AAMSE Members’ Stories

 

Who better to tell the stories of AAMSE than the members who lived them? Below is a collection of memories from past presidents about what has made AAMSE so special to them.

Timothy Norbeck
Past President - 1995-96
Connecticut State Medical Society

“I have been a member for 40 of AAMSE’s 60 years. The unique networking opportunities and being able to share ideas with esteemed colleagues provide many pleasant memories, in addition to the help so many of them gave me in performing my duties. The life-long friendships are also very special to me! Congrats to AAMSE on its 60th and to those wonderful hard-working medical society executives who continue to labor in the trenches for physicians in representing the best profession ever.”

Robert H. Elsner, CAE
Past President - 1975-76
Multnomah County Medical Society

I joined AAMSE back in 1963 when it was known as MSEA (Medical Society Executives Association), though the name was subsequently changed to AAMSE by vote at an annual business meeting in the mid-1960s, as I recall.  In those days, MSEA's annual meeting was traditionally held immediately preceding the AMA meeting each June.)

Though my background had been in public relations and with a statewide employers association (in Oregon), becoming executive director of the Multnomah County Medical Society, and working for and with physicians, was a whole new challenge.  Joining MSEA (AAMSE) was the best thing I could have done.  Within a month, I was in Atlantic City to attend MSEA's first annual educational conference, a three-day series of presentations, papers from which formed the content of a hard-bound book which MSEA published for medical execs.  This conference immediately preceded the AMA's annual meeting.  (Hotel rooms were $15 a night, and because a new hotel had not been built in Atlantic City since 1928, they were actually overpriced.)

I was told by some "veteran" execs that MSEA was a tight "clique," and that there was no opportunity for a new exec to really get involved, much less be accepted by the "old guard."  As it turned out, this was a total myth, and I'm glad I didn't allow this handful of doomsayers to dissuade me.  Fortunately, they were part of a vanishing (and soon became non-existent) breed.  It was apparent to me that my performance as a med exec would be enhanced because of the many educational and networking opportunities available through AAMSE.  Through the years, I also got involved and active on AAMSE committees, eventually being elected to the Board of Directors.  In 1975, back in Atlantic City, I was installed as AAMSE's 30th president. 

Over the years, though I also became active and involved with ASAE, serving as its Board chairman (chief elected officer) in 1993-94, I always urged new (and old) medical executives to join AAMSE first and foremost.  Then I suggested they join ASAE and their local SAE, in that order.

The benefits of AAMSE membership are too numerous to even cite.  But I do recall that the many educational seminars, networking opportunities and sharing of knowledge were absolutely essential in my nearly 35 years as a medical society executive.  And memorable, too.  Both in the knowledge gained, but in forming many friendships and professional relationships.

Back in the "early" years, AAMSE had no paid staff.  Everything was handled by committees, although we often received in-kind support from AMA staff members and particularly EVPs Doctors E.B. "Bert" Howard and later Jim Sammons.  The AAMSE secretary-treasurer was usually elected for repeat terms, keeping the membership records in his possession, billing for dues, making meeting arrangements and otherwise providing services, all without compensation.  During my year as president, the AAMSE Board voted to create a full-time staff AAMSE position, and thanks to support from Dr. Sammons, the AMA through an annual grant made this a reality the following year.  Office space also was provided in the AMA headquarters building.  After that, the long-time practice of AAMSE secretary-treasurer serving multiple years was no longer necessary.  Starting with the hiring of first AAMSE exec Ed Collins in the mid-70s, AAMSE has been fortunate to have thrived under the professional staffing and expertise provided by several highly talented and professional executive directors over the past 30 years.

AAMSE membership growth over the years enabled the organization to enlarge its staffing, separate the annual educational conference and business meetings as free-standing events, separate from the old tradition of "piggybacking" to the AMA annual meeting.  Doctors Howard, and in particular Sammons and later EVP Jim Todd, were all extremely supportive of  AAMSE, including a very active "EVP Advisory Committee," which held two-day meetings in Chicago on a quarterly basis and  allowed outstanding dialogue between AMA and the Federation.  The 12-member committee was comprised of representatives of county, state and specialty execs, who served two- or four-year terms on a rotating basis.

In the growth years of the 1970s and 1980s, AMA provided many tremendous benefits for medical executives and AAMSE.  One reason was because of the extremely close and supportive relationship created by Dr. Jim Sammons and his successor Dr. Jim Todd.  Communications was open and constructive, thanks to the accessibility and sincere concern and encouragement by these two outstanding AMA EVPs.

I cannot adequately convey how important and helpful AAMSE was to me during my nearly 34 years as a medical exec.  But most prominent in my mind are simply the many opportunities AAMSE membership provided...and particularly the things one learned from sharing ideas, questions and simply communicating with other execs.

