Physician Encourages Support of Organized Medicine
Every year, Lawrence Altaker, MD, has one easy decision to make: whether to renew his Pennsylvania Medical Society membership.
The Harrisburg area psychiatrist has been a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Dauphin County Medical Society, and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society since he started practice in 1971.
He isn’t a member because of what the State Society can do for him, but simply because he believes physicians need to support organized medicine.
"I don’t look for any other benefit other than knowing that there is an organization that has the interest of medicine as their foundation," said Dr. Altaker, the former president of the Dauphin County Medical Society.
He said he has heard colleagues say that they don’t see the value in belonging to the State Society, but they may not realize how much work the organization does on their behalf.
"Much of what the Society does is behind the scenes. It’s an organization that works for us," Dr. Altaker said. "It’s important for us to be involved in the Society, or things of interest to physicians won’t get discussed or debated adequately."
Last Updated: 2/6/2009