155th President Inauguration Speech: Dr. John Cross

Thank you, everyone. I am honored and humbled to be here tonight as the 155th President of the Mississippi State Medical Association. It is a great honor to represent Mississippi physicians, a highly intelligent, determined, disciplined group of professionals improving the lives of patients. It is also a collection of fierce and passionate advocates for the profession of medicine and overall improvement of healthcare in our state. Physicians that make a difference not only one-on-one with patient care, but also make a difference on platforms that affect thousands of lives in regard to healthcare in Mississippi and nationally.

We have a rich and proud history in the MSMA. A history of bringing together some of the best and brightest Mississippi physicians to work together for a common purpose. It is now our time to build on these lessons of the past and deliver the practice of medicine to the next generation of Mississippi physicians. Our Association needs to identify physician leaders to equip and empower them with all the resources of the Association.

The environment for practicing medicine in Mississippi is always changing, and this next year will be no different. The employment landscape continues to change from hospital-based physicians to outpatient physicians, from private practice to employed physicians, and clinical to administrative physicians.

As things change, our Association needs to continue to be at the forefront of the discussions, and we need to tell our great story.

Mississippi is famous for great storytellers like William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Willie Morris, and John Grisham. One of my favorite Mississippi storytellers was the great Jerry Clower. He played football and studied agriculture at Mississippi State. After graduation, he worked as a seed and fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical in Yazoo City, Mississippi, before starting his storytelling and national radio show.

Jerry Clower’s most famous story was his raccoon hunting story. He tells the hilarious story in his own comedic style about his friend and “great American” John Eubanks. While raccoon hunting, the dogs ran something up a tree. Well, John Eubanks was a sportsman. He felt like he should give the raccoon one last opportunity to come out of the tree and therefore give the raccoon “one last fighting chance.” John decided to climb up the tree to get out whatever was in the tree. Those on the ground hollered, “Knock’em out, John,” up to John as he took a stick to poke what he thought was a raccoon. However, to John’s surprise, the raccoon turned out to be a lynx, better known as a “souped up bobcat” in South Mississippi, which immediately started scratching and clawing John. Jerry and his friends were standing on the ground and could not figure out what was going on up in the tree. They just kept calling “knock’em out, John.” Finally, John screams back for someone on the ground to shoot up in the tree. Of course, those on the ground didn’t want to do that because they might accidently hit John. But John hollers back, “Shoot up here amongst us, because one of us needs some relief!”

Haven’t we all been there before? Suddenly in a situation much worse than we expected? Jerry Clower was able to tell a story that connected with and resonated with people all over his community. Stories about situations that were so familiar that everyone felt like he was talking about a member of their own family. His stories about life in Mississippi not only affected his community, but they also resonated with everyone around the country.

As an association and group of physicians, we need to tell our story. Just like Mississippi’s famous authors and storytellers, we need to use our voices to reach and connect to our fellow Mississippians to transform our communities toward better health.

We need to tell the story of Mississippi physicians and their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians were called on to treat and diagnose a virus that the world had never seen. Many of our Mississippi physicians were forced to work long hours to protect our patients and staff in clinics, admit and care for patients in limited hospital space, and with limited resources and supplies. Not only was the patient care difficult, but the stress and turmoil also weighed on physicians more than ever before. We heard stories of Mississippi physicians living at the hospital to avoid putting family members at risk. In the midst of the crisis, communities looked to their physicians. Suddenly, our very own state health officer, Dr Thomas Dobbs, was in living rooms across the state on press conferences with the Governor, relating the updates of the day. We can be proud that MSMA stepped forward to connect resources and information out to clinics across the state.

Every day, physicians were asked questions on masking, school and workplace closures, and how to operate a medical practice safely. Our physicians stood up to the challenge and answered the call when our communities needed us. Our Association formed task forces to help relay community and hospital best practices around rapidly changing issues like personal protective equipment and telehealth services. Our relationship with the State Department of Health and Dr. Dobbs became even stronger. MSMA launched a Friday Facebook live discussion with Dr. Dobbs and Dr. Paul Byers to take the information directly to doctors across the state.

Thankfully in 2022, vaccinations and therapeutics have come along to lessen the burden, but our Mississippi physicians are still recovering from the emotional toll and stress of the pandemic. Now is the time to rebuild our ranks, strengthen each other and increase our membership in the Association. We have a proud story to tell.

We are gathered together tonight for the first time in two years. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication in extreme circumstances of our past two presidents, Dr. Mark Horne and Dr. Geri Weiland. Dr. Jennifer Bryan and Dr. Katherine Pannel also served as Chair of the Board of Trustees during this time. All of them served our association through a very difficult time, and our Association will not forget their contributions. They were on countless hours of zoom calls, committee meetings, and phone calls with our members.

