Viewpoint FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR

Time to Pay Your Dues

Larry E. Patterson, M.D.

This summer marks my 20th year in private practice, and during all of those years I've been a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. From the beginning it just seemed like something I ought to do. Earlier this year, the AAO invited me, in my role with the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS), to attend a political update meeting in Washington, D.C. Around the long table sat men and women from almost every ophthalmic specialty society in the United States. Retina, glaucoma and plastics were represented. Folks from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) and the osteopathic ophthalmologists attended, as well as others.

One month later I was in San Francisco at AAO headquarters attending a 1-day orientation of the inner workings of the Academy. Again, representatives of many different ophthalmic organizations attended. I met dozens of AAO staff.

What did I learn from all of this? To start with, I am convinced that we ophthalmologists are very fortunate to have such a large and powerful organization dedicated to representing us and the patients we serve. The things that the AAO has been able to achieve politically for us are remarkable when taken in the context of all of the rest of medicine, especially surgical specialties. I know we are not always happy with many of the things that have negatively impacted us over the years, but be assured it would have been a lot worse without the Academy.

Second, there are many ophthalmologists volunteering hundreds of uncompensated hours each year in service to the Academy. Some you've heard of, many you haven't. While you're at your office generating income each day, know that lots of our fellow docs are taking days off from their practices slugging it out in meetings on our behalf.

Third, our dues are very reasonable. When you look at the size of the academy's staff and all they do for us, the cost is a real bargain. Enough said.

Although 93% of all U.S. ophthalmologists are AAO members, why is that figure not higher? Many of us hold membership in other groups, perhaps the American Medical Association, our state and local societies and subspecialty groups. If you are a retinal specialist, I understand why you don't belong to ASCRS. If you operate in a hospital, I understand why you haven't joined OOSS. But the AAO is the one organization that represents us all. No, they can't make all of us happy all of the time. We're smart enough to understand that in any large family there will never be 100% agreement on everything all the time. You may still be unhappy because of something they did in the past with which you disagreed. But get over it. If you are a member, great, and feel good each year you write your dues check. If not, shame on you. Quit freeloading and get on board!