Introducing "From the Presidents," A New ACCP Blog
Welcome to this first post of the new ACCP Presidential blog, "From the Presidents." Beginning with today’s post, I hope to implement one of the promises I made during the CHEST 2010 convocation ceremony in Vancouver – improved communication between members and leadership (see the adjacent video). To this end, we are using technology to create a direct link between members and the four presidents (past, current, -elect, and –designate). This blog will be updated periodically by the various members of the presidential group. We hope to solicit ideas and suggestions from the membership that will serve not only to help improve the workings of the College, but also to be a source of education and inspiration between members.
In this first blog, I would like to solicit anecdotes from members describing how the ACCP has helped them professionally or personally. This will be especially useful for new members and fellows to help them navigate the many avenues for professional development within the College and will have the added benefit of allowing each of us to get to know a little more about our colleagues. With subsequent posts, I hope also to introduce controversial topics to solicit broad input that will better inform leadership as we work with the Board of Regents to implement the strategic plan of the College.
I will start with my experience as a member of the Government Relations Committee, the first Collegiate committee on which I served. Having served in similar capacity for other professional organizations, I felt well-qualified to participate with ACCP. However I was amazed at how well the College prepared members for learning about the issues, going to the Hill, and developing relationships with their representatives in Washington. I participated in ACCP Capitol Hill Caucus activities and attended more local meetings with my delegation and their staff. Within 2 years I had developed a personal relationship with Senator Tom Harkin, Senator from Iowa, and was appointed to his advisory committee for medical affairs. Subsequently, I have seen several colleagues develop similar relationships and increase their influence in both the legislative and regulatory arenas, through their involvement with ACCP. It became clear to me that with the proper training and a good cause, it is possible for anyone to play a significant role in shaping the future of many aspects of health care in America. ACCP can be the catalyst for this success.
This experience from over a decade ago is particularly salient today as the College is in the process of refining its approach to maximize its efforts in the regulatory and legislative arenas. Based on a directive from the Board of Regents, a task force convened last fall is in the process of aligning our advocacy efforts with our strategic plan. Our goal is to improve the effectiveness and impact of these efforts in support of our membership.
It would be great to hear your story – how has the College advanced your career or helped you achieve a specific professional goal?
About the Author
David Gutterman
About From the Presidents
To enhance coordination and collaboration among ACCP members and leaders like you, the College launched the From the Presidents blog. From the Presidentswill feature blogs about the College, medical and health-care issues, the medical profession, and other member-related topics of interest. The posts will be written by David D. Gutterman, MD, FCCP, ACCP Immediate Past President; Suhail Raoof, MBBS, FCCP, ACCP President; Darcy D. Marciniuk, MD, FCCP, ACCP President-Elect; and Michael Baumann, MD, FCCP, President-Designate. Learn more about the presidents.
The goals of From the Presidents,as described by ACCP President David Gutterman, are twofold. First, the presidents want to directly inform members about issues important to the ACCP. Second, the presidents want to encourage two-way conversations by soliciting feedback from members on these issues and encourage member input on other items of relevance to the College.
