President's Message

Max D. Hammer, MD

May 26, 2010

Dear Fellow Members of the Illinois Surgical Society:

Welcome to the 2010-2011 Illinois Surgical Society. As your new president for the next year, I look forward to an exciting year of working together to strengthen and enhance our Society. Our challenge for next year is to increase the membership numbers and increase member participation. Unfortunately, the problems of society in general have now arrived to the Illinois Surgical Society. At the recent spring meeting on May 2-3, 2010, I was asked rhetorically, “why should we encourage surgeons to join the Illinois Surgical Society?” A list of answers to that question include the following:

Education/great learning forum
Membership from both academic and community surgeons
Collegiality and personal relationships
Outstanding “wet clinic” forums
Ability to “showcase” multiple institutions
Academic programs
Mentoring
Famous members/History
Spectacular out of State meetings
Ability to see parts of Illinois otherwise unseen
Develop “surgical champions” at each site
CME opportunities

The challenge for ISS in 2010-2011 is to enhance membership roles. Payments for dues are down, time constraints are many, and fragmentation of our message is imminent. Our goal for next year is to concentrate on membership development, budgetary management, enhanced membership communication and website enhancement. Hopefully, our membership will exhibit our typical “can do” attitude and will continue to sustain this grand surgical society!

I will always be available to the membership via maxdhammer@comcast.net.

Yours Truly,
Max D. Hammer, MD, FACS
President