Board of Directors Meeting, May 6, 1954 4
AMA for residents and internes so that they may belong to a Society while in that vicinity. Postgraduate requirements are that if a man has graduated within five years he may be placed in one of these categories.
Is it your considered opinion in this matter that if a fellow was out there on temporary duty, then came off duty, he would be eligible to membership?"
Dr. Steen--"We put that six month in there for the purpose of giving us a chance to become acquainted with a man; to me, this thing you are speaking about circumvents that."
Dr. Bernstein--"If I were to be stationed in a region, I would not expect it, but if I were to be stationed here and then open an office to practice, I would want to inquire about it."
Dr. Steen--"If a man is an active member in Michigan, all he has to do is transfer here, and he can come in right away, at the very next meeting."
Dr. Engle--"I believe and I would like to move that practice in the Armed Force and in the Veterans medical facility does not in itself serve the purpose of the six months provision in our By-Laws and that such an individual is not eligible to the privilege contained therein."
Dr. Steen--"These other men are in the Army, not from their own choice, and may have an Associate membership in their own Society."
Dr. Thompson--"We fought this thing out before. It states that they must have six months residence. I think, if you are serious, it ought to go before the By-Laws Committee, because it can't be official otherwise. Suppose we do have a man who has transferred here, and we want him in?"
Dr. Bernstein--"It is the function of the Board of Censors to interpret this thing, and if any problem comes up, we would like to have them submit it to the By-Laws Committee."
Dr. Steen--"Fifteen or twenty years ago it would not have made any difference where you came from, or what kind of membership you had, you had to practice here a year."
Dr. Costin--"Inasmuch as no hardship is endured, as far as hospital privileges are concerned, what difference does it make whether he is admitted now or six months later?"
Dr. Steen--"Will you ask the By-Laws Committee to give us something on this?"
Motion withdrawn by Dr. Engle.
A request was received from the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of Arizona for the opinion of the Society as to whether or not an emergency will exist in the field of ophthalmology during the period between June 19th and July 12th, which would warrant a temporary license being granted, and was read by the Secretary.
Dr. Bernstein stated that this had been referred to the committee appointed for this purpose, and that investigation has revealed that
Dr. Bernfeld will be here in June,
Dr. Blake will be here all during the period in question,
Dr. O'Connor will be here during the period in question,
Dr. Shetter will be here during the period in question.
He added that all had been asked whether they thought an emergency would exist, and his impression was that they feel none will exist.
Dr. Steen stated that Dr. Burr's reason for this request is that he is ophthalmologist at the Airbase, and that the other men in town cannot be induced to cover activities out there, and he feels it is his duty to see that it is covered. Dr. Steen said that the people at the Airbase did not feel the situation to be quite that urgent, and that he, as one member of the committee, did not feel that it could be recommended that an emergency does exist.
Dr. Harry Thompson stated that there is no emergency here in any department.