We need to tell our story of our members. Our very own Mississippi physicians have developed talents and skills beyond clinical practice that have influenced and improved our overall healthcare system. Talents and skills developed and enhanced by our Association have given rise to incredible platforms of influence. Many of these members joined our Association with a passion for advocacy and service. Nurtured and cultivated through our Association, they are telling our story both locally and nationally. Let me tell the stories of a few of our members impacting local communities and making an impact around our state and nation.

1. Former MSMA president, Dr. Clay Hays is now the Chairman of Southeastern delegation of the American Medical Association, he is the leader of the largest delegation of AMA.

2. Dr. Sharon Douglas, who taught many of us in medical school on medical ethics and end of life care, served on the national AMA Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs. She developed guidelines on end of life care and ethics that shape policy throughout the country.

3. Dr. Bryan Batson, a Med/Peds physician and Hypertension clinician, is now the CEO of Hattiesburg Clinic. One of the largest health groups in the state. He has led them to become a national leader in data driven healthcare.

4. Dr. John Mitchell, a family medicine physician from Pontotoc, chairs the Governor’s Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce that places residency training in communities throughout the state. He is building networks of training programs to keep the best and brightest students in Mississippi.

5. Dr. Katherine Pannel, a psychiatrist in Oxford and current Chair of the Board of Trustees, recently testified before a United States House of Representatives Select Committee about the fentanyl epidemic and mental health crisis. She told her story from her practice in Oxford.

6. Dr. Jennifer Bryan currently leads our AMA delegation and has developed a national social media following. Her AMA group works year-round to take our issues to the national meetings.

7. Avni Patel, a UMMC psychiatry resident, has become a national council member and AMA Ambassador, a rising star locally and nationally.

8. Dr. Steve Demetropoulis, a former MSMA president, was elected by his community as Mayor of Pascagoula.

9. Dr. Rebecca Lauderdale, an Internal Medicine physician in Hattiesburg, found a passion to help physicians fighting through burnout. She has spoken to different physician groups and led Zoom meetings. She has a passion to support other physicians dealing with burnout issues and how to return to the human side of the practice of medicine.

10. Dr. Justin Turner, in Internal Medicine Physician in Jackson, was named to the Jackson Mayors Council on Healthcare. He served as a healthcare voice for his community and the City of Jackson.

11. We also appreciate the relationship with the Mississippi State Department of Health, and we look forward to working with the new State Health Officer, our very own former MSMA president, Dr. Dan Edney.

I am sure I have left some stories out. There are many more stories of members that have found an area to serve in our Association and continue to tell their story to improve healthcare in our state.

We need all physicians of Mississippi to be engaged in our Association. To tell the stories of physicians, we need membership. MSMA has over 2000 members plus another 2000 resident and student members representing over 2/3 of the licensed physicians in Mississippi. We have more physicians to reach. We understand the pressures of daily practice, balancing work with time with family, and other responsibilities. In addition to MSMA, there are always organizations with good intentions asking for membership and donations. Many of us also belong to specialty specific organizations. It is our goal to continue to be fiscally responsible and grow programs to increase non-dues revenues with grants and other ventures. This will allow us to keep membership dues down. We do not want the annual membership fees to prevent someone from joining and contributing to our organization. We need those voices to be heard.

So how does the Association build leaders and encourage members to help tell the story? First, you have to be involved. You can get started by attending a Continuing Medical Education or CME session. Opportunities are available at the annual CME in the Sand every Memorial Day Weekend in Sandestin. Opportunities are available to ride the bus to a Saints game to collect CME. One-day seminars and online educational materials are also available. We continue to take nominations for our Physician Leadership Academy training program. It is an outstanding program to help strength communication skills and equip you with negotiating tools to help you in your clinical world, hospital administration, or local community.

The foundation of our Association begins with membership in our local component societies. We have 16 component societies spread geographically around the state. Only about 10 of those meet regularly. My vision of what these groups should represent are similar to the environment of the traditional doctor’s lounge. At our lounge at Baptist, physicians of all different specialties gather during a quick snack or break and discuss the thoughts and ideas of the day. Younger surgeons want faster case turnover through the OR, older physicians discuss how much has changed and how things used to be before electronic medical records. In the lounge, we sometimes hear stories of experiences that you just couldn’t make up. Mostly jokes and good medical humor, it gives the physicians a collegial foundation of support to celebrate during the good times and encourage each other in the hard times. We discuss politics from both sides of the aisle. We discuss hobbies and ways to prevent physician burnout. This is a picture of what the component societies were in the past and what they can be in the future. A network of physicians in a local community to help celebrate the good times and encourage one another in the bad times. The component society meetings can be whatever works best. It may be a dinner or afternoon meeting or other social event 2-3 times per year. If the administrative burden is too much for your local society, our MSMA staff can provide those resources and support for you.

Our component societies build leadership skills and develop physicians to move up in the Association. Component societies select delegates to compile resolutions to bring and present to the House of Delegates. Component societies submit names to run for elected offices. Component societies build relationships and build leaders in the medical community. I encourage all of you to participate in the component societies, bring a clinic partner along with you to the meetings, and mentor young physicians in the community.

