Building a Stronger Physician Community, Six Months In
James Bryant, MBA, PMP
Executive Director
Since joining the Montgomery County Medical Society in April, I've had the opportunity to meet and work with physicians, community partners, and healthcare leaders who share a commitment to improving medicine in Montgomery County. These first six months have reinforced something I believe strongly: the greatest value of MCMS is the community we build together.
Physicians face challenges that extend well beyond the examination room. Whether it's navigating changes in healthcare policy, managing the business of medicine, or simply finding time to connect with colleagues, having a strong professional community matters. My goal since arriving at MCMS has been to strengthen that sense of community, create more opportunities for meaningful connections, and ensure our organization remains a valuable resource for every physician we serve.
We've made encouraging progress, and I wanted to share some of what we've accomplished and where we're headed.
Reconnecting with Our Members
Building a stronger community starts with engaging the physicians who are already part of it.
One of our earliest priorities was reconnecting with members who had not yet renewed their membership. Through the dedicated efforts of our staff, we've significantly improved retention, reducing our non-renewed membership population to approximately 10%. This has been an important step toward strengthening our organization and maintaining relationships with physicians throughout the county.
We've also focused on creating opportunities for physicians to spend time together outside of traditional meetings. Our Ambassador Series at Strathmore brought members together for an enjoyable evening, while our UnWind events have offered a more relaxed setting for colleagues to reconnect, meet new people, and build professional friendships.
We're continuing to expand these opportunities with another UnWind gathering at Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge later this fall, our annual legislative breakfast, and an upcoming Women in Medicine event.
We've also opened up our community calendar to help members share and promote their own events. Whether it's an educational program, professional gathering, or community initiative, we encourage members to let us know what's happening so we can help spread the word. Our hope is that the calendar becomes a shared resource that connects physicians with opportunities throughout Montgomery County, not just those organized by MCMS.
These efforts are about more than filling a calendar with events. They're about creating opportunities for physicians to connect, support one another, and become more involved in the broader medical community.
Ultimately, I want MCMS to be an organization that physicians genuinely enjoy being part of, not simply one they pay dues to each year.
Bringing Physicians Together Through Advocacy
Advocacy has always been an essential part of MCMS, and it's also one of the most important ways we can bring our physician community together around shared interests.
Over the past several months, we've worked to strengthen our relationship with MedChi and create more opportunities for Montgomery County physicians to participate in discussions about the policies affecting their practices and patients.
We've also been engaging with our legislative partners as we prepare for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session. Our annual legislative breakfast will provide another opportunity for physicians and elected officials to connect, exchange perspectives, and discuss the challenges facing healthcare in our community.
When physicians come together, their collective voice carries greater weight. Whether we're discussing patient access, administrative burdens, or the future of independent medical practice, MCMS has an important role in ensuring that our members have a seat at the table.
Our growing collaboration with MedChi has also created additional opportunities for education and engagement, including a recent EQIP webinar focused on helping physicians navigate important practice-related programs.
Expanding Our Professional Community
One of the things that makes Montgomery County special is the extraordinary concentration of medical professionals and institutions within our borders. I believe MCMS has an opportunity to bring more of these physicians together and create connections that might not otherwise happen.
Our upcoming Fall Membership Meeting on October 21 is a perfect example. We're honored to welcome Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, immediate past president of the American Medical Association, as the featured speaker for the Stephen J. Rockower Advocacy Lecture.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we're pleased to offer this year's meeting free of charge to members. We want these events to be accessible and encourage as many physicians as possible to participate.
We're also extending invitations to physicians, residents, and medical students at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. These institutions are an important part of Montgomery County's medical community, and we want their physicians to feel that MCMS is their professional home as well.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue building relationships with hospitals, academic institutions, independent practices, and other healthcare organizations throughout the county. The more connected our physician community becomes, the more opportunities we create for collaboration, mentorship, and mutual support.
Developing Partnerships That Benefit Our Members
A strong medical community also benefits from relationships with organizations that understand and support the needs of physicians.
Over the past six months, we've worked to expand our network of corporate partners and sponsors, welcoming support from Truist through our Physician Connect program, GZP Realty, and MyRepSoft. We've also received generous support from Springside Infusions, Stein Sperling, and Ryan & Wetmore.
These partnerships do more than provide financial support. They help make our educational programs and networking events possible, introduce members to resources that can support their practices, and create new opportunities for collaboration.
We've been intentional about building relationships with organizations that understand the challenges physicians face, particularly those involved in managing independent practices.
As we continue to grow these partnerships, our focus will remain on creating meaningful benefits for our members while supporting the long-term health of the Society.
Building a Sustainable Future for Our Community
Strengthening MCMS also means ensuring that the organization has the financial and operational foundation necessary to serve physicians well into the future.
Over the past several months, we've been reviewing how we operate, identifying opportunities to reduce expenses, and exploring new sources of revenue beyond membership dues.
One of our more significant initiatives involves making better use of our office space. We've listed the lower level of our building for lease, creating an opportunity for recurring revenue while maintaining our presence in Montgomery County.
We're also reviewing technology, administrative processes, and operating expenses as we prepare our 2027 budget.
These efforts may not always be visible to members, but they're important. Every dollar we save or generate through new partnerships is a dollar that can help sustain the programs, advocacy, and opportunities that bring our physician community together.
Our goal is to build an organization that is both financially responsible and capable of investing in its members.
Supporting Physicians Beyond the Practice
One area I'm particularly excited about is the opportunity to expand our efforts around physician well-being through the National Capital Physicians Foundation.
Medicine can be an incredibly rewarding profession, but it is a difficult one. Physicians face professional pressures, demanding schedules, and challenges that aren't always easy to discuss with colleagues.
We're working with the Foundation's leadership to explore ways to create a stronger support network for physicians throughout their careers. This includes opportunities for physician wellness, peer connections, professional development, and resources for those navigating career transitions or other challenges.
While these initiatives are still taking shape, our vision is to build a community where physicians know they have colleagues and resources they can turn to when they need support.
I believe this is an important part of what a modern medical society should offer its members.
Looking Ahead to a Community We Build Together
As we approach 2027, I see tremendous opportunities for MCMS. We have an engaged physician leadership team, dedicated staff, growing relationships with community partners, and a membership that represents an extraordinary range of medical expertise and experience.
Our priorities will continue to include strengthening membership, expanding advocacy, providing valuable education and networking opportunities, developing meaningful partnerships, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the Society.
But underlying all of these efforts is a simple idea: MCMS should be the place where Montgomery County physicians come together.
A place to connect with colleagues, share ideas, find support, advocate for patients, and build relationships that extend beyond our individual practices and specialties.
I also want to hear from you. What would make MCMS more valuable to you? What challenges are you facing in your practice? What kinds of events, resources, or opportunities would help you feel more connected to your colleagues?
Your feedback and involvement are essential to shaping the future of our Society.
I'm grateful to our physician leadership, staff, members, and community partners for their support during these first six months. We've made meaningful progress, and I'm excited about what we can accomplish together.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our Fall Membership Meeting on October 21 and continuing to build a stronger, more connected physician community throughout Montgomery County.
