As I reflect on my year as president of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS), I am proud of the strides we made together. Our work showed the strength of our organization and the importance of your membership. When you receive your 2025 membership renewal notice in September, I hope you will be proud to continue supporting CMS. 

The challenges that strengthened us

Central to our advocacy this year was our effort to safeguard peer review and maintain medical liability caps. These were not just legal hurdles; losing on these issues would have devastated medicine and quality efforts. Hundreds of Colorado physicians stepped up to contact our elected officials and contribute financially to the medical liability defense fund, and your Board of Directors held several emergency meetings to debate, decide and refine our strategy.

When the integrity of peer review processes was threatened, CMS stood firm with you behind us. As we all know, peer review is essential for maintaining high standards of medical care and ensuring that physicians can practice to the best of our ability while continuing to learn and improve. Similarly, upholding medical liability caps is crucial to balancing patient compensation with ensuring access to care. Our advocacy team, informed by the physician volunteers across specialties comprising the Council on Legislation and all Colorado physicians, gave us the voice and the clout to defend these critical issues at the state Capitol.

The power of our membership

It is through your support that we can advocate effectively for policies that benefit not only physicians but also the patients we serve. Beyond advocacy at the Capitol and in the regulatory arena, CMS offers many benefits designed to support you in your practice and help you thrive in the profession. Here are some of the additional key benefits of your CMS membership:

Your membership saves you time and money 

As a CMS member, you receive up to a 10 percent discount on COPIC medical liability insurance, plus other benefits from CMS Partners in Medicine that span categories from personal to professional. 

CME: Continuing Medical Education is vital for staying current in our rapidly evolving field, especially now that it will be a requirement for licensure. CMS provides CME activities on topics relevant to Colorado physicians, ensuring that you have access to the latest knowledge and best practices.

Informative publications: Staying informed is key to effective practice. CMS keeps you updated with the latest news through Colorado Medicine magazine, ASAP and PolicyPulse e-newsletters, and other news alerts, ensuring you are always in the know about the issues that matter most.

Physician wellbeing: We understand the pressures and challenges that come with the medical profession. That’s why we fight to reduce administrative burdens and offer programs like the Doc2Doc Wellbeing Counseling program, which provides three free pre-clinical sessions to support your mental and emotional health.

Events: Building a strong community of physicians is one of our core values. In partnership with our local component societies, CMS fosters this through both in-person and virtual educational and social events, providing opportunities for networking, learning and camaraderie.

Other opportunities: Your expertise and passion can make a significant impact. CMS offers numerous avenues for you to get involved, from participating in committees and councils to engaging with your local component society.

Looking ahead

As I pass the gavel to my friend and colleague Kim Warner at the 2024 CMS Annual Meeting in Breckenridge, I am confident in the continued strength of CMS as the organization works to protect and advance our profession.

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment. Together, we have shown that when we stand united, we can overcome any challenge and achieve our goals. Your membership is the backbone of CMS, and it has been an honor to serve as your president.

JOIN ME at the 2024 CMS Annual Meeting as physicians from around the state gather to learn, network and celebrate. The highlight of the weekend is the Presidential Gala, featuring the swearing in of incoming President Kim Warner, MD, plus a great dinner, the presentation of the Copic Humanitarian award, recognition of the 50-year physicians and more.

Read more about the 2024 Annual Meeting and register here.