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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

United We Stand,

Divided We Fall

By John J. Nava, MD, 2023 BCMS President

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

These last few years have been tough. Some physicians may feel like At the last Fall Conference on September 17, TMA reintroduced
the family of medicine has been treading water, others are of the opinion Wellness First, a program promoting physician wellness by moving the
that we have been merely drifting. In either case, people would agree that focus from primarily individual factors to national, organizational and
progress was elusive. We are AmeriCAN doctors, not AmeriCAN’T! systemic sources of burnout and stressors. Coincidentally, that day was
We must be goal directional in our activities, correct? All this sitting the National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. Helping physicians care
around waiting has been too frustrating for many physicians. for themselves helps them care for patients, and without our patients, we
As we continue to respond to an evolving pandemic that has become have a much-diminished purpose. I anticipate the successes of Wellness
endemic, the routine of daily life is being reinvented. Whether this most First will enhance our approach to patients suffering from anxiety, de-
recent episode of a novel virus affecting multiple body systems is “over” pression and burnout in their own lives.
is debatable. At least we can hope that the debate will lead us to more ef- TMA has provided direction, and this is definitely a robust list of op-
fective evidence-based responses for populations most affected by Covid- portunities to be heard. Faced with this moment, each of us has a decision
19 and future pathogenic infectious agents. to make. We each will decide to follow or lead, or perhaps just watch from
I am happy to tell you that during this time, your Bexar County Med- the sidelines, depending on our individual situations. This is truly an in-
ical Society (BCMS) and Texas Medical Association (TMA) have not dividual choice as each can be appropriate at different times. I am hon-
been idle. Instead, both groups have been working closely on the issues ored to promote TMA’s published list of legislative priorities for
which affect physicians most. Since the Texas legislature only meets every advocacy, but this list is just the beginning. It can stimulate each member
two years on odd years, physicians have a chance in 2023 to speak directly to develop their own interests and work together with other members of
with their lawmakers at First Tuesdays. Physicians can assume the role of TMA, or more locally, within the BCMS committee structure. I wel-
lobbyist for a day, and the sea of white coats visiting legislators at their come any member interested in becoming more involved, and pledge to
Capitol offices is impressive. Organized by the TMA, recruitment for try to facilitate those connections. To learn more about committee vol-
First Tuesdays is underway for Texas physicians interested in this form unteer opportunities and how you can get involved, please call (210) 301-
of advocacy for patients and the profession of medicine. TMA has pub- 4371 or visit our website at www.bcms.org.
lished ten advocacy priorities, and our collective voices can impact the
understanding of those issues for the legislators. I look forward to serving as your BCMS President in 2023.

• Scope of Practice/GME Funding John J. Nava, MD, is the 2023 President of the Bexar County Medical
• Women’s Reproductive Health Society. He is interested in Primary Care, Clinical Research and Public
• Medicaid Rate Increases Health.
• Enhanced Coverage for Women and Children on Medicaid
• Protection of Tort Reform
• Physician Autonomy/Corporate Practice Protections
• Prior Authorizations
• Protect Vaccine Laws/Modernization of ImmTrac
• Network Adequacy and Protecting the Texas Surprise Billing Law
• Regulation and Taxing E-cigarettes

8 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • January 2023