On January 7, 2014 the current Leadership Louisville class met at the Greater Louisville Medical Society Foundation’s “Old Medical School Building.” Here is a portion my welcome…

There is a lot of history in this room.

The building was opened as a medical school in 1893 and has withstood The Great Depression, floods, two world wars, and the wrecking ball. It stands as a testament to the passion, resiliency and dedication of the medical profession. Today Leadership Louisville adds to that legacy.

Your director, Aaron Miller, asked me if I was “glad to be standing on this side of the podium” since I was a member of last year’s Leadership Louisville class.

“Sure,” I said. But I also enjoyed my time sitting in front of the podium in 2013. My days with Leadership Louisville were great. It was fantastic hanging out with dynamic people, focusing on topics relevant to the success of our city, making new friends outside of my medical cocoon, and taking a break from my cell phone to engage personally with diversely talented people.

So, why here? Why today?

In the last decade Louisville has shifted from an industrial to a service economy; with an emphasis on health care delivery. In fact, six of Louisville’s ten largest employers are in health care.

The Greater Louisville Medical Society is out in front of this transformation.

Our success is tied to our mission: “…to promote the art and science of medicine; to protect the patient-physician relationship; and to ensure the health of our community.” This journey is comprised of advocacy, education, creativity, mission work, public health, and philanthropy.  Our vehicle is our organization. Our structure is built by bonds of trust.  And our engine is fueled by our passion.

There are many illustrations of our commitment to this mission. These include the cutting-edge “Pulse of Surgery” program for students at the Louisville Science Center; the world-renowned Healing Place Addiction Recovery program; Supplies Over Seas, sending life-saving medical supplies and equipment to impoverished countries; and the OPIOID safe prescribing initiative, combatting prescription drug abuse. These and other efforts were born of GLMS member collaborations.

There is one program in particular of which you should take note – our “Wear the White Coat” internship program. Every year we team community leaders with physicians from various specialties and allow them to spend a day walking in the shoes of a physician. Later the group reconvenes in the very room you are in now to share. We physicians learn as much from our “interns” as they learn from us. At the end, everyone feels connected, hopeful and inspired.  Each of you will be invited this year.

So, there is a lot of history in this room. But there is a lot of future too.

Thanks for being here and being a part of that future.

 

James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM is President of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, Medical Director of Murphy Pain Center, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2013. On his application to Leadership Louisville, he answered the question: “What is the best kept secret about Louisville?” with The Greater Louisville Medical Society. If you are reading this, hopefully it is not a secret any longer.