My Messages as A.M.A.President,my experiments with Writing

October

From the heart of President,

Dear Colleagues,

Seasons greetings.

This is for the last time that I am writing this president desk as President AMA. It is very rightly said that good time almost always passes fast. I remember last October when I was preparing to write my first president desk and today last one.

We all know that change is constant and life is a journey,

Life is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn,

But most of all,

Experiences to enjoy.

The one year journey was  really memorable one, I have learn lots of things, make good friends and above all got a big sense of satisfaction of contributing a little to this august 111yr old Association being the probably the youngest president.

This one year has taught me importance of planning and good rules of leadership like team work, delegation of work and in a big way my communication skills have improved. I can say that my over all personality has not got a good molding of experience which will go long way in my life.

When I took over, I was prepared, but there were lots of apprehensions were in my mind. At the same time I was quite confident of my team and have full faith in them, who has really proved to be my back bone through the year.

It has been rightly said that,

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the full staircase.

With the whole hearted support from all the members, my team and office, we could do some good work (that is what we think) and start some new initiatives like,

·        Doctor on Call in Diwali

·        “g” speaks

·        Family Benefit Scheme of AMA

·        Training Course in Life Style Disease for Doctors

·        Exam Guidance Seminar in association with Divya Bhaskar

·         Staff Training Programmes

·        Spiritual Picnic for Senior Citizens

·        Beti Bachavo Seminar

·        Health Awareness Seminar for Ahmedabad City Police

·        Medical Board

·        Cultural Board

·        AMA Senior Citizen Club

·        Late Dr.Somalal Desai Community Project with SEWA

·        Complete Renovation of AMA Building

·        PPS Office

·        AMA Ladies Club Constitution

·        Adolescent Counseling Project

·        Walking down the memory lanes

·        Thanks Giving Dinner by Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad City

Details account of activities you can read else where in the bulletin.

This year, as promised in the maiden speech as president the focus was on social initiatives and do more and more programme related to public health. I think we could achieve it to some extent. Obviously there is long way to go. I am sure that with continuous motivation and support this will become a routine tradition at AMA.

My team has also tried to make sure that doctors themselves remain fit and active before taking care of others. This is very important as odd working hours, lots of stress and new age demanding patients take toll on health of doctors.

In the end I can not forget the worthy team of past presidents who have continuously guide me thought the year and make sure that I stay on the right track. Dr.Parimal Desai,Dr.K.R.Sanghvi,Dr.Ramesh C.Shah,Dr.Abhay dikshit,Dr.Devendra Patel,Dr.Jitendra N.Patel,Dr.Jaswant Darbar and Dr.Mehul Shah are few names on top among the long list. It is impossible to mention all names here, but the entire team of worthy past presidents is, I must say is big asset to the association.

I am also thankful to Dr.Jitubhai B.Patel,our president Elect IMA H.Q. for his constant support and encouragement in implementing new ideas and thoughts and promote my team to think out of box.

Time Passes, Memories Fade, feelings change, people leave but hearts never forget.

With this feeling I would like to conclude here as my heart is full and I am running out of words to express it.

I am wishing all the best to the incoming team under the able leadership of Dr.Vidyut Desai.

Jai IMA, Jai AMA

Yours in true sense,

Dr.Pragnesh M.Vachharajani

President

pragneshmv@gmail.com

September

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Seasons Greetings.

This month we have celebrated our 67^th Independence Day.

It is a moment of celebration, a day to pay tribute to the martyrs because of whose struggle and sacrifice we are breathing an air of freedom. Day before our freedom Shri Jawaharlal Nehru proudly declared,

“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom,” said Jawaharlal Nehru

We really need to understand what freedom is is all about,

"The freedom that we shall win through our sacrifice and exertions, we shall be able to preserve with our own strength." - Subhash Chandra Bose

That is the where the problem. At time of seeking independence the enemy was known, but today there are many enemies which we are not even aware of. We are surely fighting but do not know who we are fighting with and what we will achieve after this.

Day by day problems are increasing and morale of the citizens is going down. The picture is surely gloomy at present, but there is always a light at the end of tunnel.  India today is one most progressing country and we have good number of young population who are ready under the guidance of seniors to do hard work and make our country prosper like ever before.

Liberty means responsibility.  That is why most men dread it. 

 ~George Bernard Shaw

At AMA as you all know we have taken social projects in big way and in coming months we are going celebrate World Heart Day and we are floating concept of “My Ahmedabad,Healthy Ahmedabad”. This is activity is done in association with various professional medical organizations of the city and for the first time we are trying to get associated with other professional non medical organizations also. Our idea is to reach to the needy people of the society who are not very active and serious about the growing problem of life style disease.

