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BCMS – TOGETHER
WE STAND

San Antonio Medicine Magazine -

112 Years of Service

By John J. Seidenfeld, MD

A s I write these reflections, I am thankful to the medical soci- derful doctors and their families have contributed to SAM and sharing

of essential information. Over the past century SAM has documented
ety and Melody Newsom, CEO, the committee membership
and administrative staff (Monica Jones, COO, and Nancy
Salas, editor), the sponsors, the board and the publisher. I am grateful the Spanish flu (treated by masking, distancing and hand washing) to
COVID treatment with anti-viral medications and mRNA vaccines,
to the student and graduate doctors who contribute their thoughts and wound care before and after the advent of antibiotics, and inherited
research to the magazine, and our readership which has access to this disease and the advent of gene therapy which promises profound
locally produced, Bexar County focused source of medical information. changes by replacing inherited DNA segments with new gene editing
Students, community members and physicians volunteer their time and techniques. Contributors have written about the development of new
insights to the society. Both San Antonio schools of Osteopathic and anesthesia techniques and robotic surgery, new non-invasive diagnostic
Allopathic medicine from the University of the Incarnate Word and the techniques, the growing recognition of cancer to a time of research into
UT Health San Antonio have been involved as authors and editors. We cancer cell biology with the promise of malignant cell extinction, the
hope that their contributions help them in future endeavors as they con- AIDS epidemic, the birth and growth of two medical campuses and
tinue with graduate medical education. Their significant thoughtfulness an ever-changing and enlarging healthcare facility and practice land-
and creativity have been fundamental to our mission. Our practicing, scape. The Bexar County Medical Society has moved from French Place
retired physicians and committee members have also been major con- to Highway 1604 and will continue to be vigilant to the business and
tributors with unique insights and perspectives. practice of medicine in years to come. Its members will continue to
The committee chair and staff reviewed the 2011 edition of San An- write of their past and present, and to predict their future.
tonio Medicine magazine (SAM) (100-year anniversary) in preparing Controversies arise periodically and the board and committee with
this reflection. In that magazine are familiar faces, and “voices” from the guidance of the CEO and COO thread the needle and try to stay
decades of resolute volunteers. I am impressed by the concern to not topical, current and factual. Not all articles will be a good fit. If you feel
only stay on the right track but keep moving in the right direction. A there is information you would like to consider or directions you would
consistent aspiration is to supply useful practice information to im- like us to take, please share with us in letters to the editor. Our goal is
prove the health of the citizens of Bexar County. Thousands of won- to support your practices both in the science and business of medicine

12 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • January 2023