It is one of the greatest honors of my professional life to address you, friends and colleagues, in my first president’s message.
I knew when I became part of the Massachusetts Medical Society that I was joining one of the most prestigious and well-respected medical communities in the world. It was clear to me that the MMS was driven to excellence by its membership and its leaders, and that the Medical Society possessed a shared, passionate, and influential voice used for good — for the good of those we have dedicated our lives to keeping healthy.
To most effectively heal our patients, we cannot forfeit our own well-being. If we are not wholly healthy, we simply cannot provide to our patients care that meets their needs and standards. Nor can we satisfy our personal and organizational standards of compassion, professionalism, excellence, and accountability that I know inspire each of us, every day, in each patient interaction.
We have an obligation to present to our patients our best selves. That obligation should be held sacred within the family that is the MMS. We should not only accept the responsibility of checking on each other, but feel gratified in doing so, recognizing that our health is, in fact, a vital part of patient safety.
We should feel comfortable in confiding in each other, and in offering and accepting guidance within this abundantly close and supportive community, especially when our diminished level of wellness could jeopardize patient outcomes (see page 6).
I look forward to working closely with you to address the many challenges we face, while embracing opportunities to improve our practice and the health of our patients.
— Alain A. Chaoui, MD
