FSP Advocacy Stipend Report

We are thrilled to share the successful initiation of our inaugural FSP Advocacy Stipend program. This initiative, designed to support our members' participation in the CAP Leadership Summit and CAP Hill Day, was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. The stipend recipients for this year were:

• Saeed Bajestani, MD
• Felipe Camacho, MD
• Katherine Drews-Elger, MD
• Ronald Giffler, MD
• Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD
• Lin Li, MD

In particular, we were pleased to see the interest from three rising stars, Dr. Drews-Elger, Dr. Li and Dr. Camacho, pathology residents at the University of Miami. Under the mentorship of Dr. Carmen Gomez, these individuals had the opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, advocating for the interests of pathologists and the broader healthcare community. Their photos from the event capture the impactful experiences they had and the critical conversations they engaged in.

As a resident from the University of Miami, I'm thankful to have the opportunity to attend the CAP Pathologists Leadership Summit and participate in the hill day visit. Advocating on Capitol Hill not only allows us to voice our concerns but also empowers us to be agents of change. It's a chance to learn how policy decisions shape our profession, interact directly with policymakers, share our perspectives, and influence the decisions that impact our future as pathologists. In addition, the networking opportunities make this experience both educational and enjoyable.

Lin Li, MD

FSP’s support for our participation in PLS and Hill Day is inspiring and effective. Participating in this coordinated effort was a unique opportunity to make a difference. In the context of national politics, these visits are essential to any association seeking to promote their profession. Law makers pay attention to groups that actively promote their profession and supports bills and funding to do so. law makers need to hear and know that these efforts have an impact on their constituents and communities. 

Active engagement is the only way to promote our profession and survive through the volatile reimbursement cuts and workforce shortages. This spring, many CAP members signed up to lobby the Hill and ask lawmakers to pass legislation providing additional relief from Medicare cuts scheduled to take effect in 2024, cosponsor the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023, and support the passage of the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA).

Saeed Bajestani, MD

Attending the 2024 Pathologists Leadership Summit was an incredible opportunity to advocate for pathologists and physicians on Hill Day. It felt like a privilege to be able to contribute to discussions surrounding critical issues in pathology.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from the event, but I was filled with excitement and anticipation. The CAP meeting proved to be enlightening, providing valuable insights from leaders on how they are addressing pathology issues such as lab staffing shortages, best practices in meetings, and laboratory leadership.

The discussions surrounding Medicare Physician Payment Reform and the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) took center stage during the event. These initiatives are vital for ensuring the highest standard of care for our patients and positively impacting the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine.

Another compelling issue discussed was the Conrad 30 program, which allows international graduates like myself to serve underserved communities as a waiver for their J1 visa. This matter resonates deeply with me, as it underscores the importance of supporting initiatives that promote diversity and access to healthcare.

Overall, the event was excellent and provided me with opportunities for networking and collaboration. I am eager to continue advocating for our profession and hope to contribute to similar events in the future.

Felipe Camacho, MD

Attending the 2024 Pathologists Leadership Summit a truly inspiring experience that left us empowered and with a renewed sense of pride and purpose! As trainees, we had the unique opportunity to dive deeper into different aspects of our profession, and after each session we felt prouder of what we do, and appreciated even more the vital role we play on patient care. Our visit to Capitol Hill was a definite highlight, where we stood tall advocating with determination and passion for our profession, and more importantly for the well-being of our patients. We hope that our efforts to communicate the importance of our issues leads to real-world impact and action by policymakers. This was a truly fulfilling and transformative journey!

Katherine Drews-Elger, MD

It is always a pleasure traveling to DC to meet with our Senators and representatives and staff.  This history and architecture of this great city is always inspiring, despite the sometime chaos. The preparation to our visit to capital hill was excellent.  We had a productive day and met with key staff members of Representatives: Mario Diaz Balart, Maria Salazar, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Neil Dunn, and Senator Marco Rubio. 

Ronald Giffler, MD

Our University of Miami delegation had an incredible experience. Many thanks to the FSP for its support. I was able to take along three of our resident leaders, the 2 Chief Residents for this year Dr. Lin Li and Dr. Felipe Camacho, and one of the Chief Residents for next year, Dr. Katherine Drews-Elger. We all sat at the table for the Florida constituency during the House of Delegates meeting on Saturday where we heard from key members of the Board of Governors for the CAP and were introduced to some of the key issues we would be facing on Hill Day with the session on Advocacy Updates.

The luncheon with the Keynote speaker Mr. Jake Sherman was all it was anticipated to be by its title “Politics with a Punch” as the speaker took us through a bipartisan roller coaster of the hot button issues that are facing the country right now.

Sunday’s presentations were equally excellent, from sharing tips on best practices for successful team meetings, to developing laboratory leadership skills, addressing cultural competencies, creating pathology reports that patients can understand and easily assimilate, mentoring the next generation of laboratory professionals and navigating the intersection of Pathology and ChatGPT.

Monday’s sessions were devoted to distilling and demystifying Tuesday’s experience on the Hill. The main issues we would be advocating for on Tuesday were discusses at length with various Panelists representing the CAP, the AMA, representatives from the private and public sectors of health care.

They discussed Medicare Physician Reform, SALSA, and Conrad 30, highlighting the central issues and key asks to be presented on Hill Day.

All along, there were plenty of opportunities for networking and collaboration with our professional colleagues in Pathology. One of the big takeaways for me is the importance of membership, participation, and leadership within the CAP and its many committees, both for advocacy, education, and innovation.

Carmen Gomez, MD