The AMA “Members Move Medicine” series profiles a wide variety of doctors, offering a glimpse into the passions of women and men navigating new courses in American medicine.
On the move with: Bruce K. Muma, MD, who is an internist and pediatrician at Henry Ford Medical Group in Detroit.
AMA member since: 1997.
What inspired me to pursue a career in medicine: Medicine offered me the opportunity to play a meaningful role in improving the lives of patients while passionately pursuing both the science and the art of healing.
How I move medicine as a leader in my organization: Despite our best intention to improve the lives of our patients, health care processes are increasingly complex and fraught with defects and adverse outcomes. As leaders we are uniquely positioned to see the waste, build more reliable care processes and inspire providers to transform the health care system.
Career highlights: I’ve been blessed to participate in the design of new care models and processes throughout my career. The highlights include opening a new hospital focused on improving the patient experience, implementing innovative processes like e-prescribing, nurse driven protocols for diabetes care and anticoagulation management as well as opening an ambulatory intensive care clinic for the highest risk patients.
Advice I’d give to those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: It requires a tremendous investment of time and energy, but if you love science and want to help people there is no better career!
How my organization and I give back to the community: Henry Ford takes great pride in its relationship with our community—in particular, in the depth of our understanding of health care needs and the energy we invest in improving health care. This passion and pride inspires us to advocate for our community in governmental affairs, health insurance benefit design and partnership with schools, religious organizations and community non-governmental organizations.
Aspect of my organization’s work that means the most: Our health care systems are poorly designed for the very patient populations who need it the most—those with a heavy burden of chronic disease. For these populations, the system is particularly complex and, in some cases, dangerous as the challenge of communicating and collaborating across physicians, ancillary staff, facilities and care giver staff results in major gaps and delays. Henry Medical Group has always been at the forefront of developing new care models to better serve these populations.
How my organization is shaping the future of medicine: Henry Ford Medical Group is a national leader in the passionate pursuit of a better health care future. This leadership is expressed across multiple dimensions including developing cutting-edge tertiary and quaternary care, providing the highest quality medical education, participating in cutting-edge health services research, as well as in designing more effective care models for high risk populations.
Visit MembershipMovesMedicine.com to learn more about other AMA members who are relentlessly moving medicine through advocacy, education, patient care and practice innovation, and join or renew today.
