From the
President
Wayne Tuckson, MD
GLMS President | [email protected]
THE SOCIAL Path
I
became involved in GLMS because I
felt that my perspective was unique and
that my voice, added to the other voices
within GLMS, would make the soci-
ety stronger. I have not regretted my
decision and appreciate the opportunities
afforded me as a member. ing could be further from the truth. We in
health care know that we must apply the
rules of common decency to all who come
before us, as it is our charge to cure when
possible and to provide comfort to all when
needed, irrespective of their personal cir-
cumstances.
This past year has been one of both great
personal growth and enrichment. While I
have endeavored to be an asset to GLMS,
I feel that I have gained far more than I’ve
given back. Given the rapid changes in social media,
communications and means of commerce,
perhaps “The Social Path” would be a more
contemporary term to codify group and
individual behavior. Jeff Axup, in the book
“Handbook of Research on Socio-Technical
Design and Social Networking Systems,” de-
fines a social path as “a technology, which,
regardless of intent, embodies political, cul-
tural, and moral ideals in its design, and
encourages or enables certain resulting be-
havior by large numbers of people.” Unlike
etiquette, which to me is a passive act, the
social path requires that individuals interact
in a purposeful manner cognizant of the
impact that their actions may have on one’s
community and institutions. We need only
look at the successes and abject failures of
Twitter, Facebook and similar platforms.
GLMS is strong, not because of any one
individual, but rather because of the selfless
efforts of the over 3,400 physician members
and the finest staff with which one would
ever hope to work. Bert Guinn, our Exec-
utive VP and CEO, succeeded a legend and
frankly, the organization is better for his
presence. I appreciate and have benefitted
from the help, guidance and feedback from
everyone at GLMS. However, I would be
remised if I did not specifically thank Bert
Guinn along with Amanda Edmondson,
our Director of Communications and Mar-
keting, McKenna Byerley, Membership and
Public Relations Specialist, Aaron Burch
Communications Specialist, Glenda Klass,
CPA, Chief Financial Officer, and Onvia
McDaniel, Administrative Assistant to the
EVP/CEO.
Etiquette, the customary code of polite
behavior in a society or group, is unfairly
equated with snobbishness. In fact, noth-
After Cain killed his brother, the Lord
asked, “Where is Abel thy brother?” and
Cain replied, “I know not: am I my brother’s
keeper?” Cain’s action and response clearly
deviates from the social path. If we as physi-
cians are asked the same question we must
answer “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper” for
that is our social path. We are the keepers
of our brothers and sisters, both known and
unknown. Our actions, like the Butterfly
Effect, have an impact that extends beyond
the individual in front of us, to include their
families and community.
There are many tasks before us, and it
will take a concerted effort by all of us. If
we stand on the sidelines, we will not have
tort reform or expanded Medicaid. All of the
benefits reaped by those initial investments
in the health of the less fortunate will be lost,
and the standard set for those who care for
the community will be defined by others.
Others may unscrupulously cut corners,
or deviate from guidelines and principles
without consideration of outcomes, but we
cannot and must not do that. To “get by”
not only cheapens us and our profession,
but deprives the patient of the standard of
care that they expect. We must choose to
adhere to those standards and guidelines
which are bedrocks of our training, and
make us uniquely qualified to care for our
community. That we remain faithful to “The
Social Path” is our covenant to our commu-
nity. Just as it has been in the past, it must
still in the future be held sacred.
Thank you for allowing me the pleasure
of this past year.
Dr. Tuckson is a practicing colon and rectal
surgeon.
MAY 2019
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