In coming month we are also doing a unique programme to improve quality of life of doctor and his family. We all know that a balancing act is required in today’s world to have pleasure from all and to live a good life.

 A very good and famous saying,

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

In this programme we have tried to address various day to day concerns with a dose of fun and entertainment bollywood way. Please do not miss it. On this day we are felicitation the members who have contributed the successful programmes that we were able to do,please be there to pat their back.

“Don't try to understand life. Live it! Don't try to understand love. Move into love. Then you will know - and all that knowing will come out of your experiencing. The more you know, the more you know that much remains to be known.”
― Osho,

In the end we would like to conclude with the hope that you will be attending the programmes and continue to participate in the programmes in large numbers. Your feedback is vital to us and serves as morale booster for us, so please keep writing. We have taken up  an initiative to update our database, we do not have mobile number and email of many of our members, as we all know this two are effective way of communication, so please cooperate us and send update your contact details with the office.

“Live a good life. In the end it is not the years in a life, but the life in the years.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Regards,

Jai Hind,Jai IMA,

August

President Desk,

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Season`s greetings.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy monsoon, time to enjoy good health.

Fortunately this year rains are here in time, which always important for all us. We have changed time table of many seasons due to our life style and Hugh contribution to global warming.

We are going to celebrate our 67^th Independence Day this year. India is one of the largest democracies in world. World can not ignore us.

India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!” –

Mark Twain

India is progressing ahead in spite of all odds. There are many issues that we have, which at times are quite disturbing, still we are moving ahead. We must remember famous saying

Never lose faith in yourself; you can do anything in the universe.

-         Swami Vivekananda

At any place in life there is no short cut to success. Hard work and only Hard work is the key to success. This needs to be stressing upon the young generation, if we want our country to become leader and strong.

In today’s ear of showmen ship and quick money we have to remember

There is goodness as well as greatness in simplicity, not in wealth.

-         Mahatma Gandhi

We are coming with various progammes in coming months. One such programme is Geriatric Update. Today the longitivity has increased due to good medical care and facilities; we are going to have large number of ageing population in our country. Special training and planning is needed to tackle them.

At AMA we have taken up task of screening the children of schools for obesity.  Our idea to create awareness among the society which is part our duty as responsible doctors. We are publishing a book about knowing the facts about diet and how to eat healthy.

At a different note, various family programme are also in pipe line. We hope that you are enjoying it, the way we are getting feedback, we are happy to have more of them. Again the point is to make difference in day to day life and make life more meaningful and enjoyable. You will fine list of them in this bulletin.

We are doing is novel programme this month, “BHAG DOCTOR BHAG”. A must attend family programme for doctors and their families. As we all know we doctors have one of the most hectic routine and more often we fail to take care our own health. This is very dangerous and we have to address this issue seriously. Do come in this programme.

Our new team has just got elected this month. There are no elections this time also. A sign of steady and healthy atmosphere prevailing in our association.

AMA FBS has been launched with a bang. We are thankful to all of you for a  very warm response.

Please keep attending programme and inspire us to do more.

Wishing you all a great health.

Regards,

July

Presidents`s desk:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Season’s greetings.
Monsoon is slowly approaching us, and in coming months we expect plenty of rain.
Water is essential for every living body on the earth. There are 2 sides of coin, at one side people are dying because of lack of water and draught. On the other hand we have this big natural calamity in Utrakhand where thousands of people are feared died due to the flood. Mother Nature is giving us warning, that if we do not take care, we should be ready to face this kind of challenges.
It is duty of all to preserve nature and save the planet.

This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands.
Barack Obama

1^st July is coming, as we all know that it is celebrated as Doctors` Day. Normally I browse around net to find some quotations which can be incorporated in my message, to my surprise and grief; I did not fine any positive quotations about doctors!
An eye openers, what has happening is recent times is definitely tarnishing the image of doctors in society. Who is responsible for this? All of us including society. Due to some black sheep’s entire profession can not blamed or taken for granted.
We doctors work on the philosophy of giving and service. Our profession is considered to be the one of the noblest profession on earth.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 Unfortunate part is lack of awareness among the general public which we think is is crux of problem. Even today patients do not know how to select a doctor. They just walk in and get cheated by so called doctors and ultimately the onus lies on us. The government on the other hand rather then finding a solution creates more problems.
One such example is recent letter which is published else where in the bulletin. What a short sightedness. Do not know who is advising these people in this way. If they are our colleagues sitting in the government and not guiding them properly, they are equally responsible.
Admission time is going on. A time for business of education. People pay anything to become a doctor. God only knows what is happening to the education system, again same direction less efforts of the government who keeps on changing systems every now and then. Please be careful that you do not fall pray to the nexus of agents operating in the system and making big promises.
We have just celebrated our 111^th annual day. A successful programme. We have published a list of starts whom we have felicitated on that day. We are definitely happy with presence in the programme and support given by past presidents. Their presence makes us feel proud and encourage us to do more.
More and more programme are coming up in the coming months, keep attending and sharing your views.
Wishing you all a very Happy Doctor’s Day
Regards,

