Physicians and their practices face tremendous pressures and stress today as they struggle to deal with new and expensive technology, changes in reimbursements, and information overload. The Physicians Foundation is working hard to help practicing physicians, particularly those in solo and small practices, meet some of these difficult challenges to they can focus their time and incredible talents on patient care.

When we first met with our medical society leaders some seven years ago, little did we think that, in addition to resolving some of our grievances against the managed care industry, we also would have the opportunity to truly improve physicians' practices and revive a faltering health care system. Our collective lawsuits against the nation's largest for-profit HMOs not only addressed many of the managed care companies' business practices that so distressed our physicians and their practices. The settlements of those lawsuits also gave us the unprecedented opportunity to make a real difference for patients through The Physicians Foundation.

The Foundation is served by dedicated and hardworking boards of directors and advisory committee members, representing the nation's physicians and their medical societies. The considerable commitment of their time and expertise enabled us to initiate a grantmaking program within just one year of the Foundation's start. To date, we have provided more than $20 million in grants to help physicians turn a complex and confusing health care system into one that helps the nation's doctors provide better, safer, and higher quality medical care for all Americans.

We welcome you to learn more about The Physicians Foundation and urge you to view our website for more information. And we look forward very much to partnering with you on this important and exciting work.

Louis J. Goodman, PhD, President                   Timothy B. Norbeck, Executive Director