Physicians’ opinions on social issues and their role in advocacy are as varied as opinions across any other group of Americans that spans the width of the nation.But what does that mean when it comes to advocacy?To gauge physicians’ opinions and recommendations about physician advocacy, Physicians Practice asked readers for their feedback on several questions related to that topic. Following are some of the responses. (Responses edited for grammar, length, and coherence.)Â
Physicians’ opinions and recommendations about physician advocacy
What do you think are the most important political or social issues facing physicians today? Why?
“The death of primary care medicine. Almost every small primary care practice is merging, going concierge or being bought by a hospital or venture capital group. If not, they are slowly going bankrupt.” – Floyd B. Russak, MD, Denver, Colorado
“Access to healthcare, climate change, and the systematic marginalization of whole groups of people: people of color, women, LGBTQ people, poor people.” – Ron Pudlo, MD, FAAP Greensboro, North Carolina
“Policies that limit our ability to talk to our patients about their reproductive health. Gender equity-a must not only for pay but also in research. Women physicians are still making less than their male counterparts, and that limits their productivity and happiness.” – Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, FACP, FAMWA, Indianapolis, Indiana
“The doctor-patient relationship, which is the basis of medicine, is now an afterthought. They’re removing the patient from medicine and treating them by algorithm. As a provider, you need to be a part of these large organizations, and you’ll be judged by how much revenue you can bring in. It’s too top heavy with too many people who don’t serve a function other than to bill people.” – Dennis Perry, ND, Oregon and California
Do you think it’s a physician’s role to help set social and public policy? If yes, why?
“The physician needs to help form public policy because they are part of the healthcare system. They understand the issues. And they are part of the whole society as well-they are patients as well as providers. Who better to help fix the system than the people who drive the system?” – Leah Tobin, MD, Alpharetta, Georgia
“We have a good understanding of the issues facing the public. And people tend to trust us.” – Floyd B. Russak, MD, Denver, Colorado
“Physicians have a crucial role in helping to set social and public policy. We understand the impact of social constructs on the disease process.” – Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, FACP, FAMWA, Indianapolis, Indiana
Why is it important to be involved as an advocate for political or social causes?
“To protect the welfare of those we have a professional responsibility to care for and to remind all that having insurance is not the same as having access to care.” – Sam JW. Romeo, MD, MBA, Turlock, California
“Involvement is a pillar of democracy.” – John Machata, MD, Wickford, Rhode Island
How can physicians get involved in helping to set social and public policy?
“You need to reach out to your congressional representatives and senators on pertinent medical issues. Go online to find out which House and Senatorial committees address medical issues and communicate with those committee chairman and selective members. You can also communicate your concerns to your local and state medical associations.” – Keith Aldinger MD, Houston, Texas
“Get involved to the extent that you can, and then put yourself in an uncomfortable position and go a little bit further.”
– Dennis Perry, ND, Tigard and Coos Bay, Oregon
What do you do to advocate for the causes that are most important to you?
“I am active in the policy-making bodies of medicine – the Medical Association of Georgia, the Medical Association of Atlanta, and I serve in the House of Delegates for the Medical Association of Georgia.” – Leah Tobin, MD, Alpharetta, Georgia
“I attend political action committees and volunteer to help address environmental blight.” – John Machata, MD, Wickford, Rhode Island
“I served as a volunteer physician in a refugee settlement camp in the Horn of Africa under the auspices of Medical Volunteers International. I have established medical clinics in underserved regions, including east Oakland and southeast San Francisco.
I became the first African American woman to run for mayor of San Francisco in 1997 and served on the Medical Advisory Committee of the San Francisco Fire Department and the Commission on the Status of Women. I am presently working with University of California-San Francisco doctors and researchers on community exposure research.”
– Ahimsa Porter Sumchai, MD, San Francisco, California
