Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - March/April 2021
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
MSD member is clear to me. I’ve thought a lot recently about the words of President John F. Kennedy during his inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” Those immortal words keep ringing in my ears and are resonating loudly. And so I think the time has come way we may think about MSD. Instead
of wondering what MSD can do for us, we really should think about what we can do for MSD, in an effort to better our communities, patients, and state.
I’ve been very interested in encouraging engagement in our Society, as I feel
there is so much MSD has done and will continue to do. Just a few years ago, MSD, through the Government Affairs Committee, crafted — with members of the Senate and House Health Committees — Senate Bill 227, the primary care
bill that shone a bright light on the inadequacies of reimbursement for our primary care practices and increased the ceiling for reimbursement. That work continues, and more progress is being made. MSD has brought to Delaware schools valuable programs to help our youth navigate these challenging times with our School Health Subcommittee’s “Healthy Living Week” presentations. We are currently working to recruit members for the Environmental
Health Subcommittee. MSD is joining
as a member of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, where we will be part of raising awareness as well as educating health professionals,
the public, and policymakers on the devastating impact of climate change solutions. Our Committee on Ethics continues its work on timely topics such as recreational marijuana, physician-
So think of it this way: when we join to work together, in time, we commit to the work at hand. Soon, it can become part of our being and we move forward with a certain degree of energy and desire to do even more.”
assisted suicide/medical aid in dying, and recent discussions of allocation of scare resources such as ventilators and PPE.
Being involved in one of the many MSD committees can bring a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Working together and especially our patients. Delaware is a small state, and we have the power to do so much when we work together. Having been a member of MSD for some time
and having been a member and chair of several committees has given me a sense of pride in being able to make change. The during this pandemic, all meetings are held virtually as we isolate in the comfort and safety of our homes or other locations.
in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is that of commitment. The word commitment implies “the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled.” So think of it this way: when we join to work together, in time, we commit to the work at hand. Soon, it can become part of our being and we move forward with a certain degree of energy and desire to do even more. We see that we can and need to
make a difference. This work can affect us in personal ways and helps us realize we are all here to make a difference in the lives of our patients. As we realize this, we become stronger together and can help others align with us. We should not lose sight of how we can affect others, especially new members, in the process of commitment.
So ask not what MSD can do for you
— ask what you can do instead! Use MSD as a conduit for making things accomplishments quickly and want to do yourself talking with colleagues about the power of engagement.
We should and must do better. Our patients, communities, and state depend on us. We cannot let them down.
Matthew J. Burday, DO
President, Medical Society of Delaware
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Del Med J | March/April 2021 | Vol. 93 | No. 2