May

From the President and Secretaries Desk,

Dear Colleagues,

Season’s hot greetings. Summer is in full swing and mercury is rising every day. Let’s hope that by the time you get this bulletin there is some relief.

Fortunately this is the time to relax. Along with vacation in school and colleges there is general vacation mood among public as well.

Over a period of time it is seen that public is getting more and more aggressive. Every other day we read or see that over some minor issue also, there is an aggressive reaction which was not seen in past. We need to take these things seriously and we think that this is collective responsibility of whole society including us.

We are celebrating our 111^th annual day in coming month on 16^th of June. The strong foundation laid by our senior mentors helped us to reach these heights. On this occasion we are coming with history book of AMA. Many of you might be aware that there is book in which important history of AMA from its inception is written up to 1984. A wonderful work! We have decided to take this task further and make it up to date till date. There will be a comprehensive book which will have glimpse of grand past of AMA along with series of events taken place and good work done by various teams in past. There is famous saying that,

“Study the past if you would define the future.”
― Confucius

This is a tribute to all the mentors, past presidents, office bearers and all those who have contributed to the success that we are seeing today.

Moving ahead from the glorious past, let’s talk about future to come.

The Past Is A Good Place To Visit, But Not To Stay

-Author unknown.

On the eve of Doctors day on 1^st July, we are coming up with a very good programme on 30^th of June. Do not miss it. Many dreams of our team are going to be true on that day. We are launching much awaited our own “Family Benefit Scheme”, a unique scheme with some innovations.

Another proud moment is launching of social community projects. This year we have formed a medical board to start ongoing community projects over a period of time. The idea is to maintain continuity and do some regular projects.

One more dream was to have more and more professional and carrier oriented programmes at AMA for members, which helps them in their profession and keep them updated. First of it’s of kind of certificate course in Life Style Disease is being on launched on that day.

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

- Walt Disney

Please be there with us on that day to share our proud moments. With lots of love and support from all the members we could do this.

There are various good programmes are coming in future months to come, please keep attending.

As usual please keep sharing your thoughts and suggestions with us. We are always eager to listen to you and will try our best to implement the suggestions also.

Keep visiting our website and face book page for regular updates.

Wishing you all a good time to come.

Regards,

Yours truly,

 


APRIL

President`s Desk:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The hot days of summer are here. As usual the mercury is rising and is going to rise further. Please take good care of your self in this hot and humid season.

This is the time to relax also, as the most the seasonal aliments goes down and flow of patients in majority doctors clinics will reduce to some extent.

This is the time when you can seat back, relax and take some timeout with your family. One more important thing that you can do is making plans for up gradation, renovation in clinic/hospital. As we all know change is constant and it is required to make changes in up-gradation on timely basis.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Barack Obama 

Much talked about things today is monitoring of practice. We just keep practicing and never in fact try to look that how we are doing. Regular monitoring of practice, Income-Expense review is must.

Review gives u an opportunity to find out loop holes and provide scope for improvement in practice. Again it is not a rocket science; you need not to be a management guru for this. You can device some simple tools or find them online and do this very easily.

This month we are launching our own family benefit scheme. There are some unique features of this scheme. Please read details inside. The idea is to help our colleagues and his family in case of need. Pure mathematics may not work here.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
- Albert Einstein

In the last couple of months we have done 2 staff training programmes and train about 200+ staff working at various places in Ahmedabad. A programme appraised by all.We knows many more are needed; in future we are planning them also.

We just had a very successful academic feast for all, AMACON 2013.Enjoyed by all.We are really thankful to all the delegates and sponsors for making this event a grand successes.

In the coming months many new programmes are coming like annual day, doctor day celebration etc.

We have planned to start taking social projects in ahmedabad for the underprivileged of the society. We would like to start with Sanitation and personal hygiene. We are planning to work with NGO working in this sector and will provide technical input. Suggestions and participation from your side is very much needed.

Theses programmes can only be successful if more and more members get involved and take up the task. Social projects are always priority at AMA and will be future also.

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

Henry Ford

We are getting regular feedbacks about various programmes held. Please continue this communication which keeps us on our tows and perform better every time.

Wishing you all a great time ahead.

Regards,

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March

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Hope you are doing well. The season is here to change and temperature is rising. The long and hot days of summer are about to come and stay for about 3-4 months.

Along with changing season the viral out brake is also there affection large number of people and doctors also.

The only good thing about time to come is vacation of schools and colleges that is about to begin. A brake is needed by all.

 A famous saying,

“Activity and rest are two vital aspects of life. To find a balance in them is a skill in itself. Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have. Finding them in each other - activity in rest and rest in activity - is the ultimate freedom.”
― Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,

In today’s era, stress has become part of our day to day life and we keep running here and there in search of something! At the end of the day it is the family who suffers, whose time sacrificed for professional gain.

We realize very late that golden years of life have gone and we have missed the very good time to enjoy in between our so called working life.

Change of routine and vacation has become mandatory which rejuvenates ones life and keep him healthy and active to live life to the fullest. Some has rightly said that

“Vacation used to be a luxury, but in today's world it has become a necessity.  ~Author Unknown”

We need it, the family needs it.

Do enjoy the time to come.

Lots of things have happened in our country in last couple of months. Every other day we read a lot about women abuse and other issue related to them. We doctors are important part of society and more responsible also. To show our responsibility and concern towards the issue we have organized a very good programm:”Beti Bachavo Seminar” this month.Becuase we believe,

We all should Respect a woman because of;

- You can feel her Innocence in the form of a daughter.

- You can feel her Care in the form of a sister.

- You can feel her Warmth in the form of a friend.

- You can feel her Passion in the form of a beloved.

- You can feel her Dedication in the form of a wife.

- You can feel her Divinity in the form of a mother.

- You can feel her Blessing in the form of a grandmother yet she is so tough too.

- Her heart is so tender, so naughty, so Charming and so Melodius, she is a woman and she is life...!!!

“To all the wonderful women, hope you won't forget how special you are ..."

Another unfortunate incident has happened with our colleague in bhavnagar.The doctor was stabbed badly by a patient. Such incidences are happening very often and this is real cause of concern for all of us.

The authorities and Government are playing with our sentiments and most of you might not be aware that the ordinance which was passed by Gujarat Vidhansabha about “assault on doctors” did not become law and entire thing is gone now. We do not know who is at fault, but this is certain that we doctors are once again taken for granted and taken for a ride. We have to be united, we have to show our strength and something must be done to stop this menace.

We would like to conclude here, wishing you all a happy vacation and nice enjoyable family time.

Jai IMA

Jai AMA

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 FEBRUARY

President Desk,

Dear Collogues and friends.

Season’s greetings,

We are confused that for what season to wish. In this month we had all the seasons, winter the original one, summer just waiting to come in and as writing this today the weather again has changed and having some light showers.

The atmosphere outside is just fantastic, good for everyone to enjoy and relax. It seems that nature is also confused as we are in today’s world.

Season of exams is coming, for all. Board exams, school exams and many more plethoras of entrance tests. Not a good time for many parents and some students.

We had a very successful programme for same in association with divyabhakar this month. Details and some good take home messages are mentioned elsewhere in the bulletin. The most important message for all parents and students is that please remembers and tells them this sentence every day,

“All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do not believe that you are weak;”

No exam is the first exam and not the last also. During life time we all are facing many exams and just we need to do is keep working hard and do not worry about results.

Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. - Thomas Edison

We are coming up with very good programmes this month also like All India Doctor Kavi Sammelan and social programme like “Beti Bachavo Seminar”. This is a unique programme under directive from I.M.A. Headquarter where in we are calling speakers from various fields who will share their thoughts and concern about the issue. The idea is to wake up for the cause, work for empowerment of women in society and avoid injustice to them.

It is good that we are now getting feedback about the programme by members. As written earlier also please keep writing and express your views. It helps in working better and better and match your expectation from our team.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa

We have started taking issues affecting doctors on day to day basis like bio-medical waste, properly tax, electricity bill, medical insurance etc.Please do not forget to send your suggestions for the same and support us when ever we need your physical presence also.

Please be in touch.

Regards

=======================================================================

January

From the Heart of President and Secretary,

Dear friends and colleagues,

Much awaited winter is here. Cold wave is very strong and is affecting all. This is the time to eat good food and stay healthy by doing regular exercise.

“A healthy man, indeed, is the complement of the seasons, and in winter, summer is in his heart.”

