Page 8 - Layout 1

PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

Save a Life, Buttercup

By Adam Ratner, MD, 2019 BCMS President

“Suck it up, Buttercup.” I was reminded of these words when A consequence of this culture is that medical students, graduate
one of my wise colleagues, Hans Bruntmyer, DO, was asked about medical trainees, and practicing physicians deny or hide both their
the culture of medical training as well as much of the culture of physical and mental illnesses often until it is too late. While there
medicine many of us “seasoned” physicians experienced. It was is some stigma in inconveniencing colleagues with a physical illness,
probably even worse when my Dad was a surgical intern way, way for many of us the thought of seeking mental health care is both
back in the middle of the last century. He and another intern were inconceivable and intolerable, despite the alarming rate of physi-
scrubbed in a case when the other intern complained about some- cian and medical student suicides. This must stop now.
thing regarding the training program. The staff surgeon reportedly There is good news. The regulatory environment has changed
looked over his glasses at that hapless intern and said, “The eman- favorably. Furthermore, at the Bexar County Medical Society’s Joint
cipation proclamation may have freed the slaves, but it did not free Academic Collaboration Committee, we have discussed mental
the interns and residents.” health and suicide prevention initiatives gearing up and running at
With this training environment, it is not surprising that so many the UT Long School of Medicine, at the UIW School of Osteo-
physicians are suffering in silence. We have been trained and accul- pathic Medicine, as well as a very successful program run by our
turated to “suck it up” in the face of all sorts of adversity. Because military colleagues at SAUSHEC. One of the lessons learned is
so many of us simply just put our heads down, work harder, and that all physicians and medical students must participate, not just
compartmentalize our negative thoughts, we allow more bad things those who are currently in crisis.
to happen. First, by “sucking it up” we enable and make it easier For those of us who may not have access to one of these aca-
and more profitable for others to take advantage of us, our dedi- demic programs, the BCMS is looking to collaborate with our ac-
cation and our work ethic. Second, but perhaps more importantly, ademic partners and sponsor an introductory event to gauge
“sucking it up” corrodes our self-esteem, denies us happiness, and interest in a possible new mental health and suicide prevention pro-
ultimately empties our souls. gram designed and customized for BCMS members. When we an-
Physician culture and the regulatory environment historically nounce this event, we want you to come and bring your colleagues,
have been intolerant of physicians who showed “weakness” and whether you think you need it or not.
worse, any sign of anything remotely resembling mental illness. At the end of the day, we are each other’s keepers. The life you
Even having a “legitimate” physical illness or pregnancy meant hav- save may be your colleague’s, your loved one’s, or perhaps, your
ing one or more colleagues inconvenienced. The pressure was on own.
to return to work as quickly as possible even if the ailing physician
would never permit their own patients to return to work under sim- Dr. Adam Ratner is President of the Bexar County Medical Society and
ilar circumstances. serves as Professor and Assistant Dean of the University of the Incarnate
Word School of Osteopathic Medicine and Chair of The Patient Institute.

8 San Antonio Medicine • March 2019