MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

GOVERNOR’S FLY-IN:

MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD ON THE HILL

Of course I knew that our Governors went to DC every year on behalf of the College and all clinical gastroenterologists. But those were just words on a page to me until this April when I had the privilege of participating in the program as your President.

Having never done this before, I was nervous that I would not know what to do. Thankfully, after an orientation by the Governors’ Chair, Dr. Neil Stollman, and Vice Chair, Dr. Patrick Young, and completing some homework assignments on ACG’s key priorities and how to approach Hill visits most effectively, I was ready to spread the gospel on the importance of colorectal cancer screening and explain to lawmakers how the language of the ACA needs to be edited so as to eliminate surprise co-pays for Medicare patients when preventive screening colonoscopies end up as therapeutic procedures with polypectomy.

The Fly-In started with a group photo in front of the Capitol building and then we were off. There were anywhere from 5 to 10 meetings scheduled per person so, for sure, we got in our 10,000 steps for the day. The House of Representatives was in session so we got to see our government in action. Staff members running around, visitors in the hallways, and alarms ringing when it was time to vote—very cool stuff.

We were welcomed in each Hill office with respect and interest, legislators taking heed, staff taking notes, and us taking photos with iconic backdrops. Right now with health care being in the forefront of so much legislation, it was easy to talk about colorectal cancer screening and the cost and benefits of screening turned therapeutic colonoscopy versus managing a colon cancer diagnosis later on. Armed with data, statistics, carefully crafted talking points, and handouts to educate young Hill staffers about our priorities, we were able to personalize the conversations to local issues and each meeting was different.

Looking back at our day on the Hill, the importance of a grassroots body like the Board of Governors cannot be overstated. Perhaps I was yet another citizen traipsing through the office of my local elected official, but likely not. I believe it matters for me as a physician to meet with legislators. While we can depend on our society staff to lobby on our behalf, until you have gone to Capitol Hill yourself, you don’t know how much of an impact you can have as an individual with clinical knowledge and experience “in the trenches.”

I realize that physicians can’t be part of the problem and not be part of the solution. We must have our voices heard! Young staffers were listening just as intently as the elected officials themselves. For those of us who got to meet with our elected Representatives and Senators, that meant something as it was not just another photo op. That became clear to me when standing in line to meet Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. When Senator Klobuchar asked who we were, she stopped the line and talked with us about the importance of colorectal cancer screening—an issue with personal resonance for her since she lost a close friend to the disease. She listened and engaged when we asked for support of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening bill (S.668). Some legislators even took advantage of our clinical knowledge for personal gastroenterology consults about their own GERD symptoms and treatment.

CULTIVATING YOUNG LEADERSHIP TALENT AND DEVELOPING ADVOCACY SKILLS

This year was also different because of the presence of the Young Physician Leadership Scholars, a cohort selected by the ACG Institute to hone leadership skills and learn advocacy. As part of their day on the Hill with the Governors, they got to see how to interact with elected officials and talk about medicine as it pertains to public policy. The luncheon program at the Capitol building was definitely one of my favorite parts of the day. We met with physicians who are serving either in the Senate or the House and who described their trip from the medical office to elected office. Their choices and sacrifices to make this country great were truly inspirational.

I am so grateful that my professional life and role with ACG gave me the opportunity to do something like this and I would encourage anyone out there to step up, make an appointment with your local, state, or federal elected representatives, and make your voice heard. As physicians sworn to care for patients and committed to the health of our communities, the power of the personal lobby is one of the strongest we own.

“Looking back at our day on the Hill, the importance of a grassroots body like the Board of Governors cannot be overstated.”