The Guinn family, Cypress, Josie, Maya,
Jessica and Bert
has the correct perspective that this is your medical society. At
the American Assn. of Medical Society Executives’ annual conference this summer, Bert was a panelist with the conference keynote
speaker. He asked his peers to think of the Star Wars character
that best conveys their roles as medical society executives: Luke
Skywalker? Princess Leia? Han Solo? Then he confided that our
physician members and leaders represent those protagonists. He
sees his role more as Obi Wan Kenobi, guide and mentor to the
real heroes and willing to make sacrifices in order to ensure their
success. If that’s so, then it has been a privilege for me to serve as
Yoda, passing along to Bert all I could from past experience. I told
Bert he was my outright choice to be my successor, although that
decision was not mine to make. However, I would do all I could to
help him be the best qualified candidate for the job. For the past
five years, we have methodically added new areas of responsibility,
providing Bert hands-on experience in the detailed workings of
each of the Medical Society’s varied functions. To stick with the
Star Wars analogy, Bert is light years ahead of where I was when I
started at the Medical Society.
His creativity and preparation were clearly evident in his official
job interview with our search committee. Far from taking anything
for granted, Bert brought energy and insight, presenting a detailed
26-point vision for the future of GLMS. I am confident that many
of these ideas will be considered in the Society’s next strategic
planning process in 2016, and several may be implemented over
the next three to five years.
Bert’s bluegrass band, Old Kentucky Joy, left to
right: