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President’s Letter
Tempus Fugit
By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
“Grow old along with me! For those of you wanting to engage in the political process, or merely
seeking to become more informed, the MCMS constantly is fielding
IThe best is yet to be” — Robert Browning requests from our legislators, both local and at the state level, to meet with
always have struggled with the concept of aging. Not so much in members to discuss and learn about healthcare issues. If there is someone
others, as in myself. I tend to revert to my usual coping mechanism you would like to speak with, or a subject in particular in which sharing your
when confronted with unpleasant things – I ignore them. With a little expertise would be helpful, please let us know and we will assist you. This
luck, they will go away. is an opportunity to go beyond your patients and effect positive change for
The signs certainly are there, though. My first step to the bucket is much less your community.
explosive. Despite advanced technology and computer graphics, my golf ball
does not appear to travel as far (except, of course, when it is sailing majestically Having a bully pulpit can be a scary proposition ... especially for
out of bounds), and at times I blank on a certain medication if I have not the readers.
prescribed it in a while. So, aside such impediments are pushed, hopefully not
to rear their annoying heads anytime soon. Call it the Peter Pan syndrome. In honor of outgoing MCMS President Sandy Ward, I will continue
with monthly trivia questions, although this year’s will have a medical
But what truly confounds me is the dawning realization that I am part of bent. See page 6 for the answer.
the “old guard” in our medical community. I’m fairly certain I was a resident
at Charlotte Memorial Hospital just the other day, with Dr. Valya Visser Question: Who was Edward Jenner?
giving me her blessing and sending me into the real world. (I hope I have
made you proud, Val. I miss you.) Okay, I’m older, but president of MCMS? 2M0ec1kle6nbuErgleCocutnitoy nMedRicealsSuocliettsy
Shouldn’t that position be reserved, like department chairs and committee
heads, for the generation (or two) older than me? Though I have held a few Board of Directors
chairmanships and leadership roles, I’m quite certain they were either a result
of default or aberrancy. Still, here I am. To quote the Talking Heads, “You Officers:
might ask yourself, ‘Well, how did I get here?’”
(one-year term)
Don’t get me wrong – I am honored and humbled to be president of your
Medical Society, and I will do my best to represent all of you well. It is a President................................................. Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
wonderful organization with a dedicated staff, providing many opportunities Secretary........................................... Elizabeth B. Moran, MD
for its members (more on that later). My executive team (Really? Mine?) Treasurer................................................. Scott L. Furney, MD
includes the best and brightest colleagues, who time and again put aside their Immediate Past-President................ Simon V. Ward III, MD
busy schedules to do the work their office requires of them.
Directors:
Yet, I cannot escape a tinge of bemusement.
I believe one of the more taxing prospects of this role will be coming up (two-year term)
with topics for my monthly article. How do I strike the balance wherein
what I write is both pertinent and deserving of your attention? Not that I Maureen L. Beurskens, MD; W. Frank Ingram III, MD; Shivani
don’t enjoy writing – more on that much later – but rather, I fear coming up P. Mehta, MD, MPH; Babak Mokari, DO
short when compared to my predecessors. To recap just the last few, there
was Dr. Huff and her ability to get to the heart of a matter instantly, asking The following directors, who were previously elected, also
the relevant questions; Dr. Hall and his acerbic wit and cogent explanations will serve on the Board in 2016:
of complex issues; and Dr. Ward, folksy as always, making associations that John R. Allbert, MD; Raymond E. Brown, PA, Physician
were simultaneously amusing and logical. I wonder if the only thing I have Assistant Representative (appointed by the Board); Stephen R.
in common with them is the number of letters in our surnames. Keener, MD, MPH; Scott S. Lindblom, MD; Robert L. Mittl,
What I have decided – subject to change and whimsy of course – is Jr., MD; Cameron B. Simmons, MD, Resident Representative
to reflect on 30 years in medicine (or 50+ as the son of a physician) and (appointed by the Board); Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA
lessons learned, opinions forged, passions uncovered. Some will be very
personal, others more general in nature. I am not sure anyone needs to hear
my thoughts on the ACA or EHR or insurance companies – and frankly, I do
not think I can say anything better than what already has been said on these
pages. I will, however, take this opportunity to revisit a common theme for
the MCMS: advocacy.
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