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MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

faction are the loss of autonomy and limited The future of medicine requires that all Dr. Nora Vasquez is a Board-
decision-making abilities that come with an doctors obtain the support and leadership Certified Internal Medicine physician
employed-physician status. Many physicians training needed to better advocate within who was awarded the BCMS 2019
feel the pressure of having to see more pa- their employed setting. The TMA and the Women in Medicine Leadership Ris-
tients in shorter time periods. This is trou- Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS) rec- ing Award. Dr. Nora Vasquez serves on the
bling as many doctors derive their greatest ognize these challenges and want to help. TMA Ad-Hoc Committee for Employed Physi-
joy from the relationships they develop with Both organizations offer training in leader- cians. She was chosen to participate in the 2020
their patients. In addition, physicians are ship and management. In fact, TMA held TMA Leadership College and the 2019 BCMS
frustrated with the increasing number of its first Ad-Hoc Committee on Employed Leadership Course.
hours required for charting and increased Physicians at the 2019 TMA Winter Confer- Dr. Veronica Vasquez is a Board-
productivity and quality metric demands. As ence. This committee was established to Certified Family Medicine physician
physicians find they have less autonomy, identify and develop support for employed who serves on the Physician Advisory
their overall morale declines. According to physicians. Counsel for UMA, and was selected
the Physicians Foundation Survey, Texas If you would like more information or for the 2020 TMA Leadership College and the
physicians rank 50th in the nation for posi- have suggestions, please contact the TMA 2019 BCMS Leadership Course.
tive professional morale. Unfortunately, Knowledge Center at 800-880-7955 and visit
there is also an increasing rate of overall www.texmed.org/employedphysicians/, or References
frustration with the current medical system email knowledge@texmed.org. Likewise, (1) AMA Employed Physicians Now Exceed
leading many to pursue part-time work, seek you may contact Brissa Vela at BCMS at 210- those who own their practices (May 2019).
alternative models of healthcare practice or 301-4371 or explore membership support (2) The Physicians Foundation: A survey of
retire early. offered on the website www.bcms.org. America’s physicians: Practice Patterns and
Perspectives (September 2018).

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