HJNO Jan/Feb 2026

56 JAN / FEB 2026 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS MEDICAL SOCIETY COLUMN MEDICAL SOCIETY AS we welcome a new year, it’s clear that physician leadership in Southeast Louisi- ana has never been more essential. Over the past year, the Medial Association of Southeast Louisiana (MASELA), the Jeffer- son ParishMedical Society (JPMS), and the Orleans Parish Medical Society (OPMS) have worked together to address shifting public health policy, rising misinforma- tion, and increasing pressures on clinical practice, always with the goal of protecting the physician-patient relationship. 2025 Highlights One of the most visible successes of 2025 was the launch and growth of Phy- sicians for Prevention, a physician-led vaccine awareness campaign created by our societies. The initiative later partnered with the New Orleans Health Department, LAFamily for Vaccines, and other commu- nity groups to expand its reach and deliver trusted, evidence-based vaccine informa- tion throughout the community. Details about this campaign can be found at: pfpnola.org Our societies also remain deeply en- gaged in the legislative arena. Working of Appreciation to the first responder agencies whose actions were instrumental in the emergency response, expressing our continued gratitude for their service to the community. Before turning to the year ahead, I offer my sincere thanks to the 2025 boards of MASELA, JPMS, and OPMS. Their leader- ship, advocacy, and commitment to mem- ber engagement shaped a productive and impactful year. Welcoming 2026 With the start of 2026 comes new lead- ership for MASELA, JPMS, and OPMS. The 2026 presidents are: Harold J. Miller, MD, will lead MASE- LA in 2026. A New Orleans native and board-certified endocrinologist, Miller graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, completed his resi- dency and fellowship at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, and is a fellow of the American College of Endocrinology. Wide- ly recognized for his expertise in endo- crine and metabolic disorders and for his long-standing involvement in organized medicine, his thoughtful, steady leader- ship will guide MASELA’s ongoing work in side-by-side, MASELA, JPMS, and OPMS raised concerns about proposals that could weaken physician-led oversight of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examin- ers and increase political influence in clin- ical regulation. In addition, our delegates attended the 2025 Louisiana State Medical Society House of Delegates, contributing to statewide discussions on malpractice protections, innovative care models, and the growing need for physician engage- ment in health policy. Together, these ef- forts underscored our commitment to safeguarding professional autonomy and ensuring that physicians retain a meaning- ful voice in healthcare decisions affecting our patients. In 2025, our societies also made a point to recognize the extraordinary courage and professionalism of the emergency responders who managed the January 1 Bourbon Street attack. At our annual Celebration of Medicine, we honored the Louisiana State Police, New Orleans EMS, NOFD Station 29, NOPD District 8, and clinical teams from several New Orleans area hospitals for their swift and coordi- nated response to an unthinkable tragedy. Later in the year, we presented Certificates LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD: Welcoming Our 2026 Society Presidents