On May 1 an enthusiastic group of 34 medical students, residents, and fellows from across the state gathered in Harrisburg for meetings at the State Capitol with key state legislators.
The annual Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Medical Student and Resident/Fellow Sections of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), is an integral part of the PAMED advocacy strategy.
Each year the students, residents, and fellows are briefed on key issues by PAMED leaders and governmental affairs staff and then guided through meetings in legislative offices at the State Capitol. This year PAMED President Marilyn Heine, MD, and Board Chair John Pagan, MD , accompanied the group during their Capitol Hill program.
"As medical students, we know the environment we’re entering demands that physicians work closely with state legislators,” said Stephen Chorney, a Commonwealth Medical College student who is the medical student trustee on PAMED’s board. “Advocacy Day is the perfect forum to voice our concerns about patient care and the desire to effectively and efficiently treat the citizens throughout Pennsylvania."
“Often I hear students expressing concern over health care issues, but unwilling to participate due to a lack of time,” said Andrew Lutzkanin, a student at the Penn State College of Medicine. “I tell them ‘You’ll be a medical student for four years but you’ll be a doctor for 40 years, and the laws and policies passed today will affect you each day you practice."
The morning agenda included meetings with: Rep. Matt Baker (R-Bradford), chair of the House Health Committee; Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), chair of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee; Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), House Majority Whip, and Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), House Democratic Policy Committee Chair.
The group also had a meeting scheduled with Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) the prime sponsor of an important bill that will aid physicians in the health insurer credentialing process, and Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester), the minority chair of the Senate Education Committee.
During each private meeting in the legislators’ offices, the medical students, residents, and fellows had the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from the significant debt load carried by most students and physicians and the value of retaining physicians in Pennsylvania after they complete their education and training.
The Advocacy Day program concluded with a luncheon speech by Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland). Sen. Ward is the spouse of a PAMED member and serves on several senate committees with jurisdiction on issues import to physicians and their patients. She shared her personal message on the role that physicians play in helping the local community through their personal involvement.