FROM THE PRESIDENT by PATRICIA PURCELL , MD , MBA , FAAP
From “ I Think I Can ” to “ I Know I Can ”
NOTE : THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM A SPEECH MADE BY DR . PURCELL AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT ' S CELEBRATION .
Good afternoon ! Thank you for joining us here at the Greater Louisville Medical Society ’ s President ’ s Celebration . I ’ d like to thank the GLMS Foundation for generously sponsoring this event today and the Kentucky Science Center is the perfect location to host this reception . The Science Center is currently completing a permanent exhibition , Uniquely Human , that will focus on the connection between mind and body , and the ways that experiences and attitudes influence behaviors . This will allow for the development of a broader and more inclusive view of humanity . This exhibit is targeted to pre-teens , teens and young adults with their families to invite discovery and offer growth . The Greater Louisville Medical Society ’ s Foundation has made a generous $ 100,000 gift to support this exhibition .
We are all aware of the mental health care crisis occurring in children and adolescents . U . S . Surgeon General Vivek H . Murthy , MD , MBA , issued a rare public health advisory in December 2021 , calling on the nation to respond to the growing mental health crisis impacting young people that has worsened with the pandemic . This was followed by the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ( AACAP ) and the Children ’ s Hospital Association ( CHA ) joining together to declare a national state of emergency in children ’ s mental health . I thank the GLMS Foundation for recognizing the need to support mental health interventions in our Louisville community .
Next , I want to share my deepest gratitude to Dr . Valerie Briones-Pryor , who has served as President of GLMS for this past year . Dr . Val ( as she is affectionally addressed ), was successful in bringing innovative ideas to GLMS . This innovation in collaboration with Dr . Val ’ s leadership supported changes in GLMS that will benefit all current members , as well as those in the future . Dr . Val maintained her focus on members : how can this be of benefit and how can we reach out to future members ? How can we continue to make GLMS more relevant to our physicians now and in the future ? So , thank you Dr . Val for all that you have done .
Today is the beginning of many opportunities that GLMS will be providing throughout the upcoming year : the President ’ s Celebration , the White Coat Ceremony in conjunction with incoming UofL medical students , the Wear the White Coat experience where members of the Louisville community have the opportunity to “ shadow ” a physician , Specialty Speed Networking for medical students , community hikes , community food resources and many more opportunities to support our members and their families .
All of these opportunities provide us with the capabilities to celebrate YOU ! Members in the Louisville community have shown leadership by actually leading with purpose , inspiration and motivation , beginning with Dr . Sosnin , Dr . Val , Dr . Hargett , Dr . Higgins and Dr . Bhatia and so many other physician leaders , in conjunction with GLMS staff with Bert Guinn , Amanda Hall , Kathryn Vance and Onvia McDaniel . And also , all of my friends . I can point out so many examples of your leadership that have been shown over the past year . Each of these individuals exemplifies positive personality traits – they are person-oriented , optimistic , hardworking and self-disciplined .
As President for the next year , I would like to share with you my vision of how GLMS can continue to support you as members , new and old . I would like to focus this year on empowering each and every one of us by first expressing my appreciation for your efforts . The last three years have been difficult , but there have been so many examples of leadership by individuals who have felt empowered .
First , I would like to define empower : “ The promotion of the skills , knowledge and confidence necessary to take greater control of one ’ s life / to encourage and support the ability to do something … to lead .” Leadership is also one of the most effective ways to empower others . And storytelling in leadership has been recog-
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