Contents tagged with president

  • Keep doing what you do best; change what needs to be changed

    Tags: president, ragle, president's letter, health care reform

    Thursday, January 8, 2015 11:27:49 AM
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    An adaptation of the 2014-2015 incoming president’s address

    By Dale Ragle, MD
    TAFP President, 2014-2015

    It is an honor and a privilege to serve my fellow family docs as TAFP President. There is no other group of people that I would rather serve and give my time to than you. I represent all of you, whether you are a solo, rural doc in west Texas where you may be the only doctor within 70 miles, a doctor in a big multi-specialty group, a resident in training, or a medical student aspiring for a career in family medicine. You all deserve my service and attention and you all shall get it.

    The last three members to serve as president of our organization have initiated their terms with inaugural speeches about change and reform of our health care system. I too will tell you that our health care system is indeed changing and we are going to have to adapt in some way. The forces driving this change are bigger than TAFP, they are bigger than AAFP, and they are bigger than the AMA.

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  • Let’s work together to keep our Academy and our specialty strong in a time of great change

    Tags: hawkins, president, president's letter, health care reform

    Sunday, December 1, 2013 1:28:00 PM
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    An excerpt from the 2013 incoming presidential address

    By Clare Hawkins, M.D., M.Sc.
    TAFP President, 2013-2014

    Change is inevitable. We can change or die. As family physicians, we can lead the coming change in our health care delivery system.

    Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

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  • Time to swing for the fences

    Tags: president, fiesinger, advocacy, family medicine

    Tuesday, October 16, 2012 1:06:00 PM
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    An excerpt from the 2012 incoming presidential address

    By Troy Fiesinger, M.D.
    TAFP President, 2012-2013

    Whether we practice in Houston or Henderson, Wichita Falls or Weimar, El Paso or Del Rio, Alpine or Austin; we are all Texas family physicians. We bring different perspectives to the Academy based on where we live and where we’re from. I know what it’s like to work in a large integrated health care system, run a community health center, and teach our future family physicians, but I don’t know how to run your practice. I want to hear from each of you about how we can strengthen family medicine and take care of our patients.

    Our health care system is in the midst of a painful rebirth. The insurers, the government, and the hospitals are pulling us in different directions. We stand with our patients at the middle of this storm of abbreviations and acronyms: ACA, ACO, PCMH, EHR, and the Medicaid 1115 waiver.

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  • Patient relationships are the treasures of family medicine

    Tags: texas family physician, president, balkcom, physician, patients, relationship

    Tuesday, January 10, 2012 10:00:00 AM
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    By I. L. Balkcom IV, M.D.
    TAFP President, 2011-2012

    It’s just a small, non-descript pin. Its cash value is minimal and if found in someone’s drawer, it would be summarily thrown in the trash while other more prized items would be saved. However, this pin is a treasure to me. I will guard this pin until my time on earth has passed. While cleaning out my drawer I’m sure someone will ask why I kept this.

    The middle of November found me attending a very special event for a young man of 17 years. Luke was receiving his induction as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. I had been honored to be chosen to attend the service, as I had attended to Luke since he was a very young child. His mother and father are patients of mine also and I silently cheered for them, beaming with pride at their son’s accomplishment.

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