Keeping the Faith => Fall 2001

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Keeping the Faith: Fall 2001

Gary W. Devane, M.D.

I am privileged to serve as this year's president of FOGS. My association with this fine organization has been both educational and enjoyable. As a somewhat non-political observer in the past, I have become aware of the importance of involvement in the political arena. Fortunately, dedicated members have lobbied, organized and worked diligently for the advancement of women's healthcare issues in Florida. I pledge to "keep the faith."

Our past President Karen Harris, M.D., has set a new standard of excellence and involvement as she has personally attended eight regional meetings to provide updates regarding our campaign "Depression in Women" or a status report on the 2001 legislative session. These seminars were well received by the local OB/GYN societies. The Florida Section of ACOG supported this outreach. Also, Dr. Harris is to be congratulated on the success of our annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. An excellent faculty presented new therapies. Dr. Harris has always emphasized fiscal restraint in meeting our society's responsibilities. The annual meeting was a tremendous success and actually was on budget. How appropriate that the first president of the new millennium was a female with a budget and a mission.

I hope that I have been appropriately enlightened by Dr. Harris' example, even though my presidency seems to be a return to the balding, middle-aged male of the past. As the first subspecialist to obtain the presidency, this year my goal is to try to reach out to our subspecialty groups (GYN oncology, reproductive endocrinology, maternal-fetal, etc.) so that FOGS will be more relevant to their varied agendas. Clearly, our core directive is to promote women's healthcare issues. It just makes sense for us all to work together. FOGS has the structure that allows us to promote political involvement through our superb Tallahassee lobbyist, Amy Young. We need to merge our political activity through FOGS-PAC, especially at this critical time for medicine.

Although Amy Young will discuss the Council on Legislative Meeting in her news section, I wish to advise the membership that she personally and with great skill was able to block a resolution whereby the Florida Medical Association sought to repeal NICA's legislative authority to assess non-obstetrical physicians as a priority issue for the 2002 legislative session. Amy Young and B.L. Stalnaker, M.D., have been fighting for us all regarding improving and protecting NICA. This is just one of many important issues that were monitored by our lobbyist and management team. This is the only voice that we have against the giants of healthcare. I am hopeful that all of us will support the FOGS PAC, as this is our only mechanism to promote our views in the Legislature and state. Many issues face us, including office surgery, direct access to OB/GYNs, scope of practice for certified nurse midwives and lay midwives and equity in contraceptive coverage.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the superior job that our Florida Section ACOG Chairman Al Moffett has provided our society. I congratulate his hard work and thank him for the grants and funding he has obtained from ACOG. Keep up the good work.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Executive Committee for their dedicated service to our society. Also, I wish to advise President-elect Spurgeon McWilliams, M.D., that it will be a lot easier following me than Dr. Harris.