Part of a Larger Community

During my time as a medical student at the University of Iowa, I had the opportunity to do several of my clinical rotations in small cities and towns. As a result, I had multiple opportunities to observe, first-hand, the positive impact physicians could have in their communities.

Shortly after I moved to West Michigan and began practicing at West Shore Urology, Dr. Fred Brown, a local vascular surgeon, said to me, “If you want to be part of the medical community, you have to be part of the community.” At that moment, I confess, I did not exactly understand what he meant. In retrospect, Dr. Brown’s comment was foundational.

Inspiring Examples

I went on to learn that Dr. Brown was a member of the Muskegon Rotary Club and a major contributor to our local hospital, the Muskegon Museum of Art, and the West Shore Symphony.

Dr. Brown was not alone. My partners, Dr. Joe Salisz and Kevin Stone, were both regularly active in giving and in service to our community. Dr. Dick Kamps, a local general surgeon, and his wife Lynn started Step Up. The list of local physicians, and their spouses, that have made significant contributions, outside of day-today practice of medicine, to our community goes on and on.

Recently, Muskegon Rotarian Nancy Crandell invited me to do an interview for Muskegon Rising. Nancy and her husband Dr. Don Crandell have been servant leaders in our community for decades.

I went into the interview prepared and excited to discuss SafERteens, Muskegon Violence Prevention, and other innovative youth violence prevention initiatives currently taking place in Muskegon County.

I came away, however, with a greater sense of gratitude for opportunity physicians have to make a positive impact on their community through service and advocacy.

Creating Positive Change

Over the past decade, the practice of medicine has been changing at breakneck speed. To remain viable, a growing number of private practice physicians have had to switch business models and become employed. As healthcare systems across our state grow larger and larger, employed physicians are increasingly feeling like cogs in the corporate wheel.

For the past 8 years I have had the honor of serving on the Board of the Michigan State Medical Society. In this capacity, I have seen, first-hand, how physicians all across the State of Michigan are feeling disheartened and, increasingly feeling like they have lost the power to create positive change. I hope the conversation and examples within this video will serve to help address this misconception.

The truth of the matter is, as physicians, we are in a unique position to help create positive changes in our local communities. From time to time, I think we need that reminder, to create ongoing positive changes in ourselves. I would like to thank Nancy, Mike, and the Muskegon Rotary Club for providing me with both the reminder and the opportunity.

Acknowledgement

Nancy and I would like to express our gratitude to Muskegon Rotarian Mike Vogas for inviting us into his home for the interview and for editing and filming the podcast and video.