CANDIDATE STATEMENTS | DIRECTOR AT LARGE: ACADEMIC | VOTE FOR ONE EACH TYPE OF TWODenis C. Lafreniere, MD
The current era of healthcare reform with its ever changing demands on our practices makes the need for grassroots participation all the more important as we deal with reaction on both the state and national levels. If elected, I would aim to continue the work that I had the privilege to help initiate while I was the Chairman of the Board of Governors.
How would you strengthen our grassroots activities to protect our specialty from legislation that would undermine our mission?
How would you engage all Members to be more active in the Academy?
The current era of healthcare reform with its ever changing demands on our practices makes the need for grassroots participation all the more important as we deal with reaction on both the state and national levels. If elected, I would aim to continue the work that I had the privilege to help initiate while I was the Chairman of the Board of Governors. Effective advocacy for our patients and our colleagues can only occur when useful information flows easily from the local state societies to the Academy and vice versa. The Regional State Society network that I helped to develop is an excellent vehicle to encourage real grassroots participation, which has and will continue to produce measureable benefit to our Members and their patients.
Increasing the participation of our membership is a vital goal, which will contribute to the Academy’s success. That goal is tied directly to our ability to define and improve the value of membership in the Academy. We’ve made great strides in improving the educational and advocacy services the Academy offers. The more we can enhance our Members’ ability to care for their patients the more essential the Academy becomes to their successful vocations.