Medical Association of Jamaica
Annual General Meeting
September 27, 2009
MMLT, University Hospital of the West Indies

Thank you madam Immediate Past President.

Members of the head table, distinguished colleagues, the media, guests, friends and family, I am honoured to be installed today as the President of the Medical Association of Jamaica. I am pleased to take on the challenge of the presidency of this, the umbrella organization for all professional medical associations and societies in Jamaica, the oldest professional association in Jamaica, having been constituted as the overseas branch of the British Medical Association in 1877. My fellow Officers and I appreciate the opportunity that the membership has giving us to serve and thank you all for the confidence you have placed in us.

I would like to say a special thank you to the Great Architect of the Universe, who has blessed us with health and strength, making it possible for us to be here today. Special thanks to my wife and family for being very understanding during many Executive and long Council Meetings, especially over the last two years since we’ve had a new addition to our family. Special thanks to Dr. Alverston Bailey and Dr. John Hall, two Past Presidents who have been instrumental in providing excellent guidance and leadership in my MAJ journey.

TEAMWORK
I am cognisant of the importance of team work in an organization like the MAJ. The team you have put in place today, has worked very closely over the years. In recent times, during a very challenging period in MAJ’s history, my two VPs and I spent many hours on the telephone. These discussions led to independent decisions which were in the best interest of our organization, hence our presence here today.

I met our 1st VP, Dr. Ann Gibson when I was invited to serve as Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the MAJ, during Dr. Bailey’s tenure as President. She served as Secretary. We have worked very well together.

Our 2nd VP, Dr. Neville Graham and I toiled together in the "Quarries" on North Street for many years, in the days when wages did not reflect the work done. As his Intern in Surgery, he became aware that if he took too long to complete a telephone call prior to us doing a case, he ran the risk of me draping and opening before he was at the operating table. He was less concerned when it was my turn to close. Dr. Graham has been responsible for bringing the MAJ accounts to a point where we can now have discussions about the best instruments for investment! Like our 1st VP, I met our Secretary, Dr. Takeyce Palmer during Dr. Bailey’s tenure as President. We have worked very well together.

I look forward to working with our Asst. Secretary, Dr. Lisa Berry-McDowell, whose husband, Dr. Derrick McDowell toiled with us in the ‘Quarries’ in the good old days.

Having completed a Fulbright Humphrey Fellowship some years ago, a Fellowship which emphasizes strong leadership skills, it was very easy to recognize these qualities when I first met our Treasurer, Dr. Sandra Knight. I immediately encouraged her to submit an application for a Fulbright Humphrey Fellowship, the rest is history.

Our Assistant Treasurer and I have been very fortunate to have had one of the finest Mentors an Intern could ask for. I refer to Dr. Muriel Lowe. Having completed our Undergraduate Medical Studies overseas, we had the pleasure of being tutored by Dr. Lowe, in preparation for our qualifying examination, now called the CAMC Examinations. At a time when the weekend, and probably even the mid week party occupied a significantly higher level of importance in my schedule than it does today, Dr. Muriel Lowe was instrumental in helping me to focus. In her own gentle manner she said to me one day: "Winston, you should probably slow down and review a few of these topics, I think you have an exam at the end of the year". Special thanks to her.

I have also had the pleasure of working with our dedicated Administrative staff at the MAJ Secretariat. I look forward to working with them. So as you can see, between us, your new Officers have had many years of dedicated service to the MAJ and, as outlined above, have demonstrated the ability to work well as a team. This will assist us in serving the MAJ and its mission.

I am very clear that I am not the repository of all knowledge and that the mission of the MAJ will not be achieved with a ‘one man band’. The MAJ is fortunate in being surrounded by very knowledgeable Past Presidents. I have been reassured that I have their full support and look forward to leaning on them for such support. This administration will continue to support the MAJ system of "Three Wise Men" for each region as an effective method of intervention with issues and complaints involving medical practitioners in Jamaica....in all cases, as I am convinced that this will prevent unnecessary complications in our organization.

I also look forward to working with our Member Associations and you, the physicians on the ground. I stand ready to take my cue from those on the frontlines and make your agenda and your patients’ agenda my agenda, our agenda.

With this kind of team work, enthusiasm and hope, we can turn the challenges we face in medicine into opportunities.

CHALLENGES
I am aware that in recent times a number of you have been dissatisfied with aspects of the MAJ’s activities. I encourage you to see adversity as a source for positive change. Now is the time to be united, the time to, in the words of President Obama, "stay on message". That message being our mission: "... committed to the enhancement of the professional and personal development of its members, thereby enabling them to contribute optimally to the health and well being of the society". There is the old saying: ‘a chain as strong as its weakest link’. Join me in strengthening our links as we move forward with the business of the MAJ. The MAJ needs you!

