Just when you thought you knew
it all and
read it all in this column,
I’m going to
surprise you!by Manuel M. Quiñones, Jr., MD
Bexar County Medical Society
President 2008
Isn’t it odd how fast a year goes by
the older you get? I thought this
month would never get here, but
here we are, in the blink of an eye.
Last year when you chose me as
your President-Elect, I decided that
my year as President would be a bit
different from anything we’ve seen
lately. I have great respect for the long
list of Presidents who have gone
before me, and I am proud to be
among them. But now, I will create
my own legacy.
I have several goals for this year,
and as you read this article monthly, I
will share them with you. At the same
time, if you have opinions about different
issues or concerns you feel are
important to our medical community,
by all means don’t hesitate to share
your thoughts and opinions with me.
Many of you already have, and as I
have told you, I will always protect
your identity. If you would like to be
recognized, let me know. I may even
name you to a committee to get some
work done.
One of my goals for this year is to
get you to read this publication on a
more regular basis. We have a new
Editor-in-Chief, Pamela Mooman, and
I anticipate exciting changes. I will constantly
try to spark your interest in my
monthly column. I will not shy away
from issues that affect our daily lives.
You may not always agree with me,
and at times I may anger you. But I
will get you thinking about different
issues in different ways.
Another of my goals is to increase
your involvement at different levels.
One of the most gratifying and rewarding
things I have done in the Society is
to serve on various committees. Serving
on committees gives you an enhanced
level of knowledge and allows you to
have direct impact on various issues
facing our profession and community.
If you are not on a committee and
would like to be, let me know. If you
can’t decide which one you’d like, I
might be able to help.
I would also like to help you appreciate
the value of being a member of
your Society, whether it’s taking time to
explain what the Board of Mediation
or the Board of Censors does, or
reminding you about our very powerful
Auto Purchasing/Leasing Program, or
telling you about Staffing Services.
I will try to help make you glad you
joined the Society, and I will try to help
you appreciate the many things we do
for you.
I will also change the format of our
General Membership Meetings — the
next one may be during Fiesta Week at
a River Parade bleacher or at Dave and
Busters with your family playing video
games while we meet, or maybe we’ll
rent a movie theater and all watch a
movie together after business. I don’t
know yet, but I promise that you will
look forward to attending General
Membership Meetings.
I will do everything I can and take
every opportunity I encounter to
enhance the image of our profession
and represent you well. I hope to
change not only what others think
of us, but also what we think
of ourselves.
This year, I would like to rekindle in
you a renewed excitement about what
we do. I would like to take you back to
those days when we were all idealistic
and dedicated to the best patient care
we could possibly provide.
I admire a great number of you
and the sacrifices you make every
day. But I believe we can all be better.
I would like for you to always remember
that good enough is never
good enough.
My daughter gave me a small
plaque once upon a time to place in
my work station. It says very simply: “To the world, you are just one person.
But to some person, you are the
World.” Remember this today when
you see your patients.
Let me know if you have suggestions
or comments. My email address
is Manuel.Quinones@bcms.org.
I will check my email regularly and
hope to have the time to respond to
all of them. Sit back and enjoy the
ride and think about some of
my suggestions.
From the back porch, feet up and
the sun going down, I remain your
President.
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