With strong component societies, comes a strong Association. Our Association tells our story to other Mississippi healthcare organizations. We have already mentioned our close relationship with the Mississippi State Department of Health and are currently developing grants for Innovations in Clinical Practice for physicians looking to take steps to improve healthcare in Mississippi with a Health Information Exchange. We have worked closely with other government agencies including the Mississippi Rural Physician Scholars Program to increase funding for Mississippi medical students. Although completely separate, our Association has a strong relationship with the Medical Licensure Board to give input on rules and regulations for medical practice. Our association has a strong relationship with MACM, the largest physician malpractice insurer in the state.

We need to tell the story of how we help take care of our own physicians and future physicians. Led by Dr. Anthony Cloy, our Mississippi Physicians Healthcare Program is rehabilitating our own physicians to recapture valuable years of training and experience to get them back into clinical practice.

We need to tell the story of our Association’s legislative efforts. Tort reform in 2004 was monumental to protect an environment to practice medicine in Mississippi. MSMA and the legislative council work year-round on legislative efforts. Moving resolutions from our House of Delegates to the state Capitol in Jackson is not easy work. It is built on the foundation of years of experience, key relationships, and financial resources that would make this task nearly impossible for a small group of physicians. As a member of MSMA, you can serve as Doctor of the Day and be on the floor of the Mississippi House and Senate as legislation is discussed.

As we all know, medical cannabis legislation was passed last session. We have already hosted a summit on prescribing information with the Health Department to help inform physicians of the rules and guidelines. We continue to have a scope of practice story to tell regarding the importance of a physician led team. Our members were called to speak at multiple legislative hearings to present our story of how medical school does matter.

Unlike other medical organizations, we have a story to tell as an advocate for our patients. We are supporting state legislation regarding the non-formulary switching of medication and easing of the prior authorization process with a Universal Gold Card. We will continue to tell the story to advocate for general statewide health initiatives including a screening colonoscopy at age 45, extension of postpartum care for mothers on Medicaid, and increasing access to quality health care for all Mississippians.

Before going much farther, I need to tell the story of our outstanding staff at the Association. Dr. Claude Brunson, former MSMA President and our Executive Director, has guided us back on track financially. He has tremendous leadership skills and a wealth of experience in grant writing. He has increased our brand with new marketing endeavors. Our MSMA logo has been visible on billboards, referenced in radio advertisements, and seen at sporting events throughout the state as part of the Mississippi Way Vaccination program. We had Saints linebacker Demario Davis involved in the campaign. We appreciate his outstanding leadership.

David Roberts continues to tell our story to the Mississippi legislature. Becky Wells continues to organize great CME events and special events like tonight. Sara Hartzog is our new General Counsel. The staff also includes Kathy Wade-Butler, Dominica Thames, Jenny White, Sheryl Ashley, Kathleen Seeberg, Tanisha Halsell, Sharon Sims, Trell Tucker, and Mr. Ivory Bogan.

Finally, I would not be able to stand before to tell the MSMA story without the encouragement and support of my family. My wife, Catherine, of 20 years is here tonight with my three children. Thomas, my oldest son, my daughter Caroline, and youngest son Andrew are here. I am very grateful for them and proud of each one of them.

My parents, Harold and Carolyn Cross are also here tonight. I believe God chose the best two parents for me, parents that challenged me to reach my goals. My Mom is a retired teacher, and my dad is a retired three star general. My brother Daniel and his wife Julie are also here with my nephew Clayton. I am very proud of them and appreciate them as well.

I would like to thank my Southern Farm Bureau family that has allowed me to participate in outside associations like MSMA. I appreciate all of your support here tonight.

In wrapping up, I have one more story to tell. Two years ago, one of our ER residents at UMMC, Dr. Max Keeling, had the idea to study data to prove the economic benefits of the physician led team model. He authored a resolution and presented it to his component society, the Central Medical Society. The resolution was sponsored by Central, then moved to the House of Delegates at our Annual session. The resolution was adopted and then given to our AMA delegation. This past summer, our AMA delegation brought it forward as a resolution to the national AMA meeting. It passed unanimously with what was described as “thunderous applause” to become national AMA policy.

This is a story of one passionate Mississippi physician, just like you. He chose to tell his story to affect national healthcare policy. Let this be a challenge to you. A challenge to allow us to help you find your voice, and then tell your story with the help and support of your Mississippi State Medical Association. You can make an impact outside your clinic, in your community, and on the state and national level.

I challenge you to consider ways to get your story and healthcare message out on a larger scale. Write a personal essay or op-ed. Our managing editor, Dr Theresa Camp Rogers can help you place your article in the Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association. MSMA has resources to help you record a podcast, write a blog, or even write a book.

Mississippi writer, William Faulkner once said, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.”

I believe there is no one with a better understanding of Mississippi and the world than the local physician.

As your President of MSMA, I pledge to serve with humility and integrity to give you the tools and platform to allow you to tell your part of our MSMA story.