President's Message

 

 

On behalf of the Massachusetts Radiological Society (MRS) it is my pleasure to communicate the goals that I hope to spearhead while serving as its President during the 2010-2011 term. Working with a diligent, all volunteer executive committee of radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists, and with vital assistance from our national leaders at the American College of Radiology, I believe the MRS is well positioned to serve the needs of its members and the patients we serve.

 

 

Advocacy: Every week, payment reform challenges us at the state and national level, either by legislative action or by economic forces in the local insurance marketplace. The executive committee leadership this year is committed to meet these challenges at every step. By meeting with legislative leaders on Beacon Hill, or at our local hospitals, we can educate them on the role of imaging, payment reform,  the nature of over utilization, and appropriateness criteria. This is a key step to educate individuals who often are uninformed of the nature of our profession and the immediate and direct impact we have on patient care. We intend to advocate for our profession with testimony to pertinent legislative committees. The leadership has already met with a major state insurer to discuss policy changes that would have a dramatic effect on reimbursement for radiologists across the state and what we believe will be adverse consequences for the delivery of health care. We have resurrected a viable political action committee (MA PAC for Radiological Health) as one other mechanism to have the voice of radiology and radiation oncology heard. We are readily available for all of our membership to listen to their concerns, offer advice on improving their skill set to take action themselves, and to bring their issues back to our national and state leaders in medicine.

 

Stewardship: The MRS recognizes that our strength as an organization is only as good as our ability to communicate with our members and to make it crystal clear that belonging to a professional society is ‘worth it’. We take our fiduciary responsibility of your dues seriously and have instituted cost savings whenever possible. Our website is increasing in complexity to offer more links to help you find resources in managing your business. We are committed to keeping our membership informed on vital concerns as they arise during the year. We will foster communication with our members with the various mechanisms available to us in an electronic age.

 

Growth: Our profession will continue to flourish when we are role models for future radiologists and radiation oncologists. The executive committee is committed to strengthen outreach to our state wide training programs with a personal level of involvement to our residents and fellows. Educating them on the role of the ACR and MRS is the foundation for a stronger MRS in the years to come. We will be having regular dialogue with the Resident and Fellows section of the MRS and will be making personal visits at many of the state residency programs this year. The energy of our youthful colleagues will fuel involvement for our professional society. This year we also hope to increase membership in the MRS of those who are practicing radiologists and radiation oncologists and have yet to join. The leadership of the MRS will be available to encourage joining the ACR and MRS to advocate for patient safety and to create a more robust profession that addresses our economic and political concerns.

 

Acknowledgement: Often neglected in the busy world of modern medicine is acknowledgement of those individuals who have volunteered their time and efforts for their patients, and for radiology and radiation oncology as a profession. It is no less important that while we engage our governmental leaders in the current battle, we take time to acknowledge those individuals who have earned distinction for their past work. The MRS will continue to foster membership applications for becoming Fellows of the American College of Radiology. We will seek new opportunities to recognize members, who for various reasons, may not have come to immediate attention. Finally, we hope to begin to formalize a process for recognition, at the state level, of radiologists and radiation oncologists who may deserve special acknowledgement at our annual meeting with a new award ceremony.

 

 

 

In summary, I have had the honor of being a member of the ACR for over 17 years and of serving on the executive committee of the MRS for over 7 years. This year, as President, I intend to advocate for our profession at each and every opportunity that avails itself. As a profession, we have much to be proud of by being an integral part of the practice of modern medicine delivering the best and safest care to our patients. Earlier this year, while meeting the major party candidates for Governor, I reminded them that no modern hospital could function without us. This is the key message each and every one of us needs to spread in a year of major changes. I welcome your involvement at every stage of our profession.

 

Sincerely,

 

JOHN S. DUBROW, MD, FACR