Message from New Governor
May 26, 2008

I write this one week after returning from the ACP Annual Session and Leadership Day in Washington D.C. As of last Saturday and the ACP business meeting, I have moved from Governor-elect to Governor in the Division of Education and Membership of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians as Malcom Foster has moved over to become governor of the Division of Advocacy and Member Benefits. For the next 2 years I will serve in this capacity before following Malcom to the Division of Advocacy and Member Benefits for 2 years. I thank our immediate-Past Governor, Kay Mitchell, for her leadership over the past 4 years and wish her well in her future pursuits both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the leadership of both Kay and Malcom and look forward to working with Malcom and the rest of the Chapter in these coming years, and I thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve the Chapter and the College as a Governor.

In the past year of attending ACP Board of Governors meetings, I have become aware of the diverse and relevant offerings, activities, and members active within the American College of Physicians. I have shared ideas and common interests about internal medicine, both current and future, with academic physicians and private practitioners and I have heard common concerns from an entire spectrum of internists. Yes, I can report that the scale of issues to deal with at times seems monumental, and that we are a part of a large and relevant group of dynamic members who are working diligently to improve our profession and help us maintain a strong position as professionals in this rapidly changing world of healthcare.

The beginning of the 21st century finds us at a great crossroads in medicine and healthcare in general and, at times like these, we have to be vigilant not only of the changes but also of ourselves. In changing and troubled times we can easily become selfish and reflective about how the job of practicing medicine can serve us better, but as professionals, this isn't enough. We have patients, who are not just customers, who depend on us.

We have plenty to concern ourselves with regarding medical education, continuing medical education, certification, regulation, legislation, and payment among other things. However, we have one ingredient that we have to handle differently and for which we must hold ourselves above the mundane. We are professionals. On the ACP website, is a reprint of the article "The American College of Physicians: The First 75 Years", by Bernice R. Lemley, M.Ed. (Annals of Internal Medicine 1, June 1990 112: 872-878) in which the author pointed out in 1990 that the College had evolved to its' 4th of 7 stages of evolution in reference to Shakespeare's seven stages of man. We as a College have moved through the stages of Identity, Knowledge, College Cooperation and were, and still can be, in the Age of Social Responsibility. Although 18 years have passed, I believe the determination of each stage remains relevant. With this message in hand, we can now revisit the "Charter on Medical Professionalism" first simultaneously published in the February 5, 2002 Annals and February 9, 2002 Lancet and from which we can always make reference as a road map. The essentials of the original are as follows:

"The three principles underpinning the practice of medicine, the organizations say, are the primacy of patient welfare, patient autonomy and social justice. From these principles stem a list of ten responsibilities that are both individual and collective obligations for physicians.

According to the charter, physician obligations include commitment to: professional competence; honesty with

  • patients; patient confidentiality;
  • maintaining appropriate relations with patients;
  • improving quality of care;
  • improving access to care;
  • a just distribution of finite resources;
  • scientific knowledge;
  • maintaining trust by managing conflicts of interest, and
  • professional responsibilities, such as regulating members and setting standards.

The charter was written by members of the Medical Professionalism Project sponsored by the ABIM Foundation, the ACP-ASIM Foundation and the EFIM. Members of the project's working committee met for several years to refine the charter. They recognized differences in the practice of medicine among diverse cultures and national traditions and uneven distribution of health care resources worldwide but said that the charter is not limited to Western medicine. The charter is intended to 'promote an action agenda for the profession of medicine that is universal in scope and purpose.'"

As we make our way through our careers and plan to do what we can in the ever-changing arena of healthcare, I challenge everyone to keep the above principles in mind as we deal with the daily aspects of practicing medicine.

Finally, we in Florida are fortunate to be a part of a dynamic group thanks to a lot of enthusiastic and involved members. From September 5 - 7, 2008 the Florida Chapter of the ACP will be hosting our annual fall meeting at the PGA Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Our meeting will include academic lectures on medical topics by some of Florida's finest teachers, workshop discussion groups on office practice and management, poster presentations from medical residents throughout the state, the traditional Doctor's Dilemma trivia quiz game in which residents from all the programs battle it out, and much more. It's free to members with a small fee to non-members and includes CME for most of the courses.

Any and all are welcome to get involved to each individual's level of comfort in this, your Chapter. We live in interesting times and there is a lot to do. As members of local, state, and national medical organizations, we deal with a host of issues relating to physician concerns, however, in this organization, we are internists dealing with common issues as internists. Welcome home !

-Stuart B. Himmelstein, MD, FACP

Page updated: 8/11/08