As a doctor, I’ve found my calling.

Each of you has answered the call in your own way by taking care of patients, by recruiting new members and by continuing to make medicine the most noble of professions.

It’s easy for doctors and patients to ignore our own responsibility to make health care better. We’re overwhelmed about where to start fixing it.

So how do we do our part? How do we move within our own little circles to improve access to health care? Some of you are opening clinics in your counties for those struggling to find affordable health care. Others are giving free or reduced-fee care, while many of us are having the difficult discussions with our patients to lose weight and quit smoking.

I assure you that during the next year I’m going to do my part in expanding my circle to include all ISMS members, and will even do a little of my own converting of nonmembers to ISMS members. I hope I will do my grandfather proud.

James L. Milam, MD

Contact: 800-782-4767 or drmilam@isms.org