ABH: Where Physicians Can Pour Their Passion for Doing Good Beyond the Clinic

1853

Minnesota Medical 1855 Association formed

Hennepin County Medical Society (HCMS) founded 1870 Ramsey County Medical Society 1883 (RCMS) founded Passage of the

Minnesota Medical

Practices Act raises the qualification standards for physicians to practice 1888 University of Minnesota Medical 1897 School founded

Eduard Boeckmann, MD donates medical and research library to RCMS

1952

Charles Bolles

Bolles-Rogers Award established 1950s Group practices emerge. HCMS/ RCMS provide 1957 business consultation HCMS/RCMS sponsor a mass chest x-ray survey in which more than 300K persons are examined 1970s HCMS/RCMS launch philanthropic foundations; HCMS sponsors Mass Rubella Immunization Project in which 737K children are 1971 immunized HCMS establishes Foundation for Health

Care Evaluation (now known as Stratis Health) 1975 HCMS launches Physicians Health Plan (PHP, now 1977 Medica)

HCMS develops 1st in nation Centralized

Hospital Medical Staff Credentialing Program 1980 HCMS/RCMS establish Senior Physicians Assocation. HCMS founds MN Medical Insurance Exchange (precursor to Midwest Medical Insurance Co, now 1990s Constellation)

HCMS establishes a scholarship for medical students and RCMS creates physician recognition award for community service

1900s

HCMS/RCMS offer free lectures on public health issues at libraries

Building on the Past

ABH traces its earliest beginnings to the 1850s, and much has changed in medicine over the past 170 years. We know that long-lasting organizations need to evolve or become extinct. I had the opportunity to learn from our past physician and staff leaders, who like us today, also served during times of organizational transition. By diving into past issues of MetroDoctors, I read about these leaders as they responded to demands for change rising from physicians. With each transition, these forerunners laid out a new vision and the next service model for the many iterations of county medical societies which served the Twin Cities area since 1855. Together, we are the new generation of leaders to respond to the call and begin designing the next framework for serving our community. As the first medical societies were founded, we can make some safe assumptions about the general composition of the leadership and membership. White, male, upper-class, with few family and household responsibilities, and many who were independent practitioners. This organizational composition has been relegated to the dustbin of history by the rapid changes in medicine, and by today’s physicians and the ever-changing healthcare work environment. In 2022, the incoming class at the University of Minnesota Medical School–Twin Cities Campus has a majority of female students and students of color. Many students come from families in which they are the first college graduates and medical students. More students are immigrants or second-generation immigrants. Household and child-raising responsibilities are more equitable but continue to fall primarily on the shoulders of female physicians, residents, and medical students. As of 2019, more than 84% of Minnesota physicians are employed, and that number will likely increase after the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the escalation of stress and moral injury experienced by physicians, residents, and medical students has led to corresponding poorer health outcomes and a higher incidence of suicide for physicians. Clearly, former ways of operating a professional medical organization no longer work.

A New Kind of Medical Society

In the tradition of volunteer leadership, in 2021 the physicians, residents, and medical students serving on the Twin Cities Medical Society (TCMS) Board of Directors knew it was time again to make bold and strategic organizational changes. The Board stewarded a year-long process for TCMS to design the next iteration of organized medicine. Our data collection process included conversations with physicians, residents, medical students, educators, healthcare leaders, public health professionals, community members, and donors, along with trend analysis for membership organizations, and a review of emerging issues in medicine and public health. Grounded in these findings, the Board approved the updated branding and name change to Advocates for Better Health to better reflect our future. Our Board and staff are developing the newest model of service for ABH to continue to support our physician community and to expand our impact for better public health.

By BECKY TIMM, MA, CEO

ABH Mission

We are dedicated to creating a healthy, equitable, and thriving state by engaging physicians and medical students in community-driven public health initiatives.

ABH Vision

To be the organization where individuals or communities can turn to for physician-led expertise and engagement, and where physicians can pour their passion for doing good well beyond what they may be able to do within their everyday work.

Your Passion can Make a Difference

In conversations with many of you, I have heard you say you need more support to continue as physicians, residents, and medical students. In a recent study from the Mayo Clinic, one in five physicians plan to leave medicine altogether and one in three doctors plan to reduce their work hours. Working conditions and on-the-job realities for physicians are changing and you need an organization which is adaptable, informed, and passionate enough to meet you where you are today. We at ABH are evolving our holistic service model to help meet your professional and human needs. We commit to asking for your input and responding with innovative programming. We commit to providing opportunities for you to work together to pour your passion into making substantive and community-collaborative changes in public health. We commit to creating means for you to serve as physician mentors and to be connected to a physician mentor—we know this re-energizes your work. And lastly, we commit to supporting your wellbeing through the physician-centered programs offered by the Physician Wellness Collaborative. ABH is listening and laying the foundation for the professional organization you need now.

Make Real Change by Being an ABH Member

Supporting physicians, residents, and medical students, in ways informed by your needs and interests, is the reason for evolving into Advocates for Better Health. Our organization is powered by members like you. From COVID-19 to climate change to public safety, the last three years have thrust public health into the spotlight. It is abundantly clear that realizing our vision of healthy, whole patients will require physicians to make significant changes not just within our clinics, but within our communities as well. Support ABH’s ongoing and future public health initiatives by joining Advocates for Better Health or renewing your membership.

ABH | The Foundation

Our physician-led philanthropic organization is ending another successful year striving to improve the health and wellbeing of the community through strategic initiatives. With generous support from donors like you, the Foundation supported eight organizations with grants totaling more than $64,000 in 2022. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded an annual scholarship to a University of Minnesota Medical Student traditionally underrepresented in medicine—including Black, Indigenous and people of color, LGBTQ+, and students with disabilities—for excellence in leadership, service, and advocacy in health care. Since 1952, the Foundation has awarded the Charles Bolles Bolles-Rogers award to a physician of excellence. Two physicians received this honor in 2022—Ellen Coffey, MD, an internist at Hennepin Health, and William Wheeler, MD, pediatric pulmonologist from Children’s Respiratory and Critical Care Specialists. To continue this philanthropic work, we invite you to make a tax-deductible donation at metrodoctors.com/foundation. Your contribution will support the Foundation’s mission to help local organizations improve the health and wellbeing of the community. After making your donation at metrodoctors.com, learn more about opportunities to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

1999

HCMS/RCMS publish a merged membership journal MetroDoctors Early 2000s HCMS/RCMS connect with medical students: particiating in the White Coat Ceremony, coordinating the Shadow a Physician Program, and hosting lunch and learn 2004 presentations RCMS becomes

Accredited CME Provider

HCMS and AMA publish Abuse-Free Medical Workplaces

2008

HCMS/RCMS become West Metro and

East Metro Medical Societies (WMMS and EMMS) 2009 WMMS begins partnership with BCBS focused on healthy eating. EMMS launches Honoring Choices 2010 MN

2005

HCMS/RCMS advocate for Secondhand Smoke Prevention ordinances and Clean Air in metro counties and cities

WMMS/EMMS merge to create Twin Cities

Medical Society - a society wholly focused on public health 2012 TCMS expands BCBS-funded work to include reducing harms of commercial 2015 tobacco

WMMF and EMMSF

Foundations merge, establishing TCMS Foundation 2018 TCMS launches the Dr. Peter Dehnel Public Health Advocacy Fellowship. 117 students and 73 physician mentors 2019 participate to date TCMS contracts with Physicians

Serving Physicians /

Physicians Wellness Collaborative to provide administrative services 2022 Advocates for Better Health and ABH | The Foundation are launched as the successors to TCMS and TCMSF