New BCMA President says doctors have important role to play in meeting health care challenges

BCMA president Dr William Cunningham said in his inaugural speech that his primary focus for the coming year will be reaching out to physicians around the province.

“You are there to take care of patients, the BCMA is there to take care of you,” said Dr Cunningham in his remarks at the President’s Luncheon, part of the BCMA’s Annual General Meeting on June 1st. “Bring your ideas to us and together we can try and make them a reality.”  The new President will embark on a tour of the province this fall to meet face-to-face with physicians.

Dr Cunningham said physicians have an important role as advocates for patient care with the goal of building a stronger health care system. The key to success, according to Dr Cunningham, will be continued collaboration between physicians and government so that patients can benefit from targeted, innovative programs.  

“BC’s doctors want to be part of the solution to challenges in the health care system,” he said. “But we must be united.  As a united group we are far stronger than if we reduce down to our component parts.”

Dr Cunningham also told the audience, made up largely of physicians, that the BCMA has made good progress in helping support health care in the community setting. “It is time now to place a larger focus on specialists and facility based physicians as well,” he said. "The Specialist Services Committee has already begun this journey with the implementation of new fees and its financial support of numerous programs developed to enhance health care delivered by specialists.” 

The new president is the first ER physician to take on the leadership role at the BCMA. He currently practices at Cowichan Hospital, but he also spent many years in a rural setting, where physicians often have limited access to resources. “There are many issues we see in both urban and smaller community settings,” said Dr Cunningham. “Issues like: limiting bureaucratic paperwork, access to rationed resources, and improving professional relationships, and these are just a few. These need to be addressed.”

To see full text of Dr Cunningham’s speech, please click here.