PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH RODERICK CLARK, MD
Good afternoon and thank you all for being here today. I am President 144. I’d like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Paddock for his long-standing service and very successful presidency. I would also like to thank the committee headed by Dr. Williams and staff who have worked diligently and successfully to put this event together. Today we all celebrate a legacy that has endured almost one and a half centuries. The success of the Louisiana State Medical Society is a product of the devotion, creativity, pragmatism, and passion of many untold physicians and staff who have proceeded us. The memories of the particular individuals have faded with the time, but through their humility I have now the honor to serve as president of this historic organization. At this time, I’d like to introduce my family. First, Tina, my wife who is a physician and is faulty of LSU department of medicine in Lafayette. We graduated together from LSU in New Orleans. She’s the love of my life and the mother of my three children. To say she keeps me grounded is an understatement. My children, Christopher, Cassie, Chase, and his girlfriend Jessica whom I love dearly and I’m so proud of are here today. I would be remiss if I didn’t send praise to my mother, father and brother who have loved me and supported my dreams to be a doctor. In the audience, I’d like to introduce Dr. Andy Blalock and his wife Callie. Andy is about as close as you can be without being a blood relative. I would also like to mention two of my mentors Dr. Dean Griffen and Dr. Bill Vildibill, both past presidents. Their graceful nature embodied in my mind what a physician should be. First, I am going tell you a little story about myself, but I believe that it’s not a unique story. Louisiana has a history of being a very poor state and I know many in this room come from families who never had a doctor in their family or maybe never even had a family member graduate from a university. That was my case. I especially remember my grandfather and mother, ever since I was a small child always telling me “that’s my little doctor.” But I never really felt the call to medicine in my youth. Really never thought I was smart enough, but that’s not how the Lord works sometimes. I’m sure in this room many of you have either been called directly or indirectly to the practice of medicine. I recall when I gave the conference to a group of young folks wanting to go to medical school. I asked for a show of hands of those who have been either been singled out by someone or always knew in their heart they wanted to be a doctor, about 80% raised their hands. Regardless of how we are called, it is gift to serve. I’ve had the honor to be on the board of medical examiners for over 10 years and more recently, I was reappointed as president in July. What I have learned is very simple. Physicians whom have lost their way have taken their eye off of medicine and placed it on either personal or monetary gratification. They have lost their way, because they
forgot to put their patients first. Countless numbers of them have been able to get back on track. I really can’t express the emotion of the individual and of the board members when we witness these doctors humbled and find their way back home to medicine. The challenges in medicine during my lifetime have never been greater. Let me share with you another little story. For those in this room who are physicians, every clinical rotation was structured around putting your patients above everything else. I also went to business school about nine years ago and earned a MBA. I can testify to you that every class started with the professor saying that the purpose of a manager was to bring a profit to his shareholders. We now have hospital systems run by businessmen, trying to be the authorities on medicine. Hospitals are continually growing and building, because that’s what you do in business. Anyone with business skills knows that if you’re not growing you’re falling behind. The hospital corporations in the state have been given the keys by state government to provide the tools, vision, infrastructure, and medical leadership to raise us off the bottom statistically in healthcare nationally. Unfortunately, they have been unsuccessful. Louisiana still remains at the bottom of almost every category of quality outcomes. Although It’s hard to talk about the reality is physicians have not been a cohesive group and because of this, we’ve delegated some of our authority to others. Physicians have allowed themselves to be fractured by politics and Third-party players picking winners and losers. Specialties have basically turned their back on each other as long as it was not affecting them. Hopefully, we’ve learned by now that this manipulation has not served physicians or medicine well. What affects one affects all of us and we must unite around a common goal. We can never relinquish our right to be the authority of medicine in this state. Hospital systems, health insurers and some allied healthproviders have had success in diminishing our role as the authority for medicine in Louisiana. We cannot let that continue to happen. My goal is to try to develop the foundation that we can build upon from a strategic standpoint that will strengthen the Louisiana State Medical Society for the future. I plan to have a very strong relationship with Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham and Governor Jeff Landry and try to incorporate their ideas and dreams into what we are trying to accomplish. I will strive for the Louisiana State Medical Society to find ways to strengthen physician advocacy, improve overall patient outcomes, and Statewide medical leadership. My hope and prayer is my efforts will enable a seamless transition to meet the challenges now and in the future.
Dr. Clark was born in Alexandria and moved to Lafayette as a young child. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. He received his Medical Degree from LSU Medical School – New Orleans. His residency in Internal Medicine was completed at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette prior to his fellowship in nephrology under Dr. Authur Guyton at the University of Mississippi. He is a Past President of the Lafayette Parish Medical Society and a 10-year member – and current President – of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
Dr. Clark has been in practice in Lafayette for 30 years as in nephrologist with Acadiana Renal Physicians working alongside his partners to establish nephrology and pioneer dialysis in the Acadiana area. He is a past CEO of Acadiana Renal Physicians and has served on many boards of local hospitals in the community. He is married to Tina Benoit, MD, and they have three children: Christopher, Cassie and Chase.
So my friends, let’s open our minds and ears and not fear the challenges ahead, because we the LSMS are up to the task.
Thank you, Roderick Clark M.D. MBA
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J LA MED SOC | VOL 176 | FALL 2024
J LA MED SOC | VOL 176 | FALL 2024
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