Why I Belong

Physicians are constantly asked for money, either directly or indirectly. Sometimes it's to donate money to a cause. Sometimes it's to provide free care for a cause. Sometimes it's to provide pro-bono expertise or thought leadership. And sometimes it's more transactional, like membership in professional associations. 

Cultural shifts in America have hurt member-based professional associations. And, frankly, many membership associations took dues payments for granted for decades without providing many 'wins' in advocacy, collective value, or fostering a sense of community. Regardless, I believe professional associations have an important role in moving the practice of medicine and healthcare forward, and these organizations depend on dues-paying members to drive their mission and impact. 

Here is a list of professional associations I am a dues-paying member of and why each is important to me. In aggregate, it's about $2500 per year -- and worth every penny. 

National Advocacy

American Osteopathic Association

It's imperative for physicians to have a voice in health policy and politics at the national level. As an osteopathic physician, my professional home is with the American Osteopathic Association. I am not blindly a member because I'm a DO. Nor is this a transactional fee to get 'value' in the form of discounts and such. I'm a member because I truly feel a sense of community and belonging among other osteopathic physicians. We generally carry a unique pride in our profession, as disconnected as we may seem at times. Although I'm as disappointed as the next doc about pay cuts, prior authorization, and bureaucratic headaches in healthcare, I know my membership earns me a voice at the policy table that guides how we train physicians, practice medicine, and participate in our healthcare system. The community and representation are worth my membership dues many times over. 

Physician Leadership

American Association for Physician Leadership

As I wrote in a 2019 article called The Compensation Bubble is Looming published in the Physician Leadership Journal, patient care alone is no longer enough in our dysfunctional healthcare system for physicians to earn their compensation. More and more, we must bring value beyond the bedside. The American Association for Physician Leadership is laser focused on positioning physicians to do just that. The Certified Physician Executive program is excellent and the self assessments and educational resources are very informative for physicians learning to connect the bedside with the boardroom. 

State Advocacy

Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association

In 1973 Mississippi became the last state in America to legally grant DOs the same practice rights as MDs. Although that's over 50 years ago now, the ignorance about the osteopathic profession remains prevalent, and in some cases discrimination against DOs remains. The Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association serves a critical role to ensuring equal treatment and representation in policies effecting DOs and their patients in Mississippi. Plus, we have hands-down the best CME conferences around! 

Mississippi State Medical Association

Physicians are physicians, whether DO or MD, and I'm proud to have an organization like the Mississippi State Medical Association as an aggregate voice for physicians in Mississippi. I'm also proud to help strengthen the relationship between MOMA and MSMA through active participation in both organizations -- we are truly stronger together. I'm most active with MSMA in the state policy realm, but also recognize how important the association is in influencing medical licensure regulations, public health and outreach initiatives, and protecting the patient/physician relationship. MSMA also sends delegates to represent our state in effort to keep the American Medical Association policies close to this side of sanity.  

Specialty Education

American College of Osteopathic Internists

The American College of Osteopathic Internists offers a blend of the camaraderie of a close-nit group with the scale and scope of a national specialty organization. Its advocacy and educational offerings alike are focused on core issues for Internists. I like how the ACOI always promotes cross-specialty engagement around topics that transcend specialties by hosting joint conferences with organizations like the ACOOG and ACOS. My membership gives me a national policy voice specific to Internal Medicine and access to focused specialty-based continuing education.   

American College of Physicians 

As an Internist, the American College of Physicians is their premier source of medical education in my specialty. The organization has excellent products for purchase like MKSAP and massive in-person conferences, but also has lots of valuable educational material included with membership. After earn a Young Achiever award, I offered up a quote saying I would be a member of ACP for life and I stand by my statement. I come for the education, but the policy arm isn't my flavor. 

Society of Hospital Medicine

Clinically, I work primarily as an academic hospitalist at this point in my career. Perhaps what I like most about the Society of Hospital Medicine is that it transcends traditional specialties and even types of clinicians. SHM focuses on elevated care delivered in the hospital for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians through its educational programs and policy involvement -- regardless of specialty. In a sense, hospital medicine is a subspecialty, and SHM does a great job as a professional home for hospitalists.