Guest Author
The next time you’re in your doctor’s office, ask why he or she went to medical school. Chances are you’ll get this response: “I wanted to help people.”
No matter how long physicians have been practicing medicine, they will tell you that caring for patients is their single greatest reward. It makes them love what they do in spite of insurance company bureaucracy, heavy administrative burdens and a growing list of daunting mandates.
Quietly behind the scenes, many Florida Medical Association members are going above and beyond the call of duty to help those who would otherwise slip through the cracks. In every city and town across the state, you will find FMA members who are volunteering at free clinics and donating services to people who can’t afford even basic medical care. These physicians don’t do it for compensation or recognition. They do it because they genuinely care and want to give back.
The FMA believes it is important to show the compassionate, human side of medicine. That’s why we recently launched our FMA Cares initiative, which acknowledges our physician members’ exceptional service to their local communities. Even though their days are full with treating their own patients and operating medical practices, these doctors make time to help vulnerable Floridians who have nowhere else to turn. We are sharing their stories in a series of videos at FMACares.org.
One of our first featured physicians is FMA member and Tallahassee orthopedic surgeon Andrew Borom M.D. A wounded war veteran who had lost his leg in combat was unable to walk and caught in a nightmare of red tape. Borom volunteered his time and expertise to conduct a badly needed surgical procedure on the veteran’s remaining foot so that he could be properly fitted for a prosthetic limb.
“The bureaucracy was getting in the way of helping this patient,” Borom said. “This was an opportunity to simply help someone who had done so much for our country. … That’s why we became doctors.”
We have also recognized FMA member Tra’chella Johnson Foy M.D., a Jacksonville family physician who spends one day nearly every week volunteering at a free clinic just a few blocks from where she grew up. She pointed out that needy patients don’t just suffer from minor illnesses but also often have serious conditions that demand medical attention.
“It was always important to me to be of service to the people around me,” Johnson Foy said. “I love what I do, so it’s easy to make sure that the people who need me … I am there for them.”
The stories of these two FMA Cares champions are only the beginning. There are many more FMA members who are also volunteering their time and medical expertise to create a healthier Florida, and we will recognize them throughout the year.
It’s our way of expressing heartfelt appreciation of all of the inspiring physicians who make our state a better place to live. And when you have an opportunity, take a moment to thank your own physician for everything he or she does to care for you and your family.
To learn more, visit FMACares.org or follow the FMA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaMedical.
Timothy J. Stapleton is executive vice president of the Florida Medical Association.
