Robert Hogue, MD, TAFP President

Points of light, 2002

The inaugural address of TAFP's newly inducted president

How many times do we see some young person and ask him or her, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers are always very interesting. In today’s times, however, when one says that he or she wants to become a doctor, it gives me cause to think both about what kind of doctor this young person will become and what kind of medical environment will exist when that dream comes true.

This time in history now calls for our involvement. We can no longer afford to simply stand by and watch others create our destiny. Our involvement then comes from a gratitude for being given the opportunity to fulfill a great place of service in our world.

Years ago Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions. That is capital.

Uncle Sam could take gold, stamp an eagle on it and make it worth $20. That is money, and history.

A craftsman can take material worth $5 and make an article worth $20. That is skill.

An artist can take a 50-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it and make it worth $1 million. That is art.

God can take an ordinary person; give him a kindness, a concern for his patients and their families, a desire to serve his patients and his community, a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of being able to care for others, and the skill and knowledge to meet 90 percent of their medical needs. That is a family physician.

Our greatness comes from our giving all we have and more than we think we have. Such has been the case of all those great ones who have gone before us. It is the depth of our servant attitude that has made our world and our country great and which gives some sign of hope for our world of today and the future.

Today then we must consider several practical aspects as we continue to create a worthy future for those who will come after us. We cannot forget that it took great preparation to arrive at our current place. It may often seem that our hard work is not achieving the goals we had hoped it would. There will be days when we feel like the little old lady on the freeway ramp.

The little old lady was stopped on the ramp waiting for traffic to clear a little before moving out on to the expressway. She waited and waited. The traffic spaced some and still she didn’t move. Finally the guy in the car behind her leaned out and shouted, “It says, ‘Yield,’ lady, not ‘Give up.’”

Sometimes we feel like giving up, but then we see someone we’ve helped or a difference we have made in someone’s day or even their life. Then our hope and strength are renewed and we remember: Yes, it is hard work. But so is anything of value in this world.

We must know that our efforts require both an individual and a team approach. We must each do our part and realize that the team success is strictly dependent on each of us as an individual. Let us remember all those members of our academy who have served tirelessly through the years with little or no recognition. They deserve to be considered for places of higher office, not because they are self-seeking, but because they have paid the price through personal sacrifice and selfless dedication.

You are important!

Many of you are old enough to remember an incident in the 1970s. A hundred million people watched and listened to the first nationally televised debate between incumbent Gerald Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter. Suddenly the sound went off and for 27 minutes embarrassed network executives, engineers and technicians frantically attempted to restore order out of chaos. Then the trouble was located. The official explanation for the long delay was a major malfunction in the amplifier system. But the specific trouble was a defective electrolytic capacitor — an item that costs less than $1.25. A tiny part failed and a major production was silenced.

We may sometimes feel small or insignificant. We may think of ourselves as unimportant or unnecessary or unable to make a difference in this academy or in our society. Like the small capacitor, each of us is tremendously important in the overall scheme of things. Without you, something special would be missing. Without you, the world would not be complete. Without you, some kind deed would go undone, some encouraging word would be left unsaid and some important seed would remain unplanted. You are important! You are needed! You are a vital part of God’s creative process. Resolve now to look at your job, your profession, your work as an absolutely essential part of a larger picture. Resolve today to see yourself as someone really important, because you are.

The scientific advancements we have made in the last several years are certainly worthy of our attention. However, without the personal human touch that we provide they still fall short of providing the needs of those we serve. It is like the jetliner that was to be the new wave of air travel.

This jet had no pilot, no copilot, no flight engineer and no flight attendants. As the plane leveled off at 38,000 feet, the passengers heard a voice over the loud speaker, “Welcome aboard. This is an electronic jet, a symbol of man’s ability to solve his problems. You have taken off from Chicago electronically; you are now flying electronically. You will land in Los Angeles electronically. But do not worry because nothing can go wrong … can go wrong … can go wrong … can go wrong.”

Some things are just not the same without that warm personal touch.

If a tiny, inanimate object is vital to the success of the television program that touches the lives of a hundred million people, think what value there is a human being such as you, someone made in the image and likeness of God, here to help other people. That is what it is all about. Your personal time and work will make this world worthwhile.

We also need a focus. Goals and focus give us direction. They give us a destination. Our focus is our perception and thus becomes our reality, although the paths we take to this destination may vary.

Yes, sometimes the way we do things are a little different, such as the big game hunter who took his wife on her first safari. After several weeks they returned. The sportsman had bagged a few minor trophies but the greatest prize was the head of a huge lion killed by his wife. “What did she hit it with,” asked a friend admiringly. “With that .303 magnum rifle you bought her?”

“No,” answered her husband dryly, “with that old 1965 station wagon we hired.”

And it sometimes seems like an impossible task — trying to get there to the same place. Sometimes we feel like the jockey of the losing racehorse.

The owner of the racehorse was very angry when his horse lost. He confronted his jockey in the paddock asking, “Why didn’t you ride him through that hole when it opened up on the final turn?”

“Sir,” replied the jockey, “did you ever try to go through a hole that was going faster than your horse?”

We must stay focused on who we are as family doctors — as real doctors. We must work together through our academy to affect the legislative process that will ensure that we can continue to serve our patients as only a real doctor can. I will be recommending that we have a liability task force to aid our legislators in the effort to curb costs of malpractice insurance. It will be a resource for those who can create change. Remember, a single strand of thread can easily be broken, but if it is wound around and around it becomes a strong bond that is very difficult to break. As President George Bush said, each of us is a point of light and together we then become a great shining light that will illuminate the darkness.

The winner stays on his toes and forges ahead. The loser drags his heel and falls behind.

The winner puts out and works up. The loser tires out and gives up.

The winner has a reason for every triumph. The loser has an excuse for every defeat.

The winner asks, “May I help?” The loser asks, “Do you expect me to do that?”

The winner says, “Let me do that for you.” The loser says, “That’s not my job.”

The winner says, “It may be difficult, but it is possible.” The loser says, “It may be possible, but it is much too difficult.”

The winner salutes the day with enthusiasm. The loser faces the day with cynicism.

The winner wears a smile on his face. The loser carries a chip on his shoulder.

The winner sees an answer for every problem. The loser sees a problem in every answer.

We are the only light in somebody’s dark night. We as family doctors are what it is all about — people helping and serving people.

So as we work individually to make a strong team, remember what Edward Everett Hale once said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the one thing that I can do.”

Thank you and God bless you all.