HJNO Sep/Oct 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  SEP / OCT 2019 53 Gabriel Rivera-Rodriguez, MD President Jefferson Parish Medical Society executive directors of the organizations are working together to finalize a strategic plan that best meets the needs of mem- bers. They are polling members for input into development of the foundation for a strong joint organization that works well for all physicians. Members of the Collaborative Advi- sory Board consist of: George S. Ellis, Jr., MD, president, OPMS; Gabriel Rivera, MD, president, JPMS; Juan Gershanik, MD, president elect, OPMS; Tanya Busenlener, MD, vice president, JPMS; John H. Wales, MD, immediate past president, JPMS; R. Dean Yount, MD, immediate past presi- dent, OPMS; William Daly, MD, past pres- ident, OPMS; Mark R. Rice, MD, secretary, JPMS . Jodi Schwing, executive director, JPMS, and Jim Pittman, executive direc- tor, OPMS, also contribute to the strategic planning for the new organization. “I am very supportive of this collabora- tive effort between Jefferson and Orleans Medical Societies,” said Juan Gershanik, MD, 2018–2019 President-Elect, OPMS. “We are moving forward to create a vi- brant, progressive new organization that can be very effective in improving health- care in this region, and at the same time, it will advocate on behalf of our fellow phy- sicians.” The vision for the new professional as- sociation is to leverage economies of scale while assuming most of the activities and initiatives now conducted by OPMS and JPMS. The new organization plans to en- hance communications activity and val- ue-added services to physicians, while addressing public health concerns that plague the Southeast Louisiana region. This collaboration will strive to enhance advocacy efforts, serving as a stronger, more unified voice at the local and state levels. “With the development of this proposed new organization we are working together in hopes of providing more comprehen- sive representation and support for area physicians, and in turn, for the patients in our community,” said Tanya Busenlener, MD, 2019 vice president, JPMS. In a recent email message to mem- bers, the presidents of OPMS and JPMS expressed their excitement about mov- ing forward in a new era of collaboration. According to leadership, this proposed new professional association will ensure the societies’ abilities to serve physicians, those in training, and their patients more effectively in the future. “Bringing together the two leading phy- sician organizations in the Greater New Orleans Area will create synergy to devel- op and expand our activities and programs to support and enhance the practice of medicine in our communities,” said John H. Wales, MD, 2018 president, JPMS. According to members of the Advisory Board, the new collaboration will strive to best serve physicians, those in training, their patients, and the communities on both sides of the 17th Street Canal (a pri- mary boundary that separates Orleans and Jefferson parishes). OPMS and JPMS are hosting several focus groups consisting of employed, academic, and private practice physicians, and those early in their ca- reers, to gather input that will enable the new organization to meet their needs and respond to today’s challenges. Input from these focus groups will be instrumental in creating the mission, vision, and structure of the proposed new organization. “The Orleans and Jefferson Parish Med- ical Societies are coming together to help promote optimal healthcare to the resi- dents of our Parishes,” said William Daly, MD, 2014–2015 president, OPMS. “We work with patients, hospitals, and govern- mental bodies to promote healthcare reg- ulation and policies that provide the great- est health benefit to our patients.” Another important function of this new collaboration will be to serve as a liaison with other professional medical associa- tions, such as the American Medical Asso- ciation (AMA) and Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS), in providing government and industry leaders with impartial infor- mation relevant to physician/patient is- sues. “Health care and its challenges do not stop at parish lines. Now, neither does our physician representation,” said R. Dean Yount, MD, 2016–2017, president, OPMS. “The proposed new organization is well positioned to assist with the regional issues that confront physicians on a regu- lar basis.” The members of both parishmedical so- cieties must approve the formation of the proposed new organization, its mission, vision, and structure. “Our organizations are making great progress in collaborating to expand and improve organized medicine in the met- ropolitan area,” said Mark Rice, MD, 2019 secretary, JPMS. “This is such a great op- portunity to be a part of the construction of the future of medical societies in our community.”  Follow Orleans and Jefferson Parish Medical Societies and the development of this proposed new organization on Linke- dIn, Facebook and Twitter. For additional information, visit OPMS. org and JPMS.org. n