If I know my professional “stuff” as a highly specialized OMS surgeon, why should I “strain” to associate with colleagues as a member of a professional association like the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons? And why “pay” money to associate when nobody helps me attract professional business? These are sentiments that have been expressed by many even though they have been informed that actively belonging to a professional association actually accrues benefits. Unfortunately to many a colleague, these “benefits” should result in monetary or material gains directly to oneself. However, as a specialized professional in whatever field, society views you as broad-minded, reliable, resourceful, dependable; and above all, selfless. Therefore, a little sacrifice from your hard-earned resources (monetary, material and knowledge), i.e. membership in an professional association, may be expected of you by your patients and by your colleagues.
As a surgical professional you have specific groups in society that look up to you for specific needs: patients need your expertise in managing their ailments, trainees/students desire your knowledge and skills; and colleagues may gain from your identified successes. These are the values for which professional associations exist. Interaction and association in society constitute the means through which individual professionals can realize his/her full and wholesome potential in the specific areas of their expertise. In the science and art of surgery, sharing knowledge has become an ever-so-important ingredient for bringing about tangible and feasible advances. This acquisition of knowledge is so intricate that any professional who tries to exist in isolation finds him/herself rapidly becoming “obsolete” whereby his/her method of practice could be more detrimental than beneficial.
No active clinical practitioner should need any convincing about how reliable, high-quality information forms the foundation of our reality—our perception and facts of truth. The interpretation of the acquired knowledge, however, has to be the catalyst for change. The key medium through which these values may be achieved wholesomely is the capability to intimately associate with professional colleagues and peers. A little money must, therefore, be set aside annually for membership dues in the IAOMS by each individual OMS professional. From there, every OMS professional should be prepared to directly and positively influence the quality of education at schools, colleges and universities and they should be prepared to participate in the improvement and enhancement of the quality and terms of employment for fellow OMS professionals. Thus in a nutshell, that is why one must belong to a professional association like IAOMS wholeheartedly.
Excerpted from a column in the IAOMS Newsletter by Mark Chindia of the East African Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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