AMA President Robert Wah proudly claims his 'Star Trek' roots

Those who recognize the philosophy that “each sentient species has the right to live in accordance with its normal evolution” as the Starfleet's Prime Directive particularly appreciated the inaugural speech by Dr. Robert Wah, new president of the American Medical Association.

Wah, chief medical officer of Computer Sciences Corp., proudly acknowledged he's a Trekkie, noting “Star Trek” fans often argue over which character was best—the intuitive Capt. Kirk or the logical Mr. Spock. “Who should one aspire to be?” Wah asked. “I find the speculation … fascinating.”

But Wah said his favorite character was Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, senior medical officer of the Starship Enterprise. Wah described the character as a key member of the leadership team, willing to collaborate to solve problems but also willing to question decisions from a scientific perspective while acting as an advocate for health and a driver for change.

“Damn it Jim, he's a doctor,” Wah said, echoing McCoy's signature phrase. “Bones bridged the gaps between the extremes of logic and instinct, rules and regulation, scientific knowledge and human compassion.”

Wah then pointed to the new world of health IT, cloud computing and cybersecurity. “Physicians must harness technology, not let technology harness us,” he said. “With that prime directive in mind, we can now be open to new ideas, new techniques and new perspectives.”

Oddly enough, the Official Star Trek Convention in suburban Chicago overlapped a few days with the AMA meeting downtown in the Windy City. Outliers finds that … fascinating.

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