As I write my final president's letter, I am looking out my window of the Spindrift Inn across the vast, beautiful Monterey Bay. In the many years that we have come to this hideaway, my wife and I have asked for a room that faces the ocean, which I assumed was "west." Yet, we find the morning sun coming through our windows.

This experience gave me occasion to think about the San Bernardino County Medical Society. Whether marching on Sacramento or Washington, D.C., or visiting our local or national legislators, we have tried to be anything but predictable or locked in the proverbial box. We looked at our lives as doctors through the lens of our patients, our community and schools, the insurance companies, the employers, our hospitals and our politicians at all levels. We examined new, poignant drafts of healthcare funding and delivery. We looked backward and forward at the same time--to see where we were, and worked at creating a yet-to-be-designed place where we need to be for healthcare delivery. Unfortunately, this work is not done.

This last week, Michael DeBakey, MD, was given the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian honor that Congress can bestow. Many accolades were pronounced by the president and congressional leaders for his work in heart bypass surgery, developing the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit, and improving the Veterans Administration hospital concept. When Dr. DeBakey began to speak, those gathered were hushed. At 99 years old, he is articulate, powerful and yet, humble. After thanking Congress for his award, he made a suggestion to them about healthcare.

While in the military, Dr. DeBakey was assigned to the committee to "fix up" the Veterans Administration. His work on this committee resulted in a superb medical service for our veterans. He added that the VA provides quality care at half the cost of care in civilian hospitals. He urged Congress to consider this model for the "needy." Dr. DeBakey also developed the VA research program. It was no surprise that Dr. DeBakey received a standing ovation.

I suspect, however, that he was not always a team player, one who is happy with mediocrity, or popular with everyone with whom he worked. He was cutting-edge, he took risks and made things happen. He undoubtedly created a zone of discomfort that raised the level of critical thinking.

However you view life, it is clear that remaining in one's comfort zone will yield little growth. Our SBCMS history books tell us our forefathers risked their lives to come to the meetings and occasionally fought with each other over many issues. But they always fought together for better care for their patients. I make no apologies for this fight and neither did pioneers like Dr. DeBakey.

Because our Monterey hotel is positioned on the southern portion of the curving bay, our window actually faces east. Though my experience of seeing the sun rising in the west was an illusion, I am cognizant that we must face our reality by viewing the impossible as doable. Scott Alexander admonishes us: "All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy." I hope you can also see your sun rising in the west, as we continue this fight of taking our profession to a bright, new, innovative place that is a win for all the stakeholders!