President Laurence Yee and Annette Bronstein re-initiated in-person meetings by organizing the July meeting at One Market in San Francisco. There was a strong turn-out with everyone excited to be meeting in person again.
New Officers were announced.
President: Andre Campbell, UCSF
Vice President: Harish Mhanty, CPMC
Councilor: Rita Kwan-Feinberg, East Bay, Private Practice
Dr. Andre Campbell and Laurence Yee, future and current Society Presidents, respetively.
Our Society will be having in-person meetings starting July 14. President Yee is organizing a special dinner. All members should have received information from Annette on the details.
It is time to solicit applications for membership in the Society. If you wish to sponsor a candidate, please fill out the application found here. Applicants must have graduated from medical school at least 10 years ago.
The complete application should include: 1) The completed application. 2) The candidate’s CV. 3) A passport-sized picture of the applicant. 4) Two letters of support from members.
Forward entire application to Dr. Gosnell, c/o Annette Bronstein at the following address:
SF Surgical Society
c/o Annette Bronstein
l79 Canterbury Avenue
Daly City, CA 94015
PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for receipt of applications is now the end of May 2020
Jessica E. Gosnell, M.D.
Secretary-Treasurer
At the November 11, 2020 meeting, the Society members voted to amend the San Francisco Surgical Constitution and Bylaws in recognition of the importance of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society.
The Society’s Mission was restated to emphasize that our members should reflect the “cultural, ethnic, and gender identities of the diverse population in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
The requirment that new members be 10-years out of medical school was replaced by the requirement that they be practicing as independent surgeons in the SF Bay Area.
Gender specific pronouns were replaced with non-gender specific pronoun.
To say we are living in troubling times would be misleading and an understatement. A veneer has been ripped off by the availability of cell phone videos revealing the killings of black men and the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities around the country. The veneer, for many of us, had covered a raging river of abuse, killing, and disenfranchisement of too many of our fellow Americans.
As we watch in horror at events around the country, questions we might ask ourselves are “What is going on? What are we missing? What can we do? How can we support each other?” While we all feel a deep sense of sadness, anger, and dismay, many of us, even as we try to, cannot appreciate the frustration, anger, resentment, and hopelessness being felt by our fellows Americans who are black.
Here are three thought-provoking viewpoints recently shared with me.
“I see your color and I honor you. I value your input. I will be educated about your lived experiences. I will work against the racism that harms you. You are beautiful. Tell me how to do better.”
… That’s the goal.
— Carlos A. Rodríguez (@CarlosHappyNPO) May 23, 2020
“There’s one epidemic we may never find a vaccine for: fear of black men in public spaces.” By John Blake, CNN.
Atlanta E.R. doctor and fellow comedian Dr. Anwar Osborne made this video for the residents at his hospital, and sent it to me. Stunning, although maybe the fact that I find it so stunning is part of the problem.
Our Society Constitution approved over 80 years ago, states, “The objectives of the Society are the cultivation and improvement of the Science and Art of Surgery and, to this end, the exchange of ideas and counsel amongst the Fellows for their mutual advantage.” Frank discussions about race within the San Francisco Surgical Society fall within these objectives.
I am reaching out to you for your help. What can our Society do to address and fight systemic racism? What should we do to be more inclusive? What can we do to support diversity, inclusivity, and equality? What can we do to support our Black colleagues better? What can we do as individuals?
I am soliciting your suggestions. I need your suggestions. Let us challenge ourselves to think more deeply about these issues.
I look forward to your input. In the meanwhile, please reach out and support one and another.
