Honoring Physicians in Uniform
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Colleagues:
On Veterans Day, our nation pauses to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We recognize their courage, their sacrifices, and their commitment to protecting our country and the freedoms we cherish. Among these veterans is a special group, the physicians who have dedicated all or a portion of their careers to serving in the military.
For many, military service has meant practicing medicine under circumstances few civilian physicians will ever encounter. Caring for casualties in combat zones requires not only clinical expertise, but also the ability to make difficult decisions under extraordinary pressure. Military physicians must often balance the needs of individual patients with the realities of a larger mission, all while working in environments where danger is an ever-present consideration. Their work demands adaptability, sound judgment, teamwork, and a commitment to the patients entrusted to their care.
We must also recognize physicians who devoted a portion of their careers to military service before returning to civilian practice. Their commitment did not end when they took off their uniforms. They brought with them experiences that shaped their clinical judgment, strengthened their appreciation for teamwork, and deepened their understanding of the relationship between service and responsibility. In communities across New York State, these physicians continue to care for patients, teach future physicians, and contribute to the health of the public.
For other physicians, military service has been a lifelong vocation. They have built their careers around caring for those who serve, accepting the unique professional and personal demands that accompany a military medical career. Their dedication deserves recognition not only for the medicine they practice, but also for the sacrifices they and their families make in support of our nation.
At the Medical Society of the State of New York, we recognize that physicians serve society in many ways. Our advocacy seeks to protect the physician-patient relationship, support the practice of medicine, and ensure that physicians can provide the care their patients deserve. The military physicians we honor on Veterans Day exemplify the values at the heart of this mission: professional integrity, service, and an enduring commitment to the well-being of others.
This Veterans Day, let us give special recognition to the physicians who have served our country in uniform. Your careers remind us that the practice of medicine is itself a form of service, but that some physicians have accepted an additional responsibility: to care for those who defend our nation, often under circumstances that place their own safety at risk. On that special day, we honor you, not only as physicians, but as veterans whose dedication has made a lasting difference in the lives of others and in the history of our country.
All the best,
Mark J. Adams, MD, MBA, FACR
MSSNY President
