Is serving as a president of the OMA a burial ground for ambitious physicians?

A friend of mine, who had close ties to the Iraqi government (I grew up in Iraq), shared with me many years ago that people deemed ambitious and desiring positive change were either subdued if possible or placed in influential positions within the ministry they belong to. Once there, they faced suppression and constraints as they are bound by regulations. Even if overtime they became aware of their circumstances, they often reached a point where they forgot their aspirations, leaning towards negativity. Eventually, they faded away, and their voices would go unheard.I initially doubted my friend’s words, thinking that he might have exaggerated the situation just to send a message, until I witnessed it firsthand when a relative of mine took on a crucial role in the ministry of health. My relative wasn’t content with the state of the ministry of health and its support for doctors. We had, numerous times, engaged in extensive discussions about our concerns, and our talks reached another relative who was high in the government. To placate things this high-up relative suggested collaboration, a proposal that was accepted by my relative. Over time, this guy advanced in his position, and when I spoke to him later on, his responses mirrored those of higher-ups in the government, whom we disliked and criticized million times. It became clear that my relative had been formatted and uploaded with new files, tailored to fit the government’s measures.Read: Dr. Jabir Jassam: Physicians as pharmacy ownersThrough that experience, I’ve come to realize that people don’t always mean what they say, and flashy slogans may not truly represent the beliefs of those echoing them. In some cases, it’s the opposite, with the advocates of such slogans being the first to falter in a substantial test.I then realized that my friend’s claim about stifling the ambitions of aspirants was entirely accurate, to the point that I began to ask him about his latest ambitious idea each time I met him and then finding out how it had been suppressed.I would like to mention something about the headline of this article, without mentioning any names to avoid unnecessary conflicts. What I want to convey is that I am confident that most of my colleagues who led the OMA were ambitious and eager for changes. They might have attempted to make these changes but faced formidable barriers that thwarted their goals. Perhaps they endeavoured to address certain issues within the organization, striving to prevent its decline or deterioration, but due to the multitude of these issues, their efforts were overlooked and even labeled as failed attempts.What happened?I have observed some of these colleagues spearheading campaigns and rallies prior to assuming their positions, only to witness their subsequent disappearance and concealment once they have led the OMA.Where can I find my friend to inquire?Dr. Jabir Jassam is a family physician in Ottawa. This item originally appeared on his blog site.

Is serving as a president of the OMA a burial ground for ambitious physicians?

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