Dialogue Volume 10 Issue 1 2014 | Page 5

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Colleagues M y name is Marc Gabel and I am most honoured to be the President of this College for the coming year. My focus during this time will be on the twin issues of professionalism and transparency. Both of these elements are key to building the public’s trust and confidence in us – the former as part of the mission to enhance patient care and reduce patient complaints, the latter as evidence that we are worthy of regulating ourselves in the public interest. Our relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other health-related commercial enterprises, are inextricably linked with transparency, trust and professionalism. Interactions with industry have long been a part of our professional lives, and while they have value and benefit, they are not without risk. Marc Gabel, MD College President First and foremost, we need to understand that the relationship we have with industry is, at its core, a business relationship. Granted, it is a relationship that may contribute to the provision of the best possible care for our patients, but we can’t lose sight of the fact that we may not al ݅