May 25, 2017

A Note from newly installed NMMS President, William Liakos Jr. MD

First and foremost, thank you for electing me as the President of our Society this year. As you may know, I am a pediatrician in Roswell, graduate of UNM School of Medicine, native of New Mexico, and the son of a Past President of NMMS with whom I share a name.  I am excited about this upcoming year and ready to embrace the many changes in store for our professional organization.

At the annual meeting this past weekend in Albuquerque, the House of Delegates voted to amend the Constitution and Bylaws in such a way that will allow us to revamp the annual meeting beginning in 2018 to allow more time for education and professional development.  The changes also allow the Society to streamline the governance, expedite administrative matters, provide more input from membership.

Next year, instead of the House of Delegates, we will hold an Annual Business Meeting as part of a convention packed with educational events.  I thank Dr. Bill Ritchie for driving this modernization of our beloved Society this past year and congratulate him on the resounding success of this historic restructuring. Going forward, if you would like to volunteer to be part of the convention/CME committee, please email info@nmms.org with your information.

Elections were held and I welcome these new officers and members of the council:

Nancy Wright MD – Vice President
Angela Bratton MD – Presiding Officer of the Annual Business Meeting
Dion Gallant MD – Vice Presiding Officer of the Annual Business Meeting
Steve Kanig MD – Delegate to the AMA
Jose Avitia MD – Young Physician Section to the AMA Delegate

They will join me, Sandra Whisler MD (President-Elect), Bill Ritchie MD (Immediate Past President), Stephen Haynes MD (Secretary-Treasurer), Stephen Lucero MD (AMA Delegate), Lynn Bryant MD (AMA Alternate Delegate), and Heather Brislen MD (YPS to AMA Delegate) as other elected officers and councilors.

I look forward to the year ahead and will do my best to keep you apprised of legislative, regulatory, and other changes to our profession as we strive to care for our patients and their families.