HJNO Mar/Apr 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  MAR / APR 2019 49 Blake R. Denley Board of Directors, Orleans Parish Medical Society M.D. Candidate, LSUHSC New Orleans Promisingly, medical student member- ships have increased by 60 percent over the past six months. Even so, it remains that less than 4 percent of New Orle- ans-based medical students are members of the parish medical societies. “At OPMS and JPMS we invite medical students and young physicians to join us for collegiality, to celebrate the profession, to be leaders in the community, and to improve healthcare in the region,” says Dr. George S. Ellis, Jr., President OPMS. Any medical school aspirant would eagerly share how they want to make a difference in people’s lives, to serve the most vulnerable populations, and to im- pact communities through healthcare. Not un c ommon l y, however, between interview day and graduation, medical stu- dents’ goals and aspirations can change, and sometimes once-foundational pas- sions become secondary considerations. If we are to truly “first, do no harm,”we must impress upon our future doctors that we cannot wait until a patient is in our office or at our hospital to begin working for their health. Instilling a passion for civic responsibility among medical students has lasting effects for generations, not just for patients but for physicians as well. “Medical Student involvement in or- ganized medicine is good for everyone. Experienced practicing physicians learn the hot button issues and experience the enthusiasm of the physicians in training. Young physicians and medical students learn the difficult process of crafting a better structure and system to serve the health of our patients. Awin-win!” says Dr. Ellis. “We develop leaders. Come join us.” Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Ideological dif- ferences between generations are often highlighted in today’s society and can understandably present challenges to embracing those of us who are still in the infancies of our careers. However, through experience from mentors in organized medicine, we will learn reality, and through recognition of reality we will craft an experience-based ideology of our own. I exhort the medical commu- nity to actively engage medical students in organized medicine, which starts by reaching out to them and encouraging them to join our societies. Teach them about the sys- tems and powers at play. Invite them to your homes and offices for health policy debates and dialogues. Encourage them to search out additional avenues for advo- cacy. I do not think medical students need to change the world, but I do believe they need to observe and learn about every as- pect of healthcare and medicine while in training. n Blake Denley is a medical student OPMS board member and LSU School Of Med- icine Class president. Less than 4 percent of New Orleans-based medical students are members of the parish medical societies.