The season academic feast just concluded at AMA. We have just completed scientific series. The presence was encouraging but still we feel that something needs to be done to bring the young doctors and all the faculties to the academic programmes by AMA. There is wrong notion build over a period of years that AMA programmes are meant for family physicians only. You can just look to at the topics discussed at AMA in last 3 months. We do not want to blame any body but academic programmes are meant for gaining knowledge only, not for putting physical weight. We welcome any suggestions for any body about making these programmes appealing to all if we are missing something.

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.”
― Stephen Hawking

Lots of thing have happened in last month in India and globally also. We think it is important for so called think tank of society to sit back and do some introspection on how we are moving forward and loosing something very precious on the way.

Lots of unlawful activities are on rise. We have to do something for this. Our IMA headquarter has taken a very good initiative in sending some recommendation to make law more effective about unfortunate rape cases. One cannot seat back and discuss in close room or in front of tv about sorry state of affairs. This though people have come out in open to protest, still many concrete and continues efforts are needed to stop things from further worsening. If we all do something together, there is always light at end of tunnel and we get some relief by reading a famous quote,

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
Mahatma Gandhi

In coming months we are coming with variety of programmes as mentioned in the inner pages of bulletin, do attend in large numbers and encourage us.

First time we are organising pre-conference workshops in conference and special programmes of spouses also.

We are also doing a major public event on exam preparation with one of the leading media house “Divya Bhaskar” in the coming month.

Please keep connected and share your valuable inputs with us.

Regards,

Dr.Pragnesh M.Vachharajani                                      Dr.Jignesh Shah

President                                                                      Secretary

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December

From the President and Secretaries Desk

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Seasons greetings.

The good season of winter is here. Winter is the time of the year when we can increase our health due to availability of good food ,appetite and increase our knowledge due to lots of conferences and annual meetings providing ample opportunity to all.

Benjamin Franklin
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise .

We have organized a programme about same this month guiding doctors about how to strike a balance between professional and personal life. And to live a good life avoiding stress and other problems. One has to be careful to gain only knowledge in conference, not unnecessary calories from conferences.

We have completed about 3 months of new team. With your support and enthusiasm we are very much delighted. Really, you all have increase our confidence .We will continue to give good programmes with your support. Fortunately some feedbacks regarding programme have also started coming, which we have started publishing from this month.

Please feel free write to us at any time. Your honest feedback is important for us. A famous saying:

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." –

Kenneth Blanchar

We are not champions but can become with your support. Please keep talking. We have kept various programmes and are planning to make all the members come to AMA at least once a year. We know it is impossible to organize a single programme which can be of interest of all. Still we are planning various programmes targeting different groups. We are confident enough that you will at least come to AMA once in a year. One such example is a great programme admired by all is g speaks. Another one is kid’s talent evening concluded recent, medico singing competition coming this week. Our team knows:

You Can Win: Winners Don't Do Different Things They Do Things Differently

We have taken task of intensifying the social responsibility drive which AMA is doing since years. Various medical check ups camps, opening of geriatric clinics, patient support center etc are in pipe line and we soon become operational.

We are in process of starting AMA family benefit scheme; planning to launch it in April. Please keep reading bulletin for more details.

Various Scientific programmes are lined up like SAL CME series, AMACON just keep attending. Most of the academic programmes by AMA are accredited by Gujarat Medical Council, so do attend on regular basis. Do not forget to fill up your CME card while attending the programme.

First time we have come up calendar of AMA.This will not be just routine calander,it will have details about medical days celebrated by IMA,important information about AMA,its programmes,projects,facilities in AMA house, List of IMA guest house etc.Please collect yours from office.

Will conclude here.

Please keep attending the programmes and share your views.

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November

From Presidents Heart:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The festive season is over and we all had a good time. What I like most about diwali is, any person whom so ever he is, enjoys it. The method of celebration may be different, but everybody enjoys.Diwali is celebrated across the casts, religion or social status.

What is important is as well said by Abhraham Lincon,

WHAT EVER YOU ARE BE A GOOD ONE.

We had good number of public awareness programme like celebration of cancer day, diabetes day; COPD day etc.Do read details in side.To start with the response was not very encouraging but we are hopeful that we will succeed with support from all.

We have surely created a mark and scale new height in our social recognization with the social initiative taken by AMA for the first time: Doctor on call in Diwali.A very successful initiative which help us to reach the masses and real sense we have served the needy people.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
Robert Collier

Election is here. We all must vote for democracy. This is our basic duty and one must exercise his vote. We at IMA are very clear and would like to request you all to support doctor candidates. They may be from any political party, our goal is to have more of doctors in any government so that we can effectively present our issues at proper level and educated people rule us.