A number of my contemporaries have approached me to congratulate me on being elected President of the MAJ. They’ve also added: "Is our time now De La Haye, this is the changing of the guard". I look forward to their full support and I say to them, "be prepared to respond; the MAJ will be calling on your support".

IMAGE AND RESPECT
I find it necessary to comment on our image. How the public perceives us is critical. We cannot allow the weak links to damage our image. You all see and hear, increasingly so, the many gleaner and news reports about some of our colleagues.

I will quickly share a personal story with you. After returning to Jamaica in September 1987, having completed my undergraduate studies overseas, I scraped together enough money to purchase a small car. Having borrowed enough to insure it, one week later it would not start. I needed a starter. To my surprise, when I enquired about the cost to rebuild a starter, the owner of the parts store, who was seeing me for the first time said to me: "Doc, you are a young doctor, nuh worry yourself, I can trust you". He proceeded to supply a new starter and had his workman install it for me. He then asked me if it would be ok to return with a half of the money at the end of the month and the rest before Christmas! This is the kind of image the profession had, only 20 years ago!

I also recall a number of business places accepting my cheques, despite signs saying "no personal cheques accepted", only because I was a physician. I am not so sure how much this would apply to us today.

The time has come to renew our sense of pride and professionalism. We must pay attention to our reputation, our image, to building trust and in turn earning respect. I encourage you to put our patients’ needs first and to uphold the highest standards of clinical practice at all times.

VOLUNTEERISM
Medicine is not a job; it’s a passion. As physicians we are dedicated to the science and art of medicine, to the improvement of our patients’ quality of life, to the betterment of the public health. We are all very busy, but I would like to encourage everyone here to make the time to give back, to always remember the importance of community service.

AREAS OF FOCUS
The areas of focus outlined below are aimed at contributing to improving the quality of health care in Jamaica. We look forward to engaging appropriate officials in dialogue related to health care. Our Health Minister’s background in the Trade Union and my own experience as President of the Union at the UWI (WIGUT) should make for very interesting discussions on areas of common interest. I look forward to these.

This administration will be focusing on the following areas:
1. Cost-effective delivery of health care
- Inadequate budgetary support for the MOH
Advocate for change. Lobby the Min. of Health, Min. of Finance and the Prime Minister to provide greater budgetary support for health.
- Review of user fee policy

You are all familiar with the Jamaican saying: "If fish come from river bottom say shark down deh, believe him". No one better understands our health challenges than physicians and their patients. We must encourage our government officials to listen to the man on the frontline. We will be coming to you in the public service for a clear picture on the state of our "free" health service. We will be your voice as we present scientific data to our government officials in an attempt to influence their policy decisions.

2. Violence Prevention
3. The Ganja Debate
4. Engage all stakeholders
- Health Insurance Industry
A number of issues have been expressed by our members. These are to be addressed.
- NAJ

5. Establishment of Employee Assistance Programmes in all hospitals, health centres and clinics. Identify the needs of our colleagues, assist the impaired physician.
Stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle, of taking care of ourselves, of remembering to do our medical as well. Female colleagues – mammograms, males - PSA!

6. Improving benefits available to our members
7. Research and Publication
- Continued publication of Disease Management Guidelines
eg. Depression, Nicotine Dependence (including training sessions) - Collaboration with drug companies
Explore potential areas of mutually beneficial collaboration with drug companies, beyond just funding conferences
- Collaboration with CHASE/other funding agencies
Identify gaps in epidemiological research and explore funding opportunities
e.g. Prevalence of Depression in Jamaica,
Cost of Substance Abuse to our society (in collaboration with the NCDA)

8. Professional development – CME Seminars and W/S
- Ethics seminars, in collaboration with the Medical Council of Jamaica
- Appropriate workshops (outside of our Annual Symposium)

9. Expand our membership base
Encourage our young colleagues to join the MAJ.
Structured meetings with final year Medical Students and new Interns.

10. Improve physician-patient relationship
- Our challenges
Ensure our patients are accurately and adequately informed about the challenges we face. - Patient Charter of Rights
Share information we have on the rights and responsibilities of patients (Dr. John Hall).
- Patient education

11. Establishment of a substantial Scholarship Fund for Medical Students in need
Encourage colleagues to pledge small sums by salary deductions. Based on my experience serving with the Health Sector Committee of the United Way of Jamaica, this method should bear fruit.

12. Increased visibility of the MAJ.
Presence at workshops/conferences being held by Member Associations

13. Community outreach through Collaboration with other organizations
14. Collaboration with Regional and International Medical Associations
15. Office Management Programme
- Computerization of files
- Filing Tax returns

It is an honour and privilege to serve as president of this great institution. I look forward to us working together in unity.

In the words of Sir William Osler.

"To prevent disease, to relieve suffering and to heal the sick – this is our work."

I ask you to join me in making this a reality

Thank you