From the Executive Director

By: Heather A. Wilson, MSW, CFRE

How many of us have received holiday gifts of appreciation or acknowledgement and thought, “I really didn’t need one more fruitcake, box of chocolates or fruit basket.” It is the thought that counts, not the gift, right? The answer to that question is always “yes.” And while I appreciate any gift, it is during this season of giving that I find myself most touched by the gifts that signify investment in the betterment of others, rather than one more holiday treat.

Last year, I received a card. Inside, it read, “a gift was made in your honor to provide two sheep and five goats to a family that will give them sustenance and economic independence.” I was deeply touched. The giver knew me well enough to know that investing in others is substantially more important to me than material gifts.

As you consider buying one more thing for the person who has everything this holiday season, I invite you to consider honoring that person by investing in the lives of your fellow physicians through a gift to the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Whether it is $5 or $50,000, your gift holds power. Every gift changes lives.

Your gift eases both financial and personal burdens. A gift to the Foundation underwrites low-interest loans for medical school education in a time when the cost of medical school can well exceed $200,000. Your investment assists the Foundation as we prepare for a Physician Resiliency Summit on June 5-6, 2019. This summit will feature Tait Shanafelt, MD, chief wellness officer for Stanford Medicine, as the keynote speaker. The summit will actively address the root causes of burnout and stress among physicians and provide practical solutions for individuals and the work environment.

Whether it is a medical career that is catapulted through access to education or a physician life saved because resources were readily available during a time of hopelessness – your investment yields a priceless result.

During this season of giving, when you look through the gift catalog and consider your recipient list, perhaps you will consider a new approach by investing in the work of the Foundation through an honor gift that not only touches the heart of the gift recipient, but also impacts the lives of hundreds of physicians across the commonwealth.

As this year comes to a close, the Foundation staff and our Board of Trustees extends its deepest appreciation and gratitude for your investment in the lives of others. We wish for you and those you love – health, happiness and prosperity in 2019.