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BCMS
AAMSE AWARD

2022 AAMSE Award:

Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS),

Physicians Health and Rehabilitation Program (PH&R)

By Monica Jones, BBA, BCMS Chief Operating Officer

Congratulations to the BCMS Physicians Health and Rehabilita-
tion Program (PH&R) who received the Profiles of Excellence award
in the Advocacy category from the American Association of Medical
Society Executives (AAMSE) on Thursday, July 28.
The BCMS PH&R program is confidential and led by a committee
of physician colleagues that identify and facilitate the recovery success
for other physicians whose abilities are impaired by alcohol or drugs
through support and monitoring. The goal is to help the impaired
doctor return to practice and their home life free of alcohol and drugs.
The program helps doctors learn how to cope with the stresses of
modern medical practice and learn to live in a safe and peaceful envi-
ronment without the need for their former coping mechanisms.
The BCMS PH&R program has set the standards for other pro-
grams across the state. In the almost 40 years of its existence, the com-
mittee has helped hundreds of physicians successfully recover while
keeping patients safe. Those being helped are able to safely practice
medicine and return to their families and practices whole again and
renewed.
Even more unique is that the weekly evening Caduceus meetings
continued to meet in person during the peak of COVID-19. PH&R
Chair, Dr. Oliver Johnson explained, “Caduceus meetings are critical;
Caduceus is a protected forum where physicians with addiction prob-
lems can share their challenges openly and offer suggestions and en-
couragement to their fellow physicians. This exclusive forum where
issues of practice difficulties and stresses can be aired and help offered
is vital. These special considerations simply cannot be discussed in reg-
ular AA meetings.” Caduceus meets at BCMS every Thursday night
at 7 pm.
The award was accepted by Dr. Oliver Johnson, PH&R Chair since
1995, and Dr. Neal Gray, BCMS President 1992 and co-creator of
the PH&R Program in 1982 and Melody Newsom, CEO/Executive
Director.
For more information about the Physician Health and Rehabilita-
tion program visit our website at http://www.bcms.org/phr.php or
call Monica Jones, COO and staff liaison for PH&R at (210) 301-
4373.

Monica Jones is the Chief Operating Officer and PH&R
Staff Liaison at BCMS.

Visit us at www.bcms.org 29