From the MCMS Board President

“OUR CIVIL WAR IS A BLOT ON OUR HISTORY, BUT NOT AS GREAT A BLOT AS OUR BUYING AND SELLING OF NEGRO SOULS.” — MARK TWAIN

The United States government is a special social experiment put to paper by very learned people, the tenants of which were outlined over 200 years ago. While not without challenges, their framework spoke to individual rights and freedoms, wherein all people, regardless of background, were unique individuals and possessed the inherent rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Because this social experiment was remarkable in so many ways, at various points in our history (most notably the civil war), there has always been a somewhat charged difference of opinion between those comfortable with society as they knew it, and those more liberal thinkers who brought forward ideas to challenge the status quo. That dynamic has always been a part of our history and has been instrumental in a positive way in re-shaping our society.

We have now come to experience that challenge to the status quo in medicine, wherein segments of our society have made it known they would be more comfortable seeing a physician of the same race, or gender, or sexual orientation. This is a change challenged initially by organized medicine, but now wholly embraced as fitting and socially appropriate. It has also been instrumental in making many of us better at our jobs as we cross paths professionally with people of different backgrounds and orientations.

Maricopa County Medical Society embraces the changes embodied by the concept of a diverse workforce, supporting the distinct qualities of not only our patients but our fellow physicians.

As we move through the social landscape and all the challenges this last year has presented to us, let us all try to focus every day in seeing each of our colleagues as unique individuals and as members of a health care team team that each bring their own perspective to the service of our patients.

Respectfully,

John Prater, DO

Dr. John Prater moved from Ft. Myers, FL to Phoenix in 2017 and shortly thereafter became a Director on the Board of Maricopa County Medical Society. He was active at the state and local levels of organized medicine in Florida for decades where he served in several physician leadership positions, including President of the Southwest Florida Psychiatric Society and President of District Eleven of the Southwest Florida Osteopathic Medical Society. He is a board-certified psychiatrist currently practicing at the Phoenix VA Medical Center.