Greetings & Happy New Year!
In this beginning year of the next decade of the 21st century, I am certain that we will see change! Some of these reforms will be painful and some of these reforms will be not so painful and maybe even helpful? What is certain is that “things, they are a’ changin”! As I ponder these coming changes, I would like to believe that most of our member physicians would rather be part of their solution rather than part of their problem; and so, I call upon you to join with me and participate! I urge you to speak up! And, I encourage you to use your Medical Society as a megaphone of your opinions, ideas and suggestions.
As your President, I will speak for all of the members of our Society, and I will be available to listen to your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. My cell phone number is 210-559-0014; it is always on, and it is always with me – feel free to call me. My home phone is 210-695-9733 and Judy (my wife) knows where to find me. Also, I read e-mail once a day, usually in the evening. Please feel free to write me, at dongordon@satx.rr.com. If there is a situation that you feel the Society needs to be aware of, or perhaps to intervene, or whatever, please let me know. My hallmark is “the open door”.
During this first “Message” as BCMS President, I was at a bit of a loss as to what great words to write. My best effort is: I pray that we have a mutually beneficial year for our patients, for our families, for ourselves and for our Society.
Since I will represent you this 2010, I would like to tell you a little about me, my family and what my priorities are for this year. Here goes.
I grew up in the less affluent Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC during the end of the World War II era, attended public school, and was indelibly influenced by the social changes of the 1950s and my parents’ pronounced emphasis on educational achievement despite the dearth of funding available. I understand scholarship, student loans and eating on $1.25 a day! My background is diverse; and as I look back, I am impressed by its diversity.
As a graduate of Howard University in the ‘60s, my experience also included being present at Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, campus visits by Malcolm X and John F. Kennedy, and sometimes dangerous trips down Route 1 with the Varsity rifle team! Judith Lee Coker became my wife in my junior year and attended my graduation in 1964 with our son, Martin Douglas, who is now an “IT-Engineer” with Bexar County.
As a NASA Fellow, we journeyed across country to Corvallis, Oregon, where I studied Physical Chemistry at OSU under a pupil of Linus Pauling, who also attended my PhD thesis defense. This was where our second son, Mathew Charles, joined us. Mathew, an Oromaxilofacial Surgeon and BCMS member, offices with David G. “Dave” Leibold, MD, DDS on Hildebrand in Olmos Park.
During my tenure at Howard University, the establishment of the Berlin Wall caused me to enter the ROTC and a 20-year career in the US Army that included tours in Viet Nam, teaching at the US Military Academy at West Point, and ultimately obtaining an MD degree from the University of Maryland. Ending my military career, with a final 8-year tour at Fort Sam Houston, resulted in our settling down and establishing roots in Helotes, Texas and my becoming an Urgent Care and Emergency Medicine Specialist. I am proud of my military background and of those who even now serve our country.
From 1986 until 2008, I worked to improve the Bexar County emergency and EMS infrastructure to deliver improved emergency and disaster medical care under the auspices of the UTHSC-SA. As a Professor of Emergency Medical Technology, teaching in the Medical School while delivering emergency medical care to the community has provided me with a unique appreciation of the great care that the Bexar County Medical Society partnered to establish in 1973! Also, I continue to be active with the American Red Cross at all of its levels of endeavor.
In 1979, I joined the BCMS and I have attended or participated in all of its committees and many of its Boards and Offices. It is a great Society, and it will be even better in the days to come.
For this year, I would like to see the following accomplishments, in addition to those normally scheduled on a yearly basis:
1. We need to move ahead and find a home for our Society in a space that we can truly call our own!
2. We need to see increased participation by our “younger” members in the infrastructure of our Society. This means increased relevance for our Society’s goals and increased value for membership.
3. We need to establish a stronger presence in our Community by serving as a media resource of more relevance to the current concerns and events in health care; and, we need to speak for the science and conscience of medicine, as well as for its economics.
4. We seek to open up a channel of fellowship with the Medical Society of Chennai (India) and maintain our strong friendship with our Japanese colleagues in Kumamoto.
5. The groundwork for the legislative year of 2011 needs to be addressed and our priorities planned.
If you have additional goals, I am open to hearing your views and suggestions.
Finally, my overall personal goal is to leave the Society and its members enhanced by my tenure with a brighter and optimistic future. Have a hopeful January and a fantastic 2010!
