Joseph Scherger Named New Editor-In-Chief of Hippocrates

Posted on September 17, 1999

The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has announced the appointment of Joseph Scherger, M.D. as editor-in-chief of its primary care journal, Hippocrates. Dr. Scherger is currently chair, Department of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of California, Irvine and a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on the Quality of Health Care in America.

"Understanding the difficult practice and clinical issues primary care physicians face today requires independent leadership in patient care and teaching," said Harry L. Greene II, M.D., executive vice president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. "Dr. Scherger's academic and practice background, as well as his experience as a national spokesman for primary care, will give Hippocrates the perspective it needs."

Dr. Scherger is past president of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and past AAFP Family Physician of the Year. His activities at this year's AAFP meeting include an invited lecture, "Family Practice in 2010" and a CME course, "A Breakthrough Model for Health Care in the 21st Century." Dr. Scherger will be available for discussion during his, "Ask the Lecturer" session.

"Primary care physicians need a format to express concerns for the future of our profession and to learn from each other. We are the front line of modern medicine," said Dr. Scherger. "In the 20th century we went from the horse and buggy to the modern medical office. We have to be prepared for more dramatic changes in the next century. My goal is for Hippocrates to be a guide down that path."

The Massachusetts Medical Society purchased Hippocrates from Time Inc. Health in April of this year. The addition of Dr. Scherger is part of an effort by MMS to create the leading practice journal for primary care physicians. Hippocrates will retain its popular format, but will be more intensive in its focus on practice advice, including clinical excerpts from Journal Watch, sections on reimbursement, integrative medicine and ethical issues.