Louisville Medicine Volume 61, Issue 12 | Page 21

James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM, begins Presidency June 2013 Residents in Business Spear Essay Contest Winners Announced Bert T. Guinn, MBA, CAE 2 013-14 has been a watershed year in the health care industry, dramatically affecting physicians and patients alike. In this time of great change, the physicians who make up the Greater Louisville Medical Society stepped into the fray and did their part to advocate and educate, volunteering time and resources to serve the community we call home…all while maintaining their busy practices. Despite the changes that came with the Affordable Care Act, GLMS members maintained time-honored traditions and partnerships, such as the UL White Coat Ceremony, to remind us that even as the practice of medicine changes at a maddening pace, at its heart, it’s still about patients and the great healers who dedicate their lives to them. At the same time, many new initiatives were launched to keep GLMS on the leading edge of physician and community engagement. At GLMS, our mission is to promote the science, art and profession of medicine; protect the integrity of the patient-physician relationship; advocate for the health and well-being of the community and unite physicians, regardless of practice setting, to achieve these ends. GLMS exists to support our community. GLMS At-Large Board member, Wayne Tuckson, MD, remarked recently, “This is the boots on the ground organization. This is where we have the greatest impact both for protecting physicians and our patients.” The physicians who make up the GLMS membership and serve in leadership roles moved mountains this year to fulfill our ongoing purpose and mission. Promote the science, art and profession of medicine As the practice of medicine evolves at an increasingly rapid pace, it has never been more important to remind ourselves, our young people, and our community of the profound need for physicians who practice their specialty with grace and precision. Dr. Barry also announced the recipients of the first-ever Medical Writing for the Public Award, which honors outstanding writing about medicine or health care for readers of the lay press. The winners were: On May 19, 2013 at the annual Presidents’ Celebration, leadership of GLMS was passed from outgoing President Russell A. Williams, MD, to incoming President James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM, who challenged members to get involved and work together to impact the future of medicine. • Virginia Keeney, MD, for “Louisville’s Polio Battle Joined 50 Years Ago,” which ran in the October 14, 2012 edition of The Courier-Journal. • Michael Stillman, MD, for “Dismaying Number of Uninsured Kentuckians,” which ran in the September 30, 2012 edition of The Courier-Journal. At the Presidents’ Celebration, Louisville Medicine Editor Mary G. Barry, MD, recognized the winners of the sixth annual Richard Spear, MD, Memorial Essay Contest, which recognizes and promotes exceptional writing by physicians about medicine. The winners were: • Katherine A. Abbott, MD, in the practicing and life member category, for her essay “Challenges in Medical Practice.” She received a $1,500 prize. • Medical student Celia Johns, in the in-training and student member category, for her essay “My Silent Teacher.” She received a $750 prize. There are many fine writers within the ranks of the GLMS membership and by recognizing a few, we hope to encourage more to exercise their gift to promote the art and science of medicine. Many GLMS members invested in the future of medicine by volunteering their time at Reside