The power to change is the power to grow

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” This timeless declaration was so eloquently said by John F Kennedy many years ago. Doctors of BC is in the midst of a significant proposed change of its own – one we hope all doctors will help shape, and one we expect will make your association more nimble and proactive with the ability to better understand you and respond to your needs – no matter your area of practice and no matter where in the province you live and work.

Our members, the doctors of British Columbia, are now in the position of determining an important governance change – because this truly is your association. How Doctors of BC governs itself determines the manner in which it represents all members – from getting your voice heard to how efficient we are in responding to your needs, from making strategic decisions affecting the profession to ensuring we are held accountable to and by you, our members.

I am requesting that you cast your vote in the referendum currently out before the membership. The proposed governance model would replace our current 39-member Board, the largest of any of the Provincial Medical Associations, with a dual and more effective structure:

• a much smaller, 9-member Board that will be more flexible, nimble, and timely in decision-making on behalf of all members, and
  
   
• a new 104-member Representative Assembly to advise and support the Board by providing wide-ranging member representation from:
  
  • all geographical areas;
  • GPs/FPs, specialists and all sections;
  • those practicing in rural and First Nations communities;
  • medical students and residents;
  • members in early years of practice.

As you can see, while the new structure is comprised of a smaller board, it also incorporates much broader representation of members. You may recall this was one of my platforms when the membership elected me your president. During the past two years of listening to you through member consultations and our recent Member Survey, you clearly told us you want your association to be more relevant in your professional lives – to better understand your professional needs at the local and community level. The proposed model will position us to achieve these objectives.

Please resource yourself with the appropriate information required to make a truly well-informed decision – the executive summary, an informative table, FAQs, and a Fact Sheet can be found here.

Should you have any questions about the proposed model or on casting your vote, please email View Email Addressvoting@doctorsofbc.ca. And as always, I continue to welcome your comments and encourage you to share them either via email to View Email Addresspresident@doctorsofbc.ca, or by logging in and posting in the Comment section found below. I will be updating my blog regularly throughout the referendum with member questions and my responses.

I’ll leave you with one other JFK quote that has helped guide and shape my own professional and leadership profile – “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” Now is the time to take action – to look ahead and to have your voice heard in helping shape the future of our Association.