As president of the Ventura County Medical Association, I am pleased to be in the company of such great colleagues. The VCMA is about dedicated members doing what they can to improve healthcare delivery and about the collective power of organized medicine.

Here are a few physicians deserving recognition for their advocacy:

Henry Oster, MD, is involved with bioterrorism awareness groups, keeping medicine's needs and perspectives on the table.

Lee Wan, MD, participates on the Tobacco Settlement Advisory Committee, which has allowed physicians to access additional funding to reimburse doctors for uncompensated emergency care.

Ron Thurston, MD, volunteers on the Safe Harbor Committee, a multidisciplinary group that provides a safe environment for evaluating victims of sexual abuse or crimes.

Jeffrey Brackett, MD, has participated on the Child Health Initiative to facilitate health insurance coverage for children who don't qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.

And David Newman, MD, as a liaison with Ventura County's Chronic Disease Prevention Committee, is working toward the VCMA's sponsorship of an Obesity Prevention Program. Starting this year, interested physician volunteers will be trained to provide intervention and education to area schools.

We need more doctors like those above. Our top priority at the VCMA has and continues to be increasing and strengthening physician membership. We are only as strong as our membership. When I discuss membership in the VCMA and the California Medical Association with nonmember colleagues, the standard question is, "What has organized medicine done for me lately?" The answer is, "Lots!"

We have tangible evidence of the benefits of association membership. Here are a few: 

Medical Staff Independence: The well-documented fight between Ventura's Community Memorial Hospital and its medical staff helped pass legislation to preserve the independence of medical staffs throughout California and keep control in the hands of physicians. This would not have been possible without the strong financial and legal backing of the CMA and the American Medical Association, through the local support of VCMA.

RICO Lawsuit Settlements: Thus far, seven defendant insurance companies have settled, providing $585 million in monetary damages--two-thirds going directly to physicians. In addition, these settlements reflect the companies' binding commitment to provide transparency and fairness in future payment and business practices. Prospective relief is valued at well over $1 billion.

Legislation: In 2005, the CMA successfully opposed 45 detrimental bills on topics ranging from scope of practice to managed care. It sponsored 10 proposals; five bills were signed.

These benefits are real. They are a direct response to those who question organized medicine's value. Each member of the VCMA needs to be an advocate for our organization. Membership is important. Those who are not members are riding on our coattails.

I welcome active participation from physicians in all areas and am particularly open to suggestions about energizing physicians in the eastern part of Ventura County. Be an advocate for the VCMA and the CMA. Participation makes it easier to fulfill our mission as doctors--being patient advocates and meeting their healthcare needs.