Robert L. Dernedde, CAE
Past President - 1991-92
Oregon Medical Association

My first exposure to AAMSE was in the Spring of '69, the year I joined the Oregon Medical Association staff as a lobbyist.  Orientation at the new med exec's school was led by Whalen Strobhar, then deputy EVP of the AMA.  That summer, AAMSE held its annual education session at a resort in Providence, RI, which preceded the AMA annual that June, also the timing of AAMSE gatherings that followed for several years thereafter.  Joe Donovan (Santa Clara, CA) was AAMSE president and Bob Lang (Cleveland, OH) led extensive speechmaking training sessions at that meeting. 

Harold Brunn (Minnesota) was secretary of AAMSE; there was no staff, and Hal did the work as far as AAMSE records and notices were concerned.

I became the Oregon CEO in 1970, perhaps the youngest state CEO at the time, and I needed all the help I could get.  I looked to AAMSE and consulted with AAMSE colleagues extensively.

Bob Elsner, then exec of Multnomah County (Oregon) and later a California icon, became AAMSE president in l975, and his then-president Ralph Crawshaw, MD, attended Bob's installation and showed 8 mm footage of Bob's inability to keep food in his stomach on a salmon fishing trip in the Pacific Ocean. Thus began the hazing and roasting of an incoming AAMSE president.

Eldon Huston (Iowa CEO) preceded me as AAMSE president in 1990.  He held a retreat for the new AAMSE Board at his summer home on Lake Panorama outside Des Moines.  That's when AAMSE exec Robin Kriegel was also treated to her first snipe hunt.

During my tenure as AAMSE president in 91-92, we laid the ground work and launched the AAMSE Foundation.  That's also the period when the Futures Committee was established to examine and identify trends in medical societies and management of medical associations.

AAMSE state and county CEO sessions were begun in the early 80's, but I favorably recall one  predecessor:  COWSMA--Conference Of Western State Medical Associations, composed of 11 western state CEOs.  There may have been another grouping around the Great Lakes region as well.

I missed few AAMSE annual, regional and state CEO meetings over a span of 35 years for two reasons: 1) to network with and meet new colleagues; and 2) to gain some insight and knowledge of what's going on elsewhere in medical association's and association management.  AAMSE provided the venues and the opportunities.  AAMSE also connected me to AMA staff, a number of whom I had no direct reason to be acquainted with at the time but many of whom became valued friends and resources throughout my career.

Congrats to AAMSE on its 60th year.  It was a great organization for my career development and helped make me a better exec. The friendships gained through AAMSE enhanced my life.  My wife Karen and I continue to network and vacation with and entertain in our home many AAMSE friends acquired during my working days.

Susan B. Waters, EDM, CAE
Past President - 1988-89
San Francisco Medical Society

I was AAMSE’s first female president, and it was not without controversy.  I learned a great deal from the experience about how difficult change is for some people and how support can sometimes come from unexpected places.  My year as AAMSE president toughened me up quite a bit, which I needed.  It also deepened my commitment to the medical profession and the talented people who make their careers representing physicians and their patients.  Still today, I remember with much fondness the many friends I made at AAMSE and the strong bonds that came from our shared vision of creating a better world for physicians and patients. 

Linda A. Lambert, CAE 
Past President - 1999-2000
American College of Physicians - New York Chapter

Using the phrase "I have gotten far more than I've given" is an understatement in reflecting on my AAMSE membership and the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization.  AAMSE has been a significant part of my professional career and my personal life.  I have made so many wonderful, lifelong friends, and I have had the privilege of networking and "tapping the brains" of some of the most experienced association professionals in the country.  The fact that all of my AAMSE colleagues work for doctors and understand what it's like dealing with physicians as leaders and members is what makes AAMSE truly unique, and my membership worth more than the price of dues.

Michael J. Darrouzet
Past President - 2005-06
Dallas County Medical Society

From a personal perspective AAMSE has been instrumental in creating personal bonds that stretch beyond reference committee reports.  It fosters professional relationships that are meaningful.  Through AAMSE I have found more than colleagues; I have found life-long friends.

From a business point of view, AAMSE broadens our perspective. We see what others are doing, we discover their successes, we learn from their challenges and failures, and we share our dreams.  We re-energize ourselves and go back home with a better perspective…which makes us better leaders.

Karen J. Collishaw
Past President - 2006-07
American Academy of Dermatology Association

I know it’s a cliché, but I truly believe that what you’ll get out of AAMSE is in direct relation to what you give to the organization. Attend an annual meeting and see a new city you’ve never seen before, meet new people who are facing similar challenges, and take home several new ideas that you can implement right away. Volunteer for committees or councils and learn about an issue at a more complex level and get to know some folks even better. Attend the Leadership Academy and take some time for self-reflection, become skilled at team-building, and make new friends. Participate in a webinar and find out how to speak knowledgeably with your members about the hot topic of the moment and how best to confront the questions that arise from it. Our profession is all about relationships, and it’s within AAMSE that I’ve been able to forge those connections that have helped me enjoy and succeed in my career.