Physician Advocacy Since 1873
Bulletin
JUL/AUG., 2022 VOLUME 52, NO. 4
Editors: Alejandro Arevalo, M.D. | Erica Huffman, Executive Director www.escambiacms.org
President’s Message
Contents Page 6 - Medical/Legal Page 12 - Foundation
This month, nine delegates from the Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County (ECMS) will prepare to go to Orlando to the Florida Medical Association (FMA) Annual Meeting. At that meeting there will be discussion of different resolutions that have been brought forth by our fellow colleagues around the state. These resolutions will then be voted on to either be adopted by the Florida Medical Association, revised, studied further to be brought back at a different time and re-voted on or not adopted. Hundreds of physicians from around the state from various specialties and/or counties will come together to try to decide what course of action best serves the mission of their constituents. The delegates from the ECMS met recently to discuss each and every resolution that will come before the House of Delegates at the FMA. In that room there was varying degrees of opinions and concerns. At this meeting, each person had a chance to speak towards the resolution should they so choose and we heard their opinion, even if it was a dissenting opinion from our own. In some instances, it changed the opinion of another as some had not “thought of it that way” or had the same personal experiences through life or their profession as the other. In other instances,
it did not change another’s opinion, but in ALL instances, we listened to each other and heard each other and tried to come to a common ground on different issues to improve our opportunity to be heard on a larger stage and make real change. It seems that recently the ability to truly hear one another is becoming harder and harder to do. I do not claim to have all of the answers. As a generalization, lately, it would appear sometimes that issues and opinions are either “right or wrong,” “truth or untruth,” or “good or bad.” That implies that someone that holds an opposite opinion to yours is “wrong,” “untruthful,” or “bad.” It implies there is malintent on the other’s part. There is an art to slowing down and listening to someone else’s opinion that is different than your own and truly hearing them. Not letting any preconceived notions or ego get in the way of listening, hearing, and seeing whether there is “right” and “truth” and “good” in another’s opinion and perhaps seeing things in a different light than you have ever seen before in regard to that topic. I have experienced that with some more controversial topics when I have taken the time to listen to my colleagues who maybe in a different specialty or practice in a different type setting and thus have different day to day interactions than I may have. It is extremely rewarding and necessary, I believe, in order to make an informed decision
Page 14 - Community
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