Physicians Influencing Policy Through Effective Advocacy

Thisspring, the ACCMA expanded the Physician Leadership curriculum to include an additional program aimed at empowering physician leaders to use their voice to effectively influence policy. The inaugural “Leadership in Action: Influencing Policy Through Effective Advocacy” brought members together in person and online to learn the importance of physician advocacy.

Facilitated by ACCMA’s past president and leading physician advocate, Doctor Thomas Sugarman, the training included sessions on understanding the legislative process and relationship building, how to conduct a meeting with legislators, and an opportunity to practice in a mock legislative meeting. Participants received insight on what a legislative meeting with a physician looks like from the perspective of a legislator, aided by former State Senator Richard Pan, MD; former Congressional candidate

Kermit Jones, MD; Shawn Kumagai, a former candidate for State Assembly and the district director for Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan; Stuart Thompson, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the CMA; and CMA lobbyist Alexis Rodriguez.

Event attendees were invited to join us at CMA Legislative Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 19 to lobby local legislators on the biggest issues in health care this year. For information on Legislative Day and opportunities to get involved, visit the ACCMA.org/GetInvolved or contact David Lopez, ACCMA Director of Advocacy and Governance, at dlopez@accma. org.