August 2007 | Back to Table of Contents

MMA Viewpoint

Professionalism—A Team Sport

My tattered Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, which I used in school when I was deciding to become a doctor, defines professionalism as the “conduct, aims, qualities, etc., characteristic of a profession.” It defines a profession as a “body of persons engaged in a calling.”

Until the mid 20th century, people in learned professions enjoyed an unwritten social contract that granted them a large degree of autonomy, including exemption from antitrust laws, in exchange for creating and enforcing a set of standards of ethical conduct. In recent decades, much of physicians’ autonomy has been taken away by government or seduced and extorted away by third-party payers.

Loss of autonomy has naturally generated angst, anger, and despair within the profession. This prompted William Plested III, M.D., president of the American Medical Association in 2006, and others to call for physicians to “take back our profession.” One way MMA members have done that is by asking for more teaching of professionalism for both medical students and practicing physicians.

But membership in medical associations is no longer required, and many physicians have opted out of paying dues. This seriously weakens our voice as a profession when we can least afford it. We are currently dealing with health care reform, pay for performance, imaging precertification schemes, and a host of other issues. How can we expect to regain any control over our fees, our quality standards, our ability to negotiate with insurers when half our colleagues won’t help?

The first step is to become a member of a professional organization—to participate and share in the burdens and leadership. As I stated in my first Viewpoint in December 2002, “Each of us needs to speak with any of our friends and colleagues who are not members and ask them how they can accept the benefits of our work but not be a part of the MMA. This is not the job of a membership committee but is something for each of us to work on every day.”

The next step is for members to become more involved. Serving in the House of Delegates or on one of our many committees and task forces is a great way to become more educated about the important issues we face and to work toward recapturing lost autonomy and reclaiming our profession. It also is a way to get to know other outstanding Minnesota physicians and establish long-lasting friendships. Participating in our advocacy network is an easy way for every member to contribute.

There are also leadership opportunities. As soon as my term as president ends, I will chair the MMA nominating and leadership development committee. The MMA needs strong leaders as does every organization—your specialty society, practice group, and civic organizations. Leadership development has become an important effort of the MMA, and I look forward to helping create our future. I hope you will join me.

Professionalism is a team sport. No single individual can establish standards, positions, etc. We either do it together, or it doesn’t happen. So sign up. Join the team. Together, we are stronger.