faculty, house officers and medical students as a unified medical society. Dean Joseph Silva is a very strong supporter of organized medicine, which is a big plus. We must discover the issues that connect us and work cooperatively for the benefit of all.

This merger also challenges us to find new ways of conducting our usual business. Most SEDMS committee meetings have been held at headquarters on Elvas Ave. at lunchtime. This has worked well enough for Sacramento-based physicians, but not for those who live farther out. We recently purchased equipment that allows committee members to attend via conference call rather than drive into town. I tested this equipment out in June by reporting to the Board of Directors from the AMA Annual Session in Chicago. Meeting this way will take some getting used to, but it will allow us to become much more responsive to the needs of our entire region.

This next year we need members in Yolo and El Dorado Counties to volunteer for some committee spots. Please say yes when the time comes to volunteer this fall!

Ultimately, whatever success we will enjoy as a regional medical society will reflect the interest and activity of our members. We must buck the societal trend of the last decade by replacing personal detachment with mutual support and commitment. Can we do this?

In his message last issue, our Executive Director, Bill Sandberg, thanked many folks for their help in getting this project completed. We all need to recognize Bill and Chris Stincelli as well. Without their untiring efforts, this merger would never have succeeded. Thank you, Bill and Chris!

Thus, the year 2000 marks the end of an era for both SEDMS and YCMS and the beginning of SSVMS. The success of our new endeavor will not be obvious at first. All of us must keep the faith with our medical society as it adjusts to its new roles and responsibilities. We need to offer our support and expertise-because SSVMS cannot be any better than its members.

Physicians cannot recapture our "old glories" of days gone by. We can only formulate a new sense of hope and professionalism. Our world is constantly changing; let's make the most of it.

Five or ten years from now we will look back on this year 2000 as the beginning of our new medical society. By then, we shall know how successful or unsuccessful the enterprise has been. I hope-I believe-we will see this as a time of new beginning and renewed success.

erwash@pacbell.net