Greetings.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, I welcome you to the 2023 – 2024 year of the BCMS. Once again, I reiterate our gratitude to our immediate Past President, Dr. LaTonya Washington, and her team for leading the charge during a global pandemic. Her foresight, vision, and determination were pivotal in leading BCMS through traumatic times while increasing our visibility and viability within Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion spaces. We wholeheartedly congratulate her for leading us to the special recognition as the recipient of the 2022 Small Chapter of the Year Award at the National Medical Association’s (NMA) Annual Convention in Atlanta in July 2022.

This year holds tremendous promise and many opportunities to continue serving the needs of the local medical community while supporting each other as physicians. With many challenges impacting our care delivery systems, significant reimbursement cuts, dwindling access to care, physician burnout, attrition, and competing groups encroaching on the sacred physician-patient relationship, our organization must galvanize and rise to said challenges. We must engage in meaningful dialogue, spearhead strategic planning with intentionality, and grow our membership to ensure our viability and relevance as an organization for generations to come.

In the coming weeks, we will send out a brief survey to the current members and all physicians who align with the mission of the BCMS. The purpose of this is to engage YOU, our most valuable assets, in ensuring a laser-sharp focus on solutions to the issues at hand is developed and maintained.

Our membership is comprised of physicians in various stages of their careers. Some are starting their journey, and others are transitioning to roles that may not involve direct patient care. Significant numbers are hanging up their stethoscopes and white coats to traverse territories such as entrepreneurship and well-deserved retirements. The collective has limitless wisdom, knowledge, and influence.

We welcome passionate volunteerism and participation in our activities to benefit the communities we serve. I ask that you invest as much time and energy as you can reasonably spare to serve on committees, participate in webinars, health fairs, and mentoring activities, and improve the visibility of the BCMS as the trusted principal voice, educating the public on all things medical.

I pray that The Almighty blesses you and your families, businesses, and visions for 2023 and beyond. I pledge to continue fostering collegiality and support with the team of brilliant physicians you have elected to serve. With eager anticipation for the achievements ahead.

Your Bluff City Medical Society 2023-2025 President,

Michelle Kitson, MD