I am very cognizant, as a physician, of who I give my money to.

In the last decade, especially, I have been much more aware of the organizations that exist around me, and especially those that purport to have my back.

It’s sad to say this, but it’s taken for me to have stepped away from the practice of medicine, and be able to really look around, hobnobbing with decision makers in healthcare today, to really recognize the biases of different organizations.

“In the last decade, especially, I have been much more aware of the organizations that exist around me, and especially those that purport to have my back.”

Quite often, there’s very little that’s done to actually help make medicine a better place for both patients and physicians.

To put it in simpler terms, the money you invest doesn’t actually help you. It pads the pockets of those who play a role within.

Because I no longer practice, I am also no longer afraid to speak up. To let the world know about what I support, and where I invest my money.

With that said, the AMA will not be seeing a membership renewed from this doc anytime soon.

I just don’t see a point. It doesn’t represent me. It doesn’t represent my colleagues either.

Until there is a return on our investments, I will not be supporting organizations that do a lot of talking but take very little action.

And of note, a SoMeDocs NETWORK membership costs just a tad more than an AMA membership, and markets its doctors as the true leaders in the healthcare space that they are. In fact, I’m happy to match their rate for the month of November (just email us here). And, of secondary note, SoMeDocs has a free profile level option for US doctors, for those who wish to just get our basic plan!

For those of you in our Doctor Side Ventures Facebook group (for doctors only), we will be discussing this topic. What organizations are a waste of our money versus which ones actually get a return (as well as asking those who weigh in to include COI statements).