Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Why should you belong to a medical professional society?

Philip A. Masters, MD
Policy
September 8, 2019
Share
Tweet
Share

acp new logoA guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Because I work for a medical specialty society, I’m frequently asked by non-members why I believe they should belong to a medical professional society.  This is a particularly relevant question these days given the rapidly changing landscape of medicine and with physicians becoming much more discerning about the value they perceive in such affiliations.

My response to this question, despite my obvious bias, is that I firmly believe that medical professional associations have been and continue to be critically important in positively affecting the lives and careers of individual physicians, the state of medicine at large, and the well-being of the patients we serve.  Here’s why.

Professional societies are predicated on the concept of individuals within a particular discipline coming together to share their knowledge, skills, and experience for their mutual benefit and advancement of the common good.  Medicine, however, is somewhat unique among professions given its ancient roots as a deeply moral enterprise focused on maintaining the interests of patients as central to what it does.  This difference, therefore, can translate into medical professional societies that represent a communal extension of the core principles underlying medicine as a discipline.  This means that they ideally have an obligation to seek to improve the care of the sick; advance public health by providing leadership in confronting issues affecting the well-being of the population at large; defend the health of the most vulnerable members of society; establish standards for medical care, individual practice, and ethical behavior; help advance medical knowledge and medical education; and provide mutual support for its members.   It also means that the interests of patients should supersede those of the self-interests of its members, even if doing so might conflict with economic, commercial, or political pressures being faced by the discipline.

By doing these things, medical professional societies have the potential to serve as a stabilizing force in a rapidly changing medical landscape by functioning as the “conscience” of the profession, as well as serving as a catalyst for positive changes in medicine as a whole, for those who practice it, and the patients and society it serves.

But an obvious (and legitimate) question is whether medical professional societies are actually able to uphold these lofty goals in today’s health care environment.   In reality, medical societies constantly struggle with the balance between maintaining the highest ideals of the profession and seeking to advance their members’ and discipline’s self-interests.  When this balance is not properly maintained, more self-serving agendas may overtake the ethical obligations of the profession, and history has shown many examples of medical professional associations straying significantly from these core principles and at times functioning more as businesses, trade associations or lobbies.  Yet, I believe that it is possible for medical professional societies to manage this potential conflict of interest and serve both its members and the patients for whom they care, and that most truly try to do so.

Beyond embodying the principles underlying the profession, medical societies also provide an avenue for expression of those things important to individual physicians through the collective voice of their discipline far beyond what they are able to do on their own.  It is the lack of communal and unified input and influence that has led to doctors losing control of the conversations around many of the key issues affecting medicine in recent years, with the structure of health care delivery and financing, and introduction and expansion of electronic health records being key examples. And even though no individual member of a society is likely to fully agree with every position, policy, or approach it might take around these issues, the ability of an association to speak on behalf of a discipline in the interests of patients, the profession, and society can be immensely powerful and meaningful for members, particularly for issues where their individual voices would undoubtedly be less influential.

But perhaps one of the most valuable roles a medical professional society can play is to provide a way for individual physicians to remain connected in a meaningful way with the core principles and values that led them to medicine in the first place and those who share them.   Being a physician can be a fairly solitary enterprise, and fostering ongoing relationships with like-minded colleagues can serve to counter the growing sense of isolation that physicians feel in the current health care environment.  This attachment with the greater house of medicine and the opportunity to engage with others facing similar professional and life challenges can help us defend against and manage feelings of loneliness by knowing that we truly aren’t alone.  And it is this inherent fellowship with our medical colleagues that may be the key to combating our feelings of loneliness, providing a sense of empowerment, and restoring joy in the work of doctoring.

And then there are the more tangible aspects of belonging to a medical professional association.  Virtually all provide significant opportunities for networking and establishing mentor/mentee relationships, educational content, meetings, as well as support resources across the career lifespan, and professional recognition through such mechanisms as fellowship or awards.

The reality is that many individual physicians I speak with have significant competing time and activity pressures, and therefore perceive their ability to meaningfully engage with a medical professional association to be limited, while others do not see value in interacting with societies beyond a more transactional basis related to specific programs, products, and services.  But I encourage them to look (or re-look) closely at what medical professional societies represent and can offer to help them in their lives and work as a physician.

We know that medical professional associations are not perfect.  We also know that those who do join them tend to do so for their own personal reasons, although every individual’s reasons may be different and the decision to remain affiliated will likely change over time.  But I’m a firm believer that we are always stronger personally and professionally when we work together, and that the benefits of being a part of something greater in medicine will never go away. And that is the value of belonging.

Philip A. Masters is vice-president, Membership and International Programs, American College of Physicians. His statements do not necessarily reflect official policies of ACP.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Prev

Are you using this benchmark for physician personal finance?

September 7, 2019 Kevin 0
…
Next

The medical profession faces a crisis of diversity, inclusion, and equity

September 8, 2019 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: American College of Physicians, Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Are you using this benchmark for physician personal finance?
Next Post >
The medical profession faces a crisis of diversity, inclusion, and equity

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Philip A. Masters, MD

  • Reflections on caring for parents with dementia

    Philip A. Masters, MD
  • Reflections of an aging physician

    Philip A. Masters, MD
  • Doctors can get angry, too

    Philip A. Masters, MD

Related Posts

  • Digital advances in the medical aid in dying movement

    Jennifer Lynn
  • Physicians and medical students: Unlearn helplessness

    Jamie Katuna
  • Nurturing professional identity and maintaining pass rates: an important goal in medical education

    Molly Johannessen, PhD
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for social media training in medical education 

    Oscar Chen, Sera Choi, and Clara Seong
  • Why this physician teaches health policy in medical school

    Kenneth Lin, MD
  • Medical students and physicians are forever looking to milestones

    Bruce Campbell, MD

More in Policy

  • Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

    Martha Rosenberg
  • When America sneezes, the world catches a cold: Trump’s freeze on HIV/AIDS funding

    Koketso Masenya
  • A surgeon’s late-night crisis reveals the cost confusion in health care

    Christine Ward, MD
  • The school cafeteria could save American medicine

    Scarlett Saitta
  • Native communities deserve better: the truth about Pine Ridge health care

    Kaitlin E. Kelly
  • Third-party litigation funding threatens access to health care

    The Doctors Company
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout

      Aisha Quarles, MD | Physician
    • Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients

      Charles LeBaron, MD | Conditions
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?

      Kenneth Botelho, DMSc, PA-C | Education
    • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Physician
    • Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success

      Jay Anders, MD | Tech
    • What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values

      Jenny Shields, PhD | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 9 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout

      Aisha Quarles, MD | Physician
    • Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients

      Charles LeBaron, MD | Conditions
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?

      Kenneth Botelho, DMSc, PA-C | Education
    • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Physician
    • Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success

      Jay Anders, MD | Tech
    • What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values

      Jenny Shields, PhD | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Why should you belong to a medical professional society?
9 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...