HJNO May/Jun 2019

44 MAY / JUN 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS column medical society Why Membership in OPMS is Important to NOLA Physicians “Established over 140 years ago, Orleans Parish Medical Society has always played an important role in supporting the unique needs of physicians and their patients in the Greater New Orleans area,” said George S. Ellis, Jr., M.D., 2018–2019 President, OPMS. When it comes to providing healthcare, there is no city in the U.S. or the world that deals with more unique environmental, sociological, and cultural challenges than those experienced by New Orleans, Louisi- ana, its physicians, and their patients. Or- leans Parish Medical Society (OPMS) plays an important role in helping to support the unique needs of the area’s physicians and the many patients they serve. “Membership in Orleans Parish Medical Society is important to me because, for al- most 50 years now, I have been able to share ideas, short term and long term professional dreams, dialogues, and collegiality with lit- erally hundreds of other physicians in New Orleans,” said Louis Trachtman, M.D. “I could not have chosen a better venue to do this very early on in my medical career.” Founded in 1878, the mission of Orleans Parish Medical Society remains to serve as Members proudly discuss some of the many benefits of joining Orleans Parish Medical Society. the voice of, and advocate for the med- ical profession in the Greater New Orle- ans area for the benefit of patients and the community, and to be the prima- ry proponent of the ethical practice of medicine. Ask any of Orleans Parish Medical So- ciety’s 420+ members what membership means to them and they will be happy to tell you. “Orleans Parish Medical Society has given me a platform and opportunity to push for public health changes that I believe will benefit our population,” said Juan Gershanik, M.D., 2018–2019 Presi- dent-Elect, OPMS.  OPMS membership provides physi- cians and medical students with: • a reliable source of information on is- sues that affect their practices; • an unbiased forum for professional unity through opportunities to net- work with colleagues in every med- ical specialty and practice setting at OPMS-sponsored CME and social events; • an educational resource for physicians and their practice managers on medical practice issues; • an advocacy platform for improving the practice of medicine and the overall health of the Greater New Orleans area. “Orleans Parish Medical Society pro- vides members with opportunity to be- come acquainted with other physicians in the community, which helps increase practice referrals,” said Frank Hall Wag- ner, M.D. “Similar to a hallway consult, membership in OPMS gives physicians a chance to improve practice skills by learn- ing from older physicians.” Partnering with Jefferson Parish Medi- cal Society to meet member needs: Since 1878, OPMS has played an import- ant role in representing and supporting