Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2017 - 9

"There - are you happy, old man?" barked one villager. "You got
us all out here and not a single drop."
"Look down," responded the Elder.
Sure enough, the stomping and shuffling and kicking had
softened the ground, cleared the rocks, and removed the dust. It
would still be difficult, but now it was possible for the villagers to
plow the field.
The Elder smiled broadly to his fellow villagers and said, "Looks
like you all brought the rain!"
...If you don't join in the dance, it will never rain.

A PA Limited Liability Partnership

HEIDI MASANO

HMasano@MasanoBradley.com
Managing Partner of Masano Bradley, member
of the firm since 1981. Her practice emphasizes
commercial and real estate matters, including
acquisitions, banking, corporate formation,
operation and succession for business owners
and estate planning.

Well, I hope the fact that I am speaking in parables illustrates
how serious a message this is! I am going to be blunt: apathy is
killing organized medicine. And I understand why; with all the
demands placed on a physician, it's difficult to find the time or
energy to do much else. I see it and I get it.
With policies and regulations and quotas placed on physicians,
practicing medicine is only getting more difficult. Proposed
legislation (which is often short-sighted or laced with ulterior
motives) only further adds to the uncertainty. It is no wonder that
burnout and fatigue are affecting more physicians than ever before.
But here's the thing: if you don't speak up or join up... none of
this will improve. There is tremendous uncertainty about the future
of medicine right now. And if physicians are not vocal or are not
willing to join the ranks of their colleagues in advocacy efforts, the
future of medical practice will be determined by non-physicians. If
you want to protect and improve the position of your profession,
the very least you need to do is join hands with your colleagues
in organizations such as the Berks County Medical Society and
PAMED.
We are constantly striving to provide physicians with the
opportunities and tools necessary to effectively voice what's
important to them. To that end, I am happy to announce that
in the Fall of 2017 we will be hosting our first BCMS Physician
Advocacy Academy. In partnership with Kutztown University's
Political Science Department, over the course of seven weekly
sessions this CME-accredited course will provide physicians with the
necessary foundation to understand public policymaking, the proper
techniques for utilizing media, and the skills needed to effectively
lobby elected officials and community leaders. Kutztown University
professors and guest speakers will facilitate discussions and provide
interactive opportunities during the one-hour sessions.
For those physicians who are motivated to become engaged
outside of the hospital or office, perhaps taking on a stronger role
in the Berks County Medical Society, this course will provide
everything you need to become an effective and confident PhysicianLeader. The Physician Advocacy Academy will be an outstanding
opportunity for physicians to get involved, with very little
constraints on their time.
Most importantly, this program helps give physicians a voice -
the most powerful weapon of change.
...If you don't join in the dance, it will never rain.

JILL SCHEIDT

JScheidt@MasanoBradley.com
An accomplished litgator with 24 years of
experience representing residents of Berks
County, she concentrates in the areas of family
law, including divorce, custody and support,
as well as a variety of other civil litigation.

Ph: 610.372.7700

Fax: 610.372.4865

MasanoBradley.com

Suite 201, 1100 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, PA 19610

Full service real estate company representing clients in
Berks and Lancaster County. If you are planning to
buy or sell your home, please consider Weikel Realty.

Chris J. Weikel
REALTOR®/Broker
(610) 914-3199

Megan Weikel
REALTOR®
(717) 779-3817

www.WeikelRealtyGroup.com
12A South Fifth Avenue * West Reading, PA 19611 * (610) 816-7404

First choice for clients seeking integrity and high-value services
SUMMER